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How to Introduce Dogs and Cats

Author: Cathy Madson, MA, FDM, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA

Published: February 4, 2025

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introducing a cat to a dogWhether your new furry family member is a dog or cat, bringing them home and introducing them to your other pet can be a daunting and nerve-wracking process.

You want it to go well and for them to be the best of friends, but introductions between dogs and cats can go wrong very quickly if there isn't a plan in place to set everyone up for success.

Introducing a dog and a cat to each other is a process that requires time, patience, and a realistic understanding of both animals' temperaments. While some dogs and cats become best friends, others simply tolerate each other, and others may never reach a point of comfortable coexistence.

The key is to have slow introductions at a pace that ensures safety and minimizes stress for both your cat and dog. In some cases, a dog and cat are able to integrate as soon as a week, but others may take a few months or longer.


Things to Do Before Introducing Your Dog to Your Cat

Assess Your Dog and Cat's Temperament

Before you even start the introduction process, take an honest look at your pets' personalities. Some dogs have a strong prey drive (chasing prey animals like squirrels, birds, or ... ahem, cats), whether they are from a particular breed group historically used for hunting or not, and may not be suited to living with a cat. Likewise, some cats can be particularly skittish and may never feel safe around a dog.

Consider factors such as past history with the other species, size differences, energy levels, age, and overall temperament. A young puppy or teenage dog might be too much for an elderly or shy cat, even if they just want to play. Or a new kitten might drive a small senior dog crazy. If you are adopting a dog or cat, ask about whether they have ever lived with other animals. Simply passing a "cat test" or "dog test" in the shelter is not enough to prove that they can cohabitate.

If either pet has a history of aggression or extreme fear around other animals, it's important to consider whether your expectations are realistic.

Create Separate Safe Spaces

Set up a designated safe space for your cat that is off limits to your dog. This area should include hiding spots, elevated perches, food, water, and a litter box. Other litter boxes in your home should also be placed out of your dog's reach. Ensuring your cat has a secure retreat will help reduce their stress levels and give them control over the situation.

Install gates where needed. Some pet gates have a cat-specific door like this one, that when opened allows the cat to escape through but not a larger dog.

product babelio pet gate with cat doo

If their cat-only space is a particular room in your home, use a Door Body prop to keep the door open but still prevent your dog from getting inside.

product door buddy prop

Your dog should also have their own safe space where they can relax away from the cat. Learn how to set up a safe space for your dog here. These separate spaces allow each animal to decompress and adjust to the new household dynamics without feeling threatened.

Use Pheromones

Using species-specific pheromones can be helpful in decreasing overall stress for both your dog and cat. Dogs and cats need different ones. For cats, use a Feliway plug-in diffuser. If you have multiple cats, be sure to use the multi-cat version.

product Feliway Classic Cat Calming Diffuser Kit for Cats

For dogs, ThunderEase (formerly called Adaptil) has options of a plug-in pheromone diffuser, a travel spray, or a wearable collar. For ease of use, I recommend the diffuser or the collar when using this during dog-cat introductions.

product Thunderease adaptil diffuser


Helpful Dog Training Skills

Teaching your dog basic obedience skills before introducing them to a cat can make the process go smoother. Some helpful cues to practice that help you maintain control and redirect their focus include:

Training your dog to remain calm in stimulating situations, including exposure to new animals, is crucial. But it can be hard, especially for puppies or young dogs, or dogs with high prey drive. Here's a video showing a new puppy working on being calm around cats in the home:


Tips for Introductions Between Dogs and Cats

Separation and Scent Exchange

Before any face-to-face greetings, have a scent swap between your pets. Swap bedding or gently rub a cloth on one animal and place it near the other.

This method allows them to become familiar with each other's scent in a non-threatening manner, laying the groundwork for future interactions. It's also a chance for you to observe their initial responses to smelling the other animal.

Does your dog get really fixated or overexcited when they smell the cat? Does the cat smell the dog and try to hide or get anxious? That can tell you that the introduction needs to go very slow and be very controlled.

kitten with chihuahua

Controlled Visual Introductions

Once both pets seem comfortable with each other's scent – this may be just a few days or a week or more – introduce them visually through a baby gate or ex-pen setup. Use a sturdy barrier, such as a hardware-mounted baby gate or secured ex-pen to allow them to see and sniff each other without full physical contact. Make sure it's tall enough that your dog can't jump over it and sturdy enough they can't knock it over if they try to run through it.

Keep these sessions short and positive, rewarding calm behavior with treats and praise. If either pet shows signs of stress or aggression, take a step back and give them more separate time apart.

Mr Rogers Hack DownloadUse the Mr. Rogers Hack During Cat and Dog Introductions

Practicing the Mr. Rogers Hack, a technique developed by ethologist Kim Brophey, is a great way to calmly narrate for your pets what's happening and how they should feel about it. This is an especially helpful technique for puppies and helps keep you calm as well when you might be feeling a bit nervous.

Download the Mr. Rogers Hack PDF to learn how to use this method.

 

Play the Engage-Disengage Game for Dogs and Cats

This is a perfect opportunity to also practice the Engage-Disengage game with both your dog and cat (cats can be trained, too!). This game reinforces calm watching behavior as well as rewarding self-interruption:

  • Have some treats ready and wait until your dog looks at the cat. Say "yes!" and then give them a treat to the side, so they have to look toward you and away from the cat to get it. Do this for the first few visual introductions.

  • Then add in the disengage portion. Don't say "yes!" right away when you dog looks at the cat. Count silently to three. If they look away from the cat by the count of three, say "yes!" and give them the treat.

  • If they don't look away by the count of three, say "yes!" for watching the cat calmly and stick with step one for a while longer.

Remember, you can also do this with the cat, when they are looking at the dog. Here's a video of me practicing this with a client of mine when working on cat-dog integration. Disclaimer: Chip the cat may look like he's confined, but he chose to hang out inside the decorative table base and can leave any time he chooses.

 

Leashed or Controlled Interactions

When both your dog and cat seem comfortable with seeing each other at a distance, you can try a leashed introduction. Trim your cat's nails beforehand as a precaution (but your goal is to keep things calm enough that your cat doesn't feel the need to bop your dog on the nose.

Keep your dog on leash, with the leash in your hand, and allow your cat to move freely. This is due to a dog's higher likelihood of chasing if a cat starts to run away.

A Huge Word of Caution: Dogs can have a high prey drive. It might not be obvious until there’s suddenly a small, furry prey animal in the living room that they can chase. It’s also possible that your dog may react with unexpected defensive aggression if the cat gets aggressive first. Remember, in the wild, cats often have to defend themselves against dogs and wolves. There’s an inherent predator/prey relationship there, that one or both may react to.

Monitor their interactions closely, rewarding calm behavior. Remember to stay calm yourself! If your dog exhibits resource guarding around food or treats, do not give them treats when the cat is close by. Instead, use praise and attention as rewards for staying calm.

What about using a basket muzzle for your dog during introductions? These can be an extra layer of safety, but a dog must be conditioned to wearing a basket muzzle prior to using it during training or socialization exercises. And in my opinion, if I'm worried about a dog reacting in a way that makes a muzzle necessary, then that dog likely isn't ready for a closer interaction with the cat.

Tethering for Puppies and Young Dogs

If you have an energetic puppy or teenage dog who exhibits "too much" playful behavior around the cat (such as chasing to tackle and wrestle, frustration-based barking, or simply doesn't know when to stop pestering the cat), then I highly recommend tethering as part of the integration process. This allows the cat to have freedom of movement but keeps the dog in a smaller area of the room, acclimating to more direct interactions at the cat's comfort level. This technique is best done with support from a certified dog trainer, who can help you work through any frustration-based responses your dog may exhibit during the tethering process.

Here is a before and after video, showing my client Cosmo's reaction to seeing the cats before training and then after using tethering. He is a teenage puppy who wants to play with the cats but has trouble not overwhelming them with his exuberance. We combined tethering sessions with the Mr. Rogers Hack and Engage-Disengage practice.

 

Tethering Safety: When tethering your dog, attach the leash to a harness instead of a collar to prevent injury or choking. Make sure the leash is attached to a heavy piece of furniture that your dog cannot move or other sturdy point of attachment. Place a cozy dog bed and their water within reach.

 

Play the 14U-14U Game

To help your dog or cat learn to be in close proximity with each other and to prevent jealousy issues or pushy behavior, you can play the 14U-14U game.

When starting this game, it can be helpful to use a gate in between the pets. Without a gate, I aim for having at least 3 to 4 feet of space between them, with my body in between. You say one pet's name and give them a treat, and then the second pet's name and give them a treat. This can also be done without food, but using attention and petting as the reward. They are learning that the other receiving treats or attention predicts that they will get treats or attention – they just have to wait their turn.

If they get too close to each other, calmly help them move further apart or consider using an ex-pen or gate to increase separation for more practice. Here's a video of me playing this game with puppy Alder, who is learning to be calm around Peter the cat:

 

Gradual Supervised Interactions

Over time, if both pets are comfortable, you can allow short, supervised interactions without a barrier, leash, or tether. Always monitor their behavior closely, and never leave them alone together until you are completely confident in their relationship (and your cat's ability to get away easily if needed).

Ensure the cat always has access to elevated or enclosed safe spaces where the dog cannot follow, so if they ever feel the need to get away, they can. Shared areas should have cat trees and other perches out of the dog's reach.

Continue to reinforce positive interactions with praise, and gradually increase the duration of these off-leash sessions as they demonstrate they can handle it. For some dog-cat pairs, this can happen within a couple of weeks, while for others it can take a few months.

dog cat introduction

When to Seek Professional Help

If you are at all worried about initial introductions, contact a certified professional dog trainer or certified feline behavior consultant as early as possible. They can help you set up the environment and help monitor initial introduction steps.

If there are persistent signs of fear, aggression, or extreme stress in either your dog or cat, consult a certified professional with experience working with both species. They can provide tailored guidance and strategies to address specific issues and facilitate a better relationship between your pets.

Despite your best efforts, some dogs and cats may never be fully comfortable together. If each other's presence triggers extreme stress or is unsafe, it may be best to keep them separated permanently (which can be very difficult and decrease quality of life for one, if not both, of them) or find a new home for one of them. Not all pets can or should be forced into cohabitation, and their well-being should always come first.

Remember, It Takes Time

Introducing a dog and cat takes time, patience, and an understanding of their individual personalities and preferences. Every pet is different, and there's no guarantee that they will become best friends with the new furry family member. Even cats or dogs who have done well with previous feline or canine housemates may not appreciate the new one. Always prioritize your established pet's safety and well-being – they were there first.

If you need additional help, please don't hesitate to reach out to a professional trainer or behavior consultant. I offer consultation options for dog-cat integration cases, both virtually for clients anywhere in the world and in-person in the Seattle, Wa area. I also work closely with LeeAnna Buis, a certified feline behavior specialist with Feline Behavior Solutions.

With the right approach, many dogs and cats can learn to live together, even if they don't become best buddies. Respect their comfort levels, take things slow, and celebrate small successes along the way!

Are you struggling with introducing your dog and cat to each other? Let us know your questions in the comments below!

virtual dog training and behavior consultations

About the author

Profile picture for Cathy Madson

Cathy Madson, MA, FDM, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA

As Preventive Vet's dog behavior expert and lead trainer at Pupstanding Academy, Cathy focuses on helping humans and their pets build a strong relationship based on trust, clear communication, and the use of positive reinforcement and force-free methods. With over 13 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of dogs on a wide variety of training and behavior issues. Beyond her one-on-one consultations through Pupstanding Academy, she also teaches group dog training classes at Seattle Humane. Her specialties include dog aggression, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and puppy socialization.

Cathy is a certified Family Dog Mediator, and certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, holding both the CPDT-KA and CBCC-KA designations. Cathy is a Fear Free Certified Certified Professional, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the Pet Professional Guild, and the Dog Writer's Association of America. She has also completed the Aggression in Dogs Master Course.

When she's not geeking out about dogs, you can find her reading, hiking with her two Cardigan Welsh Corgis, or paddleboarding.