Overview

Despite the cliché about fighting like cats and dogs, it's perfectly possible for the two species to live happily under one roof. However, it's also possible for a cat to injure a dog, and for a dog to seriously hurt or even kill a cat. To keep everyone safe, separate your new dog and your resident cat at first and introduce them carefully.

Steps

1. Make sure the cat can escape if she needs to.
Cats are more likely to be hurt by dogs than vice versa, so create spots throughout the house--cleared-off countertops and shelves, kitty condos, and so on--where she can leap out of harm's way.

You'll also want to set up areas your dog can't get to, but your cat can. Block off rooms with baby gates, so long as your dog can't jump over them, or install cat doors that will let your cat escape outside or into another room.

Get your kitty acquainted with these escape routes and hiding places in advance by luring her with a food treat through the cat door, over a gate, or onto a safety perch.

2. Set up the cat's belongings where the dog can't get to them.
Move the cat's food, water, toys, and litter box to an area the dog can't reach. The idea is to allow the cat to do whatever she needs to do without having to go near the dog; that way, she can explore the new pooch and his territory at her own speed.

Do the rearranging a few weeks before you bring the new dog home, so she has time to get used to it. A new member of the household will be taxing enough for your cat, and having all her things moved at the same time will make it that much harder.

3. Get them used to each other's scent.
Rub a cloth on each pet and put it in the other's hang-out spot--on the dog bed, under the cat's food dish, on your lap. You may have to refresh the cloth with the animal's scent several times. Keep it up until neither one seems overly excited or distressed by the other's smell. Barking and whining from your dog and a cat's swishing tail are signs they need more time.

4. Let them investigate each other's living areas.
While the cat's outside or elsewhere in the house, bring the dog in to sniff around her lair, and vice versa, so they can explore the other's territory and scent without a direct face-off.

5. Introduce them through a door or baby gate.
Bring the dog and cat on opposite sides of a closed door or baby gate, with a person on both sides. Don't hold or restrain your cat; she'll be more scared if she feels trapped.

Let them sniff under the door or through the gate, but if your cat doesn't want to get too close, don't force her. Lavish them both with praise, attention, and treats so they associate each other with good things. Ask the dog to sit, lie down, and perform any other commands he knows, praising and rewarding him whenever he focuses on you and not the cat.

Keep practicing this step until the cat doesn't seem frightened and the dog doesn't seem overly excited.

6. Introduce them with the dog on leash.
Again, don't restrain the cat--she may panic if she feels like she can't escape this new, scary creature. Keep the dog on leash so you can stop him if he tries to give chase.

Ask the dog to obey some commands, rewarding him for focusing on you rather than on the cat.

Some cats will hiss and swipe at a curious or obnoxious dog to warn him, "Back off!" That's actually a better response than running away, which often triggers the dog to chase.

If the cat flees and your dog starts to chase her, grab the leash, firmly tell your dog, "No" or "Leave it," and ask him to sit. If he returns his attention to you, give him a food reward--a really tasty one--for his restraint.

Once your dog and cat seem fairly comfortable in each other's company, you can let them roam around together when you're home. But it's wise to separate them in different areas of the house when you go out until you're very, very sure they'll get along. Some experts recommend making this a permanent policy, to keep all the pets safe.

DogTime tip: Even if your dog is best buddies with your cat, that doesn't necessarily mean you can trust him around the neighbors' kitties. Some dogs will respect the family feline but chase any other cat that crosses their path.

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