Introducing Puppies and Cats

In this episode of Pandemic Puppy, Kayla discusses introducing your puppy to cats. 

• Everything depends on the personality of your puppy and your cat
• Set up the environment for success: hiding places, elevation for cats; baby gates, leashes
• Ensure puppy is well-exercised but not overtired/cranky
• Younger puppies adapt more quickly/easily: with MOST really young puppies and many cats, you can allow for supervised interaction pretty quickly
• Breed will vary for dogs - if your breed is more likely to be prey driven, earlier introductions are even better and management will increase through teenagerhood
• Reward BOTH animals for calm ignoring/calm interactions
  • Suggested treats for cats: meaty baby food on a popsicle stick, tuna, store-bought treats, bonito flakes
  • Consider long-lasting chews or licki mats for puppy 
• Handicap the puppy as needed, let the cat move freely
• If the puppy is highly aroused or the cat is extra nervous, use towels over baby gates and/or two baby gates for extra distance (especially for older puppies)
• Teach both animals that the presence of the other = tasty treats!

 

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Two-Part Cat Intro Podcast

Cat/Dog Introduction Video

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