“To fight like cat and dog” – who of us hasn’t heard this phrase? You might be worried about bringing a dog into your existing cat family, or getting a kitten if you already have a dog, but there’s no reason why those two species shouldn’t live in harmony.
As always, it all comes down to preparation and research. Whenever you bring a new family member home, it’s your responsibility to ensure that everyone gets a good first impression, that they are all safe, and that the whole introduction process is managed well.
- Make sure you set yourself up for success. If you don’t have a dog yet, pick your new companion wisely.
- As a general rule, you want to avoid breeds with strong prey instinct, where the “predator sequence” is strongly developed (eg. the dog’s instinct is to chase and bite to kill), such as terriers or sight hounds.
- By comparison, breeds such as spaniels and retrievers, were bred to flush out birds and bring them back untarnished. These dogs, if bred well, should have a very “soft” bite. Show lines tend to be easier to deal with than working lines, especially for novice dog owners. Take your time to find a good, responsible, KC registered breeder.
- Obviously there are exceptions – our dog Charlie is a rescue and a complete mix, but he has a lot of Yorkshire Terrier and Shepherd in him. On paper, he doesn’t sound like a good choice, but he’s absolutely fantastic with cats.
- On that note, it’s always worth approaching local rescues, who might have dogs that were cat-tested, or who lived with cats before.
- If you are adding a kitten to resident dog(s), make sure to mention it to the breeder so they can advise on which kitten would be best for you. It would be ideal if kittens were exposed to dogs during the early socialisation phase as well, if possible.
- If your dog has behavioural issues such as resource guarding, make sure that these are addressed and under control before bringing a cat into the family
It’s very, very important that you are always in control during introductions (you may need to put your dog on a lead or muzzle them).
Again, there is no point in me trying to reinvent the wheel. As a part of your research, make sure to read and listen to the following:
- Pam Johnson-Bennett: “Introducing Dogs and Cats” article, with fabulous level of detail
- Jackson Galaxy: “Can Cats & Dogs Be Friends?” video
- Pam Miller: “The Canine Predatory Instinct” will help you understand dog instincts and predatory sequence better
- I’d advise that you read our blog post on Basics of Cat Introductions to get a better idea of how a feline mind works
Remember: be patient, don’t rush, and prepare, prepare, prepare.
If you run into issues, seek professional advice, but make sure it’s someone who understands both dogs AND cats. Cats are not “little dogs that can jump”, they have their own needs, body language and ways they see the world, and it’s important that the behaviourist understands them well. There are some famous dog trainers who I absolutely look up to, and who’s advice helped a lot when we first got Charlie, but frankly, their articles concerning cats are disappointing and really show lack of understanding of felines. Again, choose wisely.
All that said – good luck, and let us know how you’re getting on!
EsteLuna British Cats 