Set up a separate room for your cat with everything they need (food, water, litter, bed, toys, scratching post). Later you’ll need a baby gate for this room. The ideal baby gate will have a small door for the cat to go through that the dog can’t fit through. Or, you can raise the gate off the floor by 5” so the cat can slip under, and the dog can’t follow.
Provide high perching spots for your cat throughout the house. e.g, cat trees, shelves, boxes on the wall.
Test some treats and find what are very “high value” for each pet. *hint: soft and stinky!*
* NOTE: these time guidelines are a suggestion. Base moving forward on both pets’ behavior–when both seem comfortable and relaxed, move to the next step. If the cat is very stressed or the dog is showing intense interest, excitement, or stress, stay at that step for longer.
Days 3 – 5 (Give your cat at least 48 hours to settle, and only start this step when your cat is relaxed and comfortable in their room)
- When the dog is in the house, keep the cat in their room.
- When the dog is away from the house allow the cat to have free roam (be sure to put the cat back in their room before the dog re-enters the home!)
- Put extra bedding in the cat’s room then bring it into the dog’s space for them to sniff, and vice versa.
- Meals should be fed on either side of the door so that both pets associate each other with good things. If either pet will not eat or shows signs of stress or excitement, move them further from the door.
Days 6 – 14
- Once or twice a day, open the door and put a baby gate up (with no option for cat to go through/under it). Keep the dog on leash, allow the pets to see each other. Feed the dog treats. If calm, move to step 3. If not, continue with this step but try the gate every couple of days.
Days 15 – 30
- Allow the cat to come out of their room if they choose (do not take the dog into the cat’s room), hold your dog on leash, reward with treats, keep at a distance.
- Keep separate when unable to directly supervise.
Days 31 – 44
- When someone is home, have the cat’s room blocked with the baby gate (small door open), but allow them to free roam.
- Reward calm behavior.
- At least once a day, actively reward the dog with treats for calm behavior when the cat is present.
- Keep separated by a closed door when no one is home.
- If there is any indication of chasing or excitement, have the dog drag a leash so it’s easy to step on and interrupt (then use treats to reward calm behavior)
Ongoing
Keep the baby gate in place for as long as needed—this could be months or longer. Having a safe place for the cat to retreat to is critical. Reward calm behavior. Go back a step or two if needed–it’s better to go slowly and build a good foundation.