Introducing
Your New Cat to
Resident Pets

Pick a quiet room in the house with the litter box at one end and food, water, toys, scratching post and bed at the other. Give food treats or wet food to your resident pet and the newcomer on each side of the closed door to this room, starting at a distance where both will calmly eat. This will help them associate something enjoyable (eating) with each other’s presence. Gradually move the dishes closer to the door until they can eat calmly, directly on either side of the door. Next, use two doorstops to prop open the door just enough to allow the animals to see each other, and repeat the whole process. Make sure neither animal is able to push the door open. Bonus: this initial room confinement will also help with litter box training!

Animals get to know their environment through their sense of smell. Gently rub a towel on one animal and put it underneath the food dish of the other. You should do this with each animal in the house.

Once your new cat is using her litter box and eating regularly while confined, let her have limited and supervised access to more of the house. Let your other animals inside your new cat’s room and close the door. This switch allows free investigation of scents and it also allows the newcomer to become familiar with her surroundings without being frightened by the other animals. Keep your dog on leash if the new cat is out.

As long as the animals are calm with the above, try a supervised meeting. Choose a time when your pets are relaxed and keep the meetings short. If you have more than one resident pet, be sure to introduce the newcomer to each resident individually before allowing them to mingle as a group. If any animal becomes uncomfortable, separate them and go back to the gradual steps outlined above.

1. After your new cat and resident dog have become comfortable eating on opposite sides of the door, and have been exposed to each other’s scents, try a supervised meeting. Keep your dog on-leash and use treats to help him sit or lie down and stay. Once your dog is settled, someone else should allow your new cat into the room. They should quietly sit near the cat, but not physically touch her, and offer her some special treats or wet food. At first, the cat and the dog should be on opposite sides of the room and the visits should be very short and end on a positive note. Allow your cat freedom: Once both animals seem to be relaxed, allow your cat freedom to explore your dog at her own pace. Still keep your dog on-leash. Make sure you give your dog treats and praise for calm behavior. If your cat runs away or if either loses their calm demeanor, go back to the previous steps.
2. Continue to supervise all interactions between your dog and cat. Even with positive introductions completed, keep your dog and cat separated when you aren’t home until you are sure they are safe to leave alone.

Be sure to continue to reward your dog for sitting, coming when called, and being calm around the cat. Avoid punishment – we want your dog to have a very positive, calm association with the cat.