Dog and Cat Intro?

Question

I just brought my dog to my new house, well we have a cat there. The dog is scared of the cat, they are the same size. The cat hates the dog. Kitty stares him down and hisses. Wont give him the time of day. What do I do?

Answer 1

Dogs and cats have always had a "war"- its even shown in cartoons that they don't naturally like each other. You can't really expect that they will accept each other. The cat is also seeing that you brought another animal in its territory, so the cat is going to be very defensive of its "home"- eventually, they MAY get used to each other and learn to play with each other. Otherwise, they can still manage to live in peace if the dog is trained to leave the cat alone.

-EA

Answer 2

I had the same problem before. My previous dog died and I immediately bought a new dog. Of course the cat doesn't recognize the dog when I brought him home. And the dog was really playful and wanted to play with the cat. So the cat hisses and tries to scratch the dog when he comes near her. I pull my dog and not allow him to go near the cat, and I also scold the cat at the same time. But I always let them in the same room, although not go near each other at first. In that way, they'll be able to recognize each other. After some time, the cat won't even mind if my dog licks her face or plays with her ears.

Answer 3

You've brought the dog into the cat's territory, so it's natural for the cat to be pissed and as they're the same size, it's natural for the dog to be scared. If they are going to live together they need to learn to respect each other and hopefully that will happen over time.
If they aren't outright attacking each other and the dog is staying away and respecting the cat I'd just give them time to adjust. If the cat is a danger to the dog, try crating the cat during periods they are in the same area (like calm dog sitting with you, cat in crate close by while you watch tv or do whatever) while they get used to each other. If you need to you can start with the cat far away and gradually move it closer each day - this could take some time depending on the animals response. What you want is both animals calm and in the same room so watch them and adjust accordingly. I had to spend months doing this to get a really bad *** rescued and recently neutered semi-feral tom cat used to my three big dogs. The cat was a real danger to the dogs and they were all terrified of him!
To prepare for possible "emergencies" you might also want to consider strategicly placing through the house correction devices, squirt guns full of water, rinsed soda cans with 10 pennies in them and tape over the hole (you throw these to land near but not hit the animals to distract them if they fight or chase each other). If they are in a standoff be careful about distracting them because if dog turns to look at you the cat might take advantage and attack him. Shouting and waving your arms and chasing (don't hit!) the animals is also a way to distract them if they go at it and there is no device easily at hand. I would not leave the animals alone in the house together until thier behavior is predictable.

I have and have had lots of pets that come to me as rescues that I've had to condition to tolerate each other. Your animals may never like each other but hopefully they will learn to respect each other.

Answer 4

First seperate the cat and dog. Let them get used to the other one's smell for a couple weeks--keep them in seperate rooms but allow 1 out at a time. The cat may just be telling the dog "I'm King (or Queen) here and you better behave." Don't let either cat or dog harm the other one as that is never good. Also check with your vet for ideas and maybe a referal to a behaviorist.

Answer 5

Cats seem to have a tougher time then dogs do. i'd initiate the cats out in a unmarried room and enable them get used to the hot smells previously introducing them to something else of the abode. i don't think of you'll favor to attend a week to carry the dogs into the combination yet you're going to keep in mind that answer once you've seen how the cats are adjusting.

Answer 6

they'll eventually learn to get along....same thing with my dog and cat...after the cat batted the dog a few times across the nose, the dog realized to get out of the cat's space...sometimes they sleep curled up next to each other.

Answer 7

my 2 cats have been together since birth. they are now 16 and still hiss at each other. i wouldnt worry about it.

Answer 8

separate them in different rooms so the cat does not attack the dog

Answer 9

let them fight it out. one will have to submit to the other. dont get in the way tho. they will start to resent based on how much attention u give one over the other.