What's the best way to acculmate a cat and a dog to living together?

Answer 1

Take all these answers and put them together.

Don't expect them to be buddies, but they will learn to live together. You need to be patient and give both the dog and cat lots of one-on one loving. Make sure that when you do have them together that you are supervising them closely.

Answer 2

Generally slowly with patience. All dogs and cats have different personalities and some are curious and quickly become friends and some aren't. Giving them limited contact (using baby gates etc) is great at first, as well as keeping the dog on a leash at first (reinforcing and practicing obedience around the cat, being praised for gentle or curious interactions and ignored or told no or distracted from negative interactions like barking.). Providing the cat escape routes like cat towers or pulling the couch out a little bit from the wall so there is always a place the cat can get away from the dog.

Answer 3

Let them do it on their own terms and at their own pace. I have two dogs and three cats. The two older cats "allow" the dogs to live here but the youngest cat and the youngest dog are the best of buddies. They wrestle and chase each other all over the house and the yard. They are hilarious to watch.

Answer 4

I have always kept the kittens in a seperate room and slowly let my dogs get used to them. It takes a little while but if you do it slowly it will work. Always keep an eye on their interactions with each other also.

Answer 5

Adding to lttlbt's answer - you should introduce them *outside your property*, especially if you already have one of them as a pet. One will otherwise see the other as being invasive and will protect its turf.

Answer 6

Introduce them and if they seem curios then thats good, don't let them get to close at first, and don't let them sleep in the area until they get to know eahother better. But thats about it.