Dr. Liz

My dog 8 months is trying very hard to get my cat 1-3 years to play but it always ends up with the cat hissing under the bed. How can I make them get along?

- M

This is an age old problem, the introduction of a new pet is always stressful on the existing pet. Cats and dogs fight brutally at first because they are protecting their territory. It is important to ease any new pets into your living environment. 

The age of the pets you are attempting to socialize does not matter, cats and dogs fight. It is up to you to make both feel comfortable and at ease in each others presence. 

Dog and Cat Socialization

• Be patient- Both of your animals need time to adjust to their new situation. Take the time to let both animals get to know each other. This socialization time should be supervised until you are confident that both animals are comfortable in each others presence. 
• Own space- It is important that each animal feels like it has it's own space. Create allocated areas that are reserved exclusively for each. 
• Feeding- It is always a good idea to keep the feeding areas separate. Cats and dogs can become jealous of each other if they feel that they have to compete for food. 
• Attention- In the initial adjustment period it is important not to favor either animal. This will foster a feeling of jealousy and hurt, your pets will then fight and act out in order to regain your attention.
• Supervised play- Let both pets have supervised play time, it is in this time that they will learn to read each others body language and behavior. 
• Sent recognition- Holding your cat in your arms let the animals sniff each other. You holding the cat lets your dog know that this animal is safe and part of the family. 

This process can take a bit of getting used too, for both animals. Be patient, allow as much calm supervised interaction time as possible. As a rule your cat will only attack if it feels like it is back into a corner. Ensure that your play environment is complete with a cat safety area. This will go a long way to speeding up the process. Both Luke and M asked for help with this issue, it is something that affects many pet owners. Once your pets get along, your home, and your pets will be happier. 

- Dr. Liz