Introducing a New Canine to Cats – Furtropolis

Introducing New Canine to Cats

We’ve all seen these candy footage of canine and cats cuddling collectively. The golden retriever spooning a brand new kitten, the kitten tugging on the Rottie’s face. It’s a bit like a Disney film coming to life.

With the web flooded with such cuteness, it’s pure to suppose you will get a brand new canine or new cat they usually’ll be on the spot greatest pals. Simply add awww…. However the actuality is commonly completely different.

You would possibly discover your senior cats need nothing to do with the brand new pup you’ve introduced residence. They could even present aggression towards the brand new four-legged member of the family once they come face-to-face for the primary time.

You don’t need a battle of the species in your fingers.

How does a pet guardian introduce a brand new canine to your cat(s) and have it go properly? They don’t should be on the spot pals, however you do need to handle security and hold the stress ranges low.

It begins along with your expectations.

Easy methods to Introduce a New Canine to Cats

If you’re coping with personalities, each scenario is completely different. When introducing a brand new canine to cats, perhaps they turn out to be quick pals. However a senior pet might not be thrilled with a brand new addition to the family. The hot button is realizing the animal’s personalities.

What’s your resident cat like? How previous is your kitty? What concerning the doggo? Have they got expertise with the opposite species?

In spite of everything, cats may be territorial. You don’t need to carry residence a pleasant pet bounding with power who’s going to get all the eye and see your aloof, senior cat as a playmate. That may end up in damage emotions (on the doggo’s aspect) and perhaps even a scraped nostril. You’ll even have a miffed feline in your fingers.

Right here’s how one can coordinate an introduction course of that begins issues off on the precise foot…er…paw.

Inquiries to Take into account

You’ll need to take into account the personalities of the cats and canine in query earlier than their first introduction.

• How previous are they?
• Are they easy-going? Timid? Grumpy? Aggressive?
• What’s their cat expertise/historical past?

For those who’re contemplating adopting a canine and you have already got cats, you’ll need to ask how the canine is with cats. Some are nice. Some will ignore the cat. Others will need to be playmates, others will need to chase your cat and make its life depressing.

Clearly, you don’t need the latter. Some canine have a excessive prey drive and may even see your cat as prey. Canine breeds like terriers and greyhounds fall into this class. That is intuition so don’t attempt to go in opposition to it.

For those who undertake a canine from the Humane Society, they’ll often have an concept of a canine’s character and whether or not or not he’ll be good round cats.

However let’s say the pup’s cat expertise checks out and it’s not going to make a recreation of chasing your cat.

Then what?

You’ll need to slowly introduce your new pets to 1 one other. In reality, you’ll need to fastidiously plan your introduction and people first few days at residence collectively whereas keeping track of the physique language. Additionally, let your resident cat(s) take the lead. They have been there first in any case and they are often territorial.

It’s a good suggestion to ensure your cat has an escape route. Even a cat tree may very well be ample if the canine is small and the cat can simply escape up the scratching submit.

Physique language, like the brand new canine lunging on the cat, is an indication that you just’ll have to again issues up. However different alerts may be extra refined.

You’ll additionally need to make a plan for the place the brand new canine will probably be in relation to your cat’s meals and litter field. In spite of everything, an animal behaviorist would advocate holding these vital objects out of the canine’s attain.

Let Them Scent One One other Earlier than the First Introduction

You already know canine are delicate to smells, and vice versa. You should use this to your benefit to assist them get used to 1 one other utilizing pheromones with out the potential added drama of dwell interplay.

To do that, you may take a towel or a t-shirt, go away it in a single animal’s favourite sleeping place for just a few days, then swap them. That method, every animal will get the possibility to odor the opposite earlier than they even meet them. That may assist them appear extra acquainted.

Then, attempt placing the material close to the meals dish. Now you have got the scents linked to consuming which is optimistic reinforcement.

Ideally, you are able to do this earlier than you carry the canine residence. If you do carry the canine residence, you’ll need to hold the canine and cat separated for the primary few days and supervise their first conferences.

Put together for the Meet & Greet

The primary few days set the stage on your new pet’s relationship with each other in order that first assembly is essential.

When introducing a brand new canine to cats, pet specialists advocate taking turns confining the animals so the opposite animal can discover. For instance, you would possibly confine your resident cats in a well-known room with their litter tray, meals, and water.

Embody their favourite toys and mattress if they’ve a favourite. Maintain that material that smells just like the pup in there.

In the meantime, the brand new canine can have free vary to discover (along with your supervision after all). Relying on the person canine, you might select to limit them to the kitchen or a laundry room for the primary few days as they get accustomed to the brand new setting.

Relying on how the animals are behaving, you may let the cats out to discover after just a few hours or a few days. You might need the pup crated in a separate room. This provides you the possibility to judge their conduct on this new scenario.

If the whole lot appears to be going okay, after a day or two, you may up the ante. For instance, you may let everybody out however hold them in separate rooms with a child gate in between. This lets them sniff each other with a barrier in place. You should use the optimistic reinforcement coaching technique by praising and feeding treats to each your canine and cat throughout this section.

If everybody appears OK, then you may ease the barrier away. Sustain the reward and treats to encourage optimistic associations. (Coaching treats are nice for such instances.)

Nevertheless, if the canine appears obsessive about the cat and your kitty is puffed like a Halloween ornament, then you definately’ll have to step again. Aggressive conduct can present up as lunging or growling. However, generally play is mistaken as aggressive when it’s not meant to be. For instance, a canine who’s doing a play bow and barking fortunately may be misunderstood by you and your cat.

It’s a good suggestion to ensure your cats have an escape path to their favourite hiding locations throughout these supervised conferences. That method, the kitties can run and conceal in a protected area in case your cat feels nervous.

Throughout this transition time, you don’t need to go away them unattended and unfastened. In case your pets will probably be residence alone, be sure everyone seems to be safely separated in their very own area. You may go away a canine crated and in a protected place with a closed door the place the resident cats can’t are available in, for instance.

Introducing Cats to Canines: Abstract

As you may see, it takes a little bit of planning, calm conduct, and endurance on the subject of introducing a brand new canine to cats.

You’ll need to take into account the personalities of the brand new canine and cat. Attempt to discover out their expertise with different canine and cats as that may be an indicator. Some canine have a prey intuition and will probably be aggressive with cats. That’s not one thing that’s prone to change so such a canine received’t be an excellent companion on your kitty.

But when the canine is pleasant, then introducing them to your cat may be executed safely and in a method to reduce stress. They’ll be furry pals very quickly.

Have you ever ever needed to introduce a brand new pet to an current pet? What sort of strategies did you employ? Share within the feedback!