introducing a new cat to your dog

So, you have a dog and now you want to add a cat to your fur-family. Great....but will they get along or will Fido turn Felix
into a daytime snack? Most cats and dogs get along well....especially those that are raised together.

It is possible to introduce a cat into your household without your dog attacking it in the first five minutes. The introduction
must be SLOW and on neutral ground. Bringing kitty into the house and plopping it down in Fido’s favorite dog bed might not
be the best of ideas. You don’t want to do anything that threatens your dog’s space. He won’t like that and it will only build
doggie resentment. You don’t want doggie resentment...now do you!?

Before I continue...and I probably should have mentioned this right off the bat...certain
dog breeds are notoriously BAD with cats. If you have one of these breeds, it is probably
best to NOT bring a cat into the house at all. Because of their strong chasing instincts,
Greyhounds and Terriers may present a problem. This is not to say that they cannot be
trained, however, extreme caution should be used.

As previously mentioned, the introduction between your new
cat and dog must be on neutral ground and done slowly.
There is NO need to rush! It is important that YOU
CONTROL the environment and the circumstance of the
first meeting.

A great way to first introduce your dog and cat is between
doors. Put your dog in a room and shut the door. Put your
new cat outside the closed door and let the smelling begin.
Scent is VERY important to both dogs and cats and this is
a great way for your new fur friends to become familiar with
each other. Odor is everything to animals!

Introduce your dog and cat when they are both fed and happy. Fed and happy = less anxiety! Another great idea is to put
your new cat into a crate that is filled with cat toys. Allow your dog to observe the cat as he plays. By doing this, your dog
will become familiar with the cat’s movements and behavior. Once your dog and cat are familiar with each other and there is
NO EVIDENCE of aggressive behavior, leave the room for a few minutes (be sure to stay close by in case of trouble). Once
out of the room, if there are no signs of aggression, this means that you are on the right path towards doggie and kitty
friendship. If your dog does show aggression, do not punish him! You do not want him to feel that he is going to get into
trouble every time the cat is in the same room. Also, don’t pick up your cat to protect him from Fido. Doing this will most
likely cause your dog to jump and nip at what you are trying to protect (in this case, your cat).

Overall, the best way to introduce your new cat into the family is slowly and by
smell. Be patient! Unless you have an aggressive dog that is known to be bad around
cats, you should have no problem turning your dog and cat into best friends.....or at
least tolerant of each other. Good Luck! MEOW!