Doggone Etiquette —

Dogs & Cats

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

This may come as a shock to many of you dogs, but there are some very nice cats out there. Of course, some of you already know that because you share your home with a cat that’s a good friend, but if you aren’t so lucky, you may have a lot to learn. There are plenty of friendly cats you can get along with even though you and the cats look at life a bit differently. And we’re not talking about the cat next door that hisses at you when you try to chase it. (No! That’s a bad dog!) We’re talking about a nice kitty that comes to stay as a member of the family.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:            

Let’s say you’ve had a cat for several years because your working hours were erratic and it was easier to have a cat than a dog. Now someone will be home all day and you’d like to bring a puppy onto the scene. But will it work out with dear old kitty? It certainly can work, but keep in mind that the cat has had everything – the whole house and everything in it, plus the family members – all to itself for those years.   

Success depends, to some extent, on the puppy. Actually, it will depend to a large extent on the puppy’s breed, temperament, age and size, previous exposure to people, to other dogs, and perhaps even to a cat or two. All puppies are playful, which is not always amusing to an older cat, but a hyperactive and/or excessively vocal pup would be a very poor choice under the circumstances. There is not one breed or one size that fits all when it comes to dogs and cats co-existing comfortably. However, a puppy is usually more readily accepted by an older cat, just as an older dog is more likely to accept a kitten. In the end they usually do get along very well.

That’s “in the end” so let’s start at the beginning. The most important factor is how the introduction is handled. You will have exercised the puppy outdoors before bringing him into the house, so this is the perfect time to make good use of the dog’s crate. With the pup in its crate, let the cat into the room to take stock of this canine invasion without any interference or encouragement from you. Your home has been the cat’s sole territory, so it gets to go first. The cat must handle this introduction alone. Even if there’s hissing or spitting, ignore it! The pup is safe in the crate, so don’t interfere.

The pup’s inspection of its new home must wait until the cat is out of the house or at least in another room with the door closed. If all that went relatively well, the next step is to have the puppy on your lap or next to you and again let the cat approach for a nose-to-nose inspection. At this point you can talk quietly to the puppy to keep him somewhat calm during the feline hello. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to hold the cat during any of these introductions. Chances are good you’ll be scratched and clawed. Plus, the two may never then become friends!

The final step would be to keep the puppy on leash so you’ll have control of any canine exuberance, and allow further investigation on the floor. Allow it, but do not try to force it! With good weather the pup can be with you outdoors – on lead for training, off lead for playtime – and chances are the kitty will be quite content to watch from a safe distance.

All of this works in much the same way when introducing an older resident dog to a new kitten. The cat-and-dog relationship evolves best with a sensible amount of caution on the part of the family, but without hands-on interference.

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.