Cross Breeds

How do you get a cat and 2 small dogs to get along?

I just moved in with my boyfriend....he has two small dogs and I have a cat that is used to being alone or just with one other cat. She is very scared and they are very loud. Right now we have her locked up in our room all the time. Tonight he took the dogs out for a couple of hours so she could try to get used to the new house. I am just scared that once we try to get them together, she is going to hide all the time and not want to come out. Anyone have any suggestions or know of a good website that could help me with this problem? Thanks!!!

Public Comments

1. Hi Aimee...by keeping your kitty in her own room is a good start until she acclimates to the new home. The introductions need to be done slowly so your kitty will not feel fearful of her new home and her new canine siblings. I'm including a few websites which offer terrific suggestions on how to introduce your cat to pre-existing resident dogs: http://www.fabcats.org/introducing.html http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/50/Introducing-Cats-to-Dogs.html http://home.ivillage.com/pets/cats/0,,mj7f,00.html
2. She is frightened because she does not know dogs and she is in a new environment. Do you have a bathroom or small room that she can live in for awhile? This will help her get used to her new surroundings and help keep her using her litterbox (place on opposite side of room as bed, food, etc.) so that you do not have any accidents in the new place. Take your time introducing her to the rest of the house and the dogs in particular. There is no rush and the more slowly things go the better. You can set up the house so that there are tall things she can climb on like shelving or tall cat trees. That gives her the option of getting up above the dogs instead of getting stuck on the floor if they end up chasing her. When she seems calm in her small room and the dogs have gotten used to her scent, you can try a meeting with the dogs well exercised and well fed and on leash. If they sleep in a crate, you can also try letting them sleep in the same room before they run around together. You can place your cat in a carrier at the same time so that the dogs do not go crazy watching a wandering cat. Dogs and cats (provided the dogs aren't cat killers - there are a few) make great companions if they are introduced slowly and if neither have had bad experiences (especially when very young) with the other species. If the dogs are very small and your boyfriend is worried, you can clip just the tips of your cat's claws before the meeting. Cats can do serious damage to a small dog if frightened and cornered. I wouldn't be too worried if your cat hisses at the dogs initially. That is a normal fear reaction that tells the dogs (as if they understood which they probably don't) to simply back the heck off for awhile at least. Over time the hissing and the like (if there are any) should go away and they will probably all end up getting along just fine.
3. sadly... they are going to have to *fight it out*... the only thing you can do is let them be animals. as long as the dogs are not Shepherds and she is not a hairless... you be ok. Most the time... they will make an agreement in a day or so. If they fight... and it is bloody... then perhaps not such a good idea to let thim together. If they just fuss with eachother... and she hisses and smacks... that is ok. To introduce them... introduce the dogs one at a time... so if something happends they are one on one... not two to one. most the of the time... two dogs will protect each other. Feed them before introducing them so that they have a full tummy... that way... they are calmer. Good luck
4. WOO HOO is exactly on point. When Cherokee first came home I had a rottweiler and a english bulldog (Goliath and David). All three were iffy about each other at first but once she laid the paw down and the dogs understood that attacking the cat was a no no things evened out. Make sure if anything she has somethings that she can hop up onto that is away from the dogs. And take down anything breakable that she might knock off. That was something I didnt think her little three pound body could do but she pulled it off with flair.
5. dont bother, dogs hate cats.
6. The cat tree is the right idea. It is the same principle when brining a new baby home to meet the family dog. They both need to have time to watch eachother with out being able to use claws! if you have a room that only has one doorway a good idea is to set the cat up in there, leave the door open but place a baby gate accross the doorway. this will enable them to see each other and have contact through the gate if they feel comfortable, and if one gets a little excited they only have to step away from the gate to reach safety. another thing to remember is that you tell your pets alot by your bodylanguage. so make sure your relaxed and calm aswell. Swap the animals bedding so they can get used to each others scent (more on this in the website link below) Another winner is make sure you take turns holding the animals during meeting time. Let each pet know you trust your partner and their pet by sitting together on the floor each hold the other's pet(s) and just talk, to eachother and the pets, keep this up for 15 or so minutes then swap pets and hold for another 15 minutes. do this for a few nights, after each session pop the animals back in their area of the house. once you have done this a few times do the first 15 minutes, then while still holding the dogs (one each would be best) let the cat wander she may run, and if she does let her she will come back to investigate soon rather than later, just as long as you hold the trust by keeping the dogs on a leash(litterally if that helps). any way if none of this helps let me know, there are many other ways to solve this one. try some of the tips in this website its a good one. goodluck Sezet_1999