Orange County Animal Services is proud to join The Bark Report with a special column called “Paws and Effect.” This column will be dedicated to informative animal services and adoption topics such as the importance of spay and neuter programs, adopting and adapting during COVID-19, introducing new pets into your home, and tips for helping pets and people adjust during family gatherings and celebrations. Join us for this monthly column to help spread the word about helping pets in many ways!
Do you already have a dog and are considering getting a cat? Do you have a cat and you are wondering what might happen if you bring home a new dog? It’s very important to plan the best way to introduce them, and the best way to get them used to safely sharing a home together. Making sure you have a well-devised plan is the key to safety and happiness for all involved.
STEP 1: SEPARATE THE PETS
To allow time for the newcomer to adjust to you and their new situation, confine them to their own private space for the first day or two. Then, over the course of a few more days, rotate which pet has freedom and which is confined. This gives each pet time to investigate the other pet’s scent. When no one is home, the pets must be separated so that unsupervised interactions are not possible.
Once the dog has gotten used to the scent and seems to have lost interest in looking for the cat, and once the cat is calm (eating and using the litter box normally), proceed to STEP 2. The time spent in STEP 1 will vary for all pets and should not be rushed. Sometimes, a secure baby gate can be a good barrier between rooms and a natural progression between STEP 1 and STEP 2. A baby gate can allow the pets to feel like there is a solid barrier there but still have a level of visibility.
STEP 2: MAKE LEASHED INTRODUCTIONS
Allow both animals to be in the same room at the same time, but keep the dog securely leashed and make sure there are many places where the cat can safely get away from the dog. Jumping onto tall furniture can feel safer for a cat than being forced to hide underneath furniture, but having a variety of hiding spots is ideal.
Continue with this type of introduction until the dog is calm and ignores the cat. Make sure the cat is calm, eating, and using the litter box normally during this phase. If there is any fear or aggression displayed on either animal’s part, stay at STEP 2 a bit longer or go back to STEP 1. Continue until both the dog and cat seem happy and relaxed around each other.
STEP 3: ALLOW UNSUPERVISED INTERACTIONS
Unsupervised time together can occur after the cat and dog have been supervised around each other for a long period of time with no signs of trouble. It can take several months before it is safe to move to this step, and this step should be closely monitored and supervised. Only after there has been great success at this step for a period of several months should animals be left alone unsupervised.
Introducing dogs to cats can be a long process and will likely require patience from all humans and pets involved. But, successful introductions can set the tone for a relationship, so it’s worth the hard work to make sure everyone can live together without conflict that causes stress.
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