Introducing your cat to a resident dog is similar to cat to cat introductions, but with a few extra steps..

1) Practice Obedience! If your dog does not already obey the commands of sit, down, stay, come and most importantly "no" or "leave it," then enroll your dog in an obedience class immediately..

2) You will set up a "base" room for the cat as detailed in the cat to cat introductions. Stages one and two are the same. Keep the dog on a leash when beginning stage three. allow the cat to approach the dog if he / she desires. When there is no hostility or fearful behavior, progress to the next stage. Do not leave the dog and cat unsupervised at first - keep the cat's food and litterbox in the base room to begin with.

3) A couple of very important points: First, the advice above holds for indoor cat to dog introductions. Be careful outdoors. Many otherwise cat friendly dogs will regard outside cats as prey to be chased down and dispatched. A strong case for inside cats! Second, make sure you praise your dog for positive interacitons with the cat more than you correct him / her for any negative interactions. Otherwise, the dog will come to the conclusion that things get rotten any time the cat is around and this will build resentment!


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