Dogs and cats are traditionally seen as arch-enemies: think of all those cartoons featuring frenetic cat-chases! But I've found that once introduced with care, my dogs and cats get along really well together. You can see Cricket and Squeak sharing a bed here, a common sight as they enjoy each other’s company - and body-heat. And Cricket is a sighthound - bred to chase and kill small fluffies.
It all depends on how you introduce the dogs and cats in the first place. If you're starting with a puppy, and using the methods in this post, the dog and cat situation will always be under your control as the pup will be in his crate, out of harm's way, whenever you're not there.
So you can let the cat discover the puppy in a casual way - very often simply appearing to ignore what's going on is the best policy. Let both dog and cat know that they don't need to be jealous of one another. Feeding and fussing over the older animal first is a good way to reassure him. In any case, an early scratch on the puppy's nose from the cat will probably ensure that she lives a peaceful life from then on!
Here baby Tip has a game with Christmas the cat, who is delighted with this new arrival! Dogs and cats are usually fascinated by any newcomer to the household, and they're ready to play as soon as they get the chance. Of course you have to supervise any play between dogs and cats while either is tiny.
Kalamazoo’s owner was worried that when puppy Bobbi arrived, fur would fly. But just using what I suggest here worked wonders. You can see them both enjoying a little winter sun together in the garden
A new kitten, an older dog
Then to introduce a kitten to an adult dog - just reverse the process! Put the kitten, with her bed and litter-tray, in your dog's old crate. The kitten is now protected from any unwanted attention when you're not around. Once the novelty of the new arrival has worn off, you'll be able to let both dogs and cats mosey along together.
If you have taught your dog that you decide the House Rules, he'll be happy to go along with your wishes - and your wishes will clearly state that Cat is not on the menu.
The last kitten to arrive here (don't they just drift in, shortly after you've decided on NO MORE cats?) was the one to initiate most of the rough-and-tumbles with the dog she selected as her special friend. Indeed she still does.
The play between dogs and cats can get quite rough at times, and we have regular chases through the house, but it's all well-meant, and no-one ever gets damaged. If this kind of dogs and cats rough-and-tumble happens often, you may just want to move the more delicate family heirlooms to a higher shelf . . .
I've had several cats that like to come on walks with us, and one who will intercept me on the road, ambushing the dogs from behind a tree or wall. Then she'll stand in the middle of the pavement, barring our way and sniffing the dogs' noses. This always astonishes passers-by, who don't realise it's our cat!
One of the terrific advantages of bringing up dogs and cats together is that I never have to fear for my dogs' behaviour if we visit a friend who has cats, and there's less chance of my cats getting chased under a car by a neighbour's dog.
Older dog, older cat
What about introducing an older dog into a household with a resident cat? This happens a lot when people rescue a dog. The shelter may say the dog is ok with cats, but it’s honestly very hard for them to judge any dog’s behaviour in the artificial shelter set-up.
The first thing to do is ensure safety for the cat, while you assess the level of risk from the dog. Keeping them safely apart most of the time to begin with, you can gradually countercondition your dog to the existence of the cat.
The key to making this all work is to change your dog’s emotional response to the cat, rather than trying to reason with him and tell him off. We go into detail on these methods of counter-conditioning in our online courses.
Here’s an explanation of how and why counter-conditioning works
It isn’t limited to fearful responses, it works on any emotion.
Baby gates and playpens are terrific for containing your new dog in an area. And always ensure your cat not only has access to higher ground and can get out of trouble fast, but also have a separate cat-entry for the house. A cat flap or window will do nicely.
Up till she was 17 Squeak the cat would do some serious mountaineering to clamber over the shed and garage, hop onto the conservatory roof then scramble up 12 inches to get through my bedroom window, and if it was raining, drop in a soggy heap onto my bed. Now we’ve moved we have a fully-operational cat flap, so the 19-year-old can get in and out rather more easily.
I have seen wonderful cat cities “in the sky” which people have built in their homes - a series of ladders, platforms, tunnels and walkways that only the cat can reach. They don’t take up a lot of space as they use the upper area of an otherwise blank wall. It certainly makes a change from generic wall-art!
When he was very young, my son made “Cat Flats” - a series of interlinking cardboard boxes with small doors and tunnels. His cat Rosemary loved it!
The More Dogs and Cats, the Merrier
Lacy is the Cat Monitor here. I never have to worry about where the old - now deaf - cat is, as Lacy Always Knows. Here she’s checking the cat out first thing in the morning. A quick sniff and on her way again.
All in all, having dogs and cats in the household makes life more fun. Having at one stage had four dogs and six cats, I know that to be so. The same can be said for chickens, goats, budgerigars . . .
There's no reason why dogs and cats can't get on as they do with any other inmates of the house. But if you are really in fear for your cat's life when you get a new dog, then get some professional help from a qualified force-free animal trainer or behaviourist. That's so worth doing - you will find your life improves immeasurably once you have a dog you can trust, and you and your poor cat’s anxiety levels can go down.
And if you’re wondering about what to do when your dog wants to chase other cats, outside, check out this post and its associated guidance.
Caveat: Prey drive
Some dogs have a very strong prey drive. Cricket the Whippet is one, naturally. But she knows that cat is not the same as rabbit, small dog is not the same as small deer. There’s no problem.
If you re-home a dog who has been trained already to chase and kill small things, like an ex-racing greyhound, or a working farm terrier, you may or may not succeed in making the new dog safe around your cats. Read this article to learn more.
If you have cats already, an ex-racer or working ratter may not be the dog for you. Though I do know people who have decided to spend the necessary time, and are prepared to live with the restrictions, to make it work.
