How to introduce a dog and a cat at home, step by step

Cats and dogs are often portrayed as enemies, but many live together happily. Cats Protection notes that introducing a cat to a dog can be easier than introducing two cats. The key is a slow, controlled introduction. It's much easier to get it right first time than to repair a relationship after a bad start.

This guide works whether you're bringing a new dog home to a resident cat, or a new cat home to a resident dog.

Before you start

Think about both animals as individuals. Cats Protection suggests considering:

• their personalities and ages
• any health problems
• their past experiences with the other species
• how they've reacted to the other species before

Make sure your dog has some basic training. They should respond well to cues such as "sit", "down" and "come", and be able to stay calm. You'll use these throughout the introduction.

Step 1: Set up separate spaces

Each pet needs a safe area where they can eat, drink, rest, play and go to the toilet without meeting the other.

For a cat, use a quiet room the dog can't get into, ideally away from busy areas and noisy appliances. Include:

• a bed or blanket
• a litter tray
• food and water bowls
• somewhere to hide, such as a cardboard box
• high places to climb, such as shelves or a cat tree

For a dog, use a sectioned-off part of the house rather than one small room, as being confined in a small space can cause frustration. Baby gates and puppy pens help you keep them apart.

If you already have a pet, make sure they're relaxed in their own space before the new arrival comes home.

Step 2: Swap scents

Dogs and cats learn a lot about each other through smell. Scent swapping helps each animal get used to the other before they meet.

1. Take two clean cloths, one for each animal.
2. Gently rub the cat's cloth around their cheeks and forehead.
3. Rub the dog's cloth around their armpits and along their sides.
4. Put the cat's cloth in the dog's area, and the dog's cloth in the cat's area.
5. Let each animal choose whether to sniff or ignore it.
6. Repeat once a day to keep the scent fresh.

You can also swap bedding or toys. Move on when both animals show no reaction to the other's scent, or only mild interest.

Step 3: Let them see each other through a barrier

Next, let them see each other without being able to touch. A glass patio door, a reinforced screen door, a baby gate or a clear panel all work.

• Have two people present, one for each animal.
• Keep the dog on a lead if they might try to jump or push through the barrier.
• Start with sessions of about five minutes.
• Let both animals approach or move away from the barrier as they choose.
• Reward your dog for calm behaviour, such as glancing at the cat and looking away, or lying down.
• If your dog becomes fixated on the cat, use their training to redirect their attention.

Repeat over several days. If both stay relaxed, lengthen each session by about a minute at a time. It's better to end early on a good note than carry on until something goes wrong.

Step 4: The first face-to-face meeting

Only move on when both animals stay relaxed when they see each other through the barrier.

Before the meeting:

• Take your dog for a good walk so they're calmer.
• Keep external doors and windows closed.
• Have two people present.
• Keep your dog on a lead, short enough that they can't reach the cat.
• Make sure the cat can leave the room or reach a high place the dog can't.

During the meeting:

• Let the cat decide whether to approach. Never carry, hold or push your cat towards the dog.
• Don't put the cat in a carrier. Being trapped stops them escaping or hiding and can make them more stressed.
• Keep your dog busy with simple training and reward calm behaviour.
• Never let the dog chase the cat if the cat runs away.
• Keep it short. If both stay calm, reward both with a treat.

Cats Protection suggests a pheromone diffuser may help some cats feel calmer during introductions.

Step 5: Build up slowly

Repeat short, calm meetings over several days, gradually making them longer. As your dog becomes calmer, you can loosen the lead. Only let your dog off lead around the cat when:

• the dog shows little or no interest in the cat and won't chase them
• the cat is relaxed with the dog nearby
• both stay calm

Even then, don't leave them together unsupervised until you're completely sure they're comfortable. When you can't watch them, separate them with a closed door.

Signs to slow down

If either pet reacts strongly, go back a step.

A stressed cat may back away, put their ears down, have wide pupils, hiss or swipe.

A fearful dog may lower their tail, show the whites of their eyes or growl.

An over-interested dog may stare fixedly at the cat, pull strongly on the lead, whine or bark, react sharply to the cat's movements or try to chase.

If problems continue, ask your vet to rule out medical causes, then for a referral to a qualified behaviourist.

Living together day to day

• Keep cat food out of the dog's reach. Feed the cat up high, behind a barrier or when the dog is busy elsewhere.
• Protect the litter tray. Put it where the cat can reach it easily but the dog can't, so the cat can toilet in peace.
• Give the cat escape routes. Cat trees, wall shelves and covered beds let them move away from the dog.
• Meet your dog's needs. Enough exercise, play, sniffing games and training make a dog less likely to pester the cat.
• Give the dog a safe outlet for chasing. Throw toys for them, so they're less tempted to chase the cat.