Contrary to popular opinion, cats and dogs can live together without fighting.
If you have cats and are asked to take in a dog for whatever reason (the death of the dog’s owner or relocation overseas etc), you need to find out if they get along with cats. If they don’t, this can be a problem. Most mature dogs that have been properly socialized with cats will get along with all cats after an initial “get to know each other” period. This can be a fairly short period of time, lasting perhaps only a couple of days. Some older dogs behave well with cats inside the house but will immediately chase the same cat if they are outside. Carefully watching the dog and cat for the first few days is essential for the safety and security of both the cat and dog.
If you are not sure if the dog is used to cats assume that they are not, especially for the larger breeds or hunting type dogs, including terriers. It will be necessary to keep the dog and the cat separate and only try to introduce them if the dog is on a very short leash and you have another adult there to work with the cat.
Keep the initial introduction short – let your cat dictate the terms. Having a second adult to look after the cat allows that person to talk with and stroke the cat (without holding it) to reassure it. Holding your cat while introducing it to a new dog is a sure way to get bitten or scratched as well as having your cat lose confidence in you. When the cat has had enough, take the dog to his ‘place’ where there is a bed (free from drafts), some toys and a door that can be shut. The dog will complain, and with good reason. It is missing its owner, it’s in a strange place with strange people, a funny looking animal sniffing it and now it’s been shut in a room. Having an adult in the room will help enormously in acclimatising your new pet.
Repeat the process until you feel your cat has accepted the dog and visa versa. Often mature dogs will not interact well with cats but may develop an attitude of ignoring or tolerating the cat. This may be acceptable but does not mean that the dog may not become aggressive towards the cat under certain conditions. Consider keeping your dog in a kennel or separate room when you are not able to be there to put a stop to any fighting between the two animals.
More information on introducing cats and dogs can be found in *Cat Secrets Revealed
