When introducing your two pets this way, you should expect some excitement. It is okay if your kitten hisses and spits at your dog, they are just asserting their boundaries to a new creature. The goal from these first few introductions is positive reactions, or even just apathy.
Regular exercise and play help your cat exert any pent-up energy and aggression that might otherwise be taken out on your pup. If your cat is prone to lashing out when they're overstimulated, move your dog to another room until playtime is over.
If the cat's back arches up, if he hisses or emits a low growl, his tail begins to swish, and/or ears are pinned back then slowly move the dog away from the cat. The cat is not happy with the presence of the dog and may lunge at the dog. The goal is for all encounters to be positive.
The most common includes fear; but defense, territorial, redirected, play, pain, and discomfort could cause aggression towards a new dog. A fearful cat may exhibit dilated pupils, ears turning back, or a twitching tail. In this situation, your cat may growl, hiss or swat at your dog.
Keep your dog next to you on a secure leash while the kitten/cat is in the room and give them both praise and treats to reward calm behaviour. It is helpful to have another person with you during this time if possible so each animal can be praised and rewarded at the same time.
Introducing a dog and cat may take a couple of weeks to a few months, depending on your individual pets. Always monitor your pets for signs of fear, anxiety, or stress, and progress at a rate they are comfortable with. A positive reinforcement-based trainer can help you introduce the pets if you're feeling overwhelmed.
This is because they have very different body language styles that can lead to some mixed signals. A kitten's attempt at play might be interpreted as aggression by your dog or vice versa. So be prepared to take every step slowly. It could take weeks or more before they're calm and comfortable with each other.
Once it is clear that the cat has seen the dog, observe whether the cat seems relaxed. A relaxed cat will move about calmly and confidently, will not glare at the new dog, and will not try to flee from the dog. If the cat is growling, hissing or attempting to scratch, it means she is currently uncomfortable.
Cat-dog relationships can take weeks to fully develop. Whether it's new to the household or a longtime family member, a cat needs access to a dog-free sanctuary before they ever meet. Cat-dog relationships can take weeks to fully develop, which makes it a good idea to give your cat a safe place of their own.
Your cat will stop hissing if she can learn that a particular dog is not a threat to her food or her life. If they are both pets in the house, they can be trained.
Your cat views the house as her own. She likely considers the puppy as an interloper in her territory. As well, the rambunctious behavior of puppies is a considerable affront to the dignified sensibilities of most cats.
Helping your cat be OK with a dog
Try feeding your cat tasty kitty treats while they're in the dog's presence. During this exercise, make sure the dog can't chase the cat. Also, modify the environment so that your cat has a safety zone, a place that is inaccessible to your dog.
If you want to know how to train a kitten to come to you or do other "dog" tricks, clicker training is a great method. Make sure your training sessions are appealing to the "cat brain," which means you need to find a treat that motivates your kitten. You also want to keep the training sessions short and sweet.
Since dogs and cats are completely different specifies, they need time to figure out how to peacefully live with one another. Cats, in particular, can be extremely territorial. Bringing a new puppy into the house is a stressful experience for most cats. Your cat may act uncharacteristically out of fear and jealousy.
In the most general terms, though, the best strategy would be to adopt first a middle-aged, well-mannered dog who shows little interest in cats, and then a kitten who has been raised in a household with friendly or indifferent dogs around.
time is right to let your pets meet without the pen/ large crate. Choose a room where the cat can escape behind furniture, jump up high, or hide if necessary. The cat should be given a safe position in the room, and the animals should be allowed to get used to each other gradually. This will take patience.
Because they're so much smaller, kittens are in more danger of being injured, of being killed by a young energetic dog, or by a predatory dog. A kitten will need to be kept separate from an especially energetic dog until she is fully grown, and even then she should never be left alone with the dog.
If your dog has a strong prey drive (the inclination to seek out, chase and potentially capture animals seen as prey — usually smaller animals such as cats or rabbits), she might become very focused on the cat. She'll stiffen, stare, and may start barking or whining. If you see these signs, do not let her near the cat.
Harris said that while anecdotal accounts tell of dogs being jealous of partners, cats and babies, the animals' jealousy is thought to be primordial and similar to that seen in babies.
You can start by securing your puppy with a leash so that he can't get at your cat, and have a friend bring your cat into the room. The goal is to reward your pup for exhibiting good, calm behaviors such as sitting still, lying down and showing disinterest in the cat.
Dogs have a natural instinct to chase smaller animals that flee, an instinct common among cats. Most cats flee from a dog, while others take actions such as hissing, arching their backs and swiping at the dog. After being scratched by a cat, most dogs will become fearful of cats.