Keep a water pistol handy in case a fight breaks out. Let the animals know this is unacceptable by banishing them to separate areas of the house for a time-out. "But you don't want it to be the confinement room or a crate," says Mawer. "You don't want the animals to associate those places with anything negative."
6. Good behaviour
When the animals are together, give them both treats. This teaches them that good things happen for one when the other is around. “We want to encourage the cat with as many rewards as possible to be around the dog and not be frightened of it," says Landsberg. "But with the dog, we want to teach it how to behave around the cat."
Once the animals have been introduced and the old guard seems to realize – and hopefully accept – that the new, four-legged creature is here to stay, you need to ensure that they are able to live together peacefully. Here are some tips for keeping the calm.
Give the cat an escape route
Have lots of perching and climbing areas in case it needs to get away or just wants to be left alone. A corner suite is ideal since the cat can monitor its surroundings.
Feed them separately
"Even a dog who is good with cats can show food aggression when the cat comes near its bowl," says Mawer. Give each animal space and time for its meals. Either fed them together but elevate the cat's food, or feed the cat in a separate room, adds Landsberg.
Hide the kitty litter
For reasons known only to them, dogs see the contents of a cat's litter box as a snack, but eating a cat's stool can lead to health problems such as diarrhea. For the cat, not having easy access to its litter box can be stressful and lead to house soiling. Have one or two boxes per cat in your home so it has options, and keep them in areas that are accessible only for the cat.
Know each animal's behaviours and tendencies
Each one has its own personality, and over time you will learn to recognize when one has had enough of the other. If they've had aggressive encounters before, anytime they're in the same room, keep them housed separately and never leave them unsupervised.
Don't force them to play together
But you can encourage them through positive associations. Give each animal lots of attention when they're in the same area. And reward spontaneous behaviour, says Landsberg; if the dog approaches the cat in a friendly manner, give him a treat and vice versa. "Keeping things positive and saving the treats and rewards for when they're together is the best way to encourage them to play together," he says.
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