Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My cat is defensive. How to introduce him to dogs in a new home?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My cat has lived with dogs and cats before. We have been living just him and I though for the past two years. Whenever he has come into contact with animals since then he gets very defense (hisses, growls, etc.) there is a possibility we could be moving into a house with two dogs. I was wondering if it’s possible that he will eventually get alone with the dogs and what I can do to help.

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 18th, 2020

I would slowly introduce him to the dogs. When you first bring your cat home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure your cat has a litter box, food, and water in his room. You can also place a blanket with the dogs's smell in the cat's room, and a blanket with the cat's smell in the dogs's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your cat and a DAP for the dogs. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once all the pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the cat in the dogs's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are all comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce the dogs on a leash to the cat while he is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward the dogs for being calm and quiet near the cat. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure your cat has a cat tree where he can escape from the dogs as needed, and don't allow the dogs to chase the cat.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What is the best way to introduce our new cat to our current dogs?
Great question! Introducing them should be done slowly. When you first bring Mousewhisker (I love his name!) home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure your cat has a litter box, food, and water in their room. You can also place a blanket with the dogs's smell in the cat's room, and a blanket with the cat's smell in the dogs's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your cat and a DAP for your dogs. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once all the pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the cat in the dogs's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are all comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce the dogs on a leash to the cat while he is in a cat carrier or on
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
New kitten. I have 2 dogs. How can I introduce them? They seem fine when the kitten is in a cage but the sharpei gets too excited and then kitten starts hissing. Kitten been hiding so far. Comes out a bit but sharpei runs to t when it sees it
Great question! I can give you a method for introducing them to each other: Introducing them should be done slowly. When you first bring your kitten home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure your kitten has a litter box, food, and water in their room. You can also place a blanket with the dogs' smell in the kitten's room, and a blanket with the kitten's smell in the dogs' room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your kitten and a DAP for your dogs. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once all the pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the kitten in the dogs' room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are all comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce the dogs on a
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat is almost 12 years old and I've had him his whole entire life. Junior has always gotten very upset around dogs and to his luck I'm moving into an apartment soon and a small dog will be present. What special measures can I take to make sure the
Great question! I can give you a method of introducing Junior to this dog that will hopefully allow them to live together in peace. Introducing them should be done slowly. When you first move into your new home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure Junior has a litter box, food, and water in their room. You can also place a blanket with the dog's smell in his room, and a blanket with theJunior's smell in the dog's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your cat and a DAP for the dog. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once both pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing Junior in the dog's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
How can I introduce a dog-fearing cat and a dog? Would adopting an adult dog or a puppy be better? My cat HATES dogs-even dogs who don't care about her. A dog I am thinking of adopting is a 3 year old husky mix, and he has met my cat before and has n
Great question! I can give you a method for introducing them that may make it easier for Thrasher to accept a dog into your home. Introducing them should be done slowly. When you first bring your dog home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure Trasher has a litter box, food, and water in her room. You can also place a blanket with the dog's smell in the cat's room, and a blanket with the cat's smell in the dog's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for Thrasher and a DAP for your dog. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once both pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the cat in the dog's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello i have a question about bringing new cats together. I have 2 cats of my own both aged 2 but have recently moved out of the house I had with my boyfriend and I'm back living with my mum. She has 3 cats aged 6 and one is 8 . to bring my cats into
I can give you a method for transitioning your cats into your mother's home. I would slowly introduce them to each other. Take your cats, and put them in their own room with their own food, water, and litter box. Keep the door closed, and for a few days, feed them all treats on other side of door so they associate each other's smell with a good experience. Then let the other cats in your cats's room while your cats are in cat carriers. They can smell each other, but not be in contact. If anyone becomes upset or show signs of aggression, remove the other cats from the room, and try again later. Praise them when they interact appropriately. When they are interacting well with each other through the carrier, you can let your cats out of their room, and see how they interact with the other cats. Praise them when they interact appropriately, and separate them with any sign of aggression or upset. I would get a cat tree with lots of shelves to give the cats vertical space to get aw
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Got a shelter dog 3 days ago. This Lab mix goes after my 8 yr old cat. How do I stop this?
Introducing them should be done slowly. For now, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. Make sure your cat has a litter box, food, and water in their room. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. You can also place a blanket with the Rocky's smell in the cat's room, and a blanket with the cat's smell in the Rocky's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your cat and a DAP for your dog. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once both pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the cat in the Rocky's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce Rocky on a leash to the cat while he is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward him for being calm and quiet
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi there, I am going to be dog sitting a friend’s dog, however I have a cat who is generally quite anxious. Any advice on how to make this a easy as possible for my cat.
I suggest you put some Feliway diffusers in your house starting about a week before the dog is to come over. This is basically "happy cat" pheromones and they really work to decrease stress. Their website has a lot of great information. ( https://www.feliway.com/uk/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser ) Also, make a "safe space" for your cat so that, if needed, she can get away from the dog. The best way to do this is to put a baby gate up across the door to one room so that the cat can get in but the dog can't. Put the litter box, food and water in there. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
How do you help an older cat (8 years) get along with a younger dog (2 years)? The cat is adopted from a shelter and was previously just roaming the streets. The dog has never been around a cat before, only other dogs. He is not hostile toward her, j
The key is with slow introductions. Adding in barriers or baby gates that your cat can get over but your dog can't can also make it easier for your cat to get away if they need. It is also a good idea to make sure your cat has access to their own access to food, water, litterboxes, and bedding/hiding places without your dog being able to harass them. Adding in a pheromone diffuser such as Comfort Zone in shared spaces can also help with stress. You also only want to let them interact when you are home to supervise as even the best behaved dog can still accidentally injure a smaller cat. Otherwise, giving them time to observe and interact, and separating them if they become too stressed can help during the adjustment period.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
I have a 5 yr old dorkie and want to get a cat. I sadly lost mine a yr ago. Olivia is very much mine and stays by me all the time. I feel like I need to be able to appropriately bond with the cat but I don’t think I can hurt Olivia’s feelings. Eventu
I'm so sorry your lost your cat a year ago. If you do decide to get another cat, I can give you a way to introduce them. Introducing them should be done slowly. When you first bring your cat home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure your cat has a litter box, food, and water in their room. You can also place a blanket with the Olivia's smell in the cat's room, and a blanket with the cat's smell in the Olivia's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your cat and a DAP for Olivia. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once both pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the cat in the Olivia's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
Do cats and kittens get along? When I bring my kitten home to my cat and 2 dogs,should I have kitten and cat share the same litter box and same food and water bowl? And since my cat has already gotten along with my dogs,do think the kitten will get a
This will depend on the individual animals. A gradual introduction would be recommended for any new additions. Allow them to hear and smell the kitten but not see it, then allow sight but not physical contact and finally, allow short periods of supervised physical interactions until all parties have accepted one another. Ideally, there should be 1 litterbox per cat plus an additional box in a neutral location. Use separate food bowls to prevent food aggression. Provide additional beds, toys and scratching posts to prevent resource protection. A pheromone product, such as Feliway spray or plug in diffuser, may decrease any anxiety or aggression between the older cat and the kitten.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Cat Supplies Cat Food Wet Cat Food Cat Training & Behavior Cat Toys Cat Potty Training Cat Repellents & Deterrents Cat Furniture & Scratchers Cat Gates & Doors Calming Aids for Cats Comfort Zone Cat Training & Behavior Vetality Cat Training & Behavior Sentry Cat Training & Behavior Keep Off! Cat Training & Behavior PetSafe Cat Training & Behavior World's Best Cat Litter Cat Training & Behavior New Cat Condos Cat Furniture & Scratchers Pet Loo Cat Training & Behavior Dr. Elsey's Cat Training & Behavior Four Paws Cat Training & Behavior
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored