My girlfriend is moving in to my house. She has 2 cats- is there a good method to introduce them to my 2 dogs gradually, so they can eventually get along?
2007-01-24 06:35:02 · 7 answers · asked by MacLeod_73 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Keep them locked in a room designated for them for about a week before letting them see each other. During this time, they will each get accustomed to the smell of each other, and the poor kitties will begin to think of this new place as 'home'.
After that, I'd put the cats, one at a time, in a pet carrier on top of a chair or table and let the dogs sniff at the box and the cats view the dogs from a safe place. Do this a couple times a day for the next couple days. Finally, put the cat up somewhere high where the dog can't get it, and let them interact.
Always make sure the cats can go to a safe place when running away from the dogs. Our dogs and cat get along great, but occasionally the one dog will chase the cat just for fun.
Prepare yourself for eventual resentment from girlfriend when YOUR dogs continue to torture HER precious babies!
Good luck!
2007-01-24 06:51:26 · answer #1 · answered by Margie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Marge hit the nail on the head here, mostly.
Keep the cats in a small room for a week or two, the dogs and cats will socialize through the door. Then let them have supervised visits everyone on the floor, keeping the cats higher up at this point will give them the dominant role and either a) make the dogs jealous b) make the dogs overly curious c) make the dogs want to re-establish their rank in the pack - BAD!
Let them investigate a few minutes at a time, until you and your girlfriend are both happy with it. Don't forget to praise the life out of both cats and dogs for good encounters. Don't be to eager to correct a growl or a hiss, there is SO much visual language here that it is hard to see WHO is the aggressor and who is just the first to vocalize an unhappiness.
My dogs and cats are very accepting of everything that comes through my door as I often bring various animals home. If you have animals that are REALLY highly socialized, just bring them in, set the carriers down, leave them there for about 30 minutes and then open them and let the cats come out on their own.
The "through the door method" is how most rescue organizations does it for their animals going to new foster homes. Also, make sure that the cats have a "haven" even when they come out of their room. My cats use my closet, I keep a doggie/baby gate across it to keep the dogs out. Its good for the cats as they tend to sleep a lot more then dogs. Its a nap-safe zone so the cats don't get cranky.
Good Luck.
Oh yes, give the cats an extra litter box, in case they are stressed.
Don't just let them "work it out" this will cause unnecessary stress, potential fighting, dominance wars (peeing) and could end up in harm for one of them. The size of your dogs or the cats is not a factor here, its the socialization. If your dogs are really playful and the cats aren't but do have claws, supervise them when they first interact face to face... Remember dogs settle a lot of this through show before attack, cats... well, a lot prefer to shrink (which often the dog does not understand), hiss (further leading to dog confusion) then attempt to remove the face. If these are older cats, it will take longer. If the dogs are REALLY playful, it will also be a while.
2007-01-24 07:28:28 · answer #2 · answered by Noota Oolah 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The trick is that the cat has to learn not to run. Introduce them slowly, holding the dog(s) if needed. If the dog attempts to start a chase use your voice to scold it and continue this until you can trust the dogs not to chase and the cats learn to hold there ground and not run.
I have had GSDs ( with very high prey drives) and while they never really liked cats they did learn to live with a few that learnt not to run.... if they ran, the chase was on and all you could really do was chastise after the fact.
2007-01-24 06:48:01 · answer #3 · answered by aaking 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, this one is many laughs. Bringing two cats in with two dogs is going to be shear madness for quite sometime. Either the cats are going to run away, or the dogs and the cats are going to get into it with each other. If you try and introduce them like you would normally do, whoever tries the introduction is going to be scratched to pieces.
2007-01-24 06:47:07 · answer #4 · answered by Veneta T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure of the type of dogs you have but be cautious if your dogs are large enough to hurt a cat. But just have the cats a place that they can hide from the dogs and feel safe. They will be fine if they are given time to adjust to their new environment. Good Luck to you and your girlfriend!
2007-01-24 06:58:31 · answer #5 · answered by Maybe I am a smartass..so what 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eternal vigilance!!!
...and lots of hiding and roosting places for the cats, that the dogs can't get to.
Good luck!
2007-01-24 06:43:19 · answer #6 · answered by jetero41 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thires no good method just leav them and thill fight for about 3 day or more but hten thell get used to it
2007-01-24 06:53:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋