With the rise of dog ownership in recent years, Dogs Trust has explored how pet owners introduce their new puppies to their cat companions, and how they behave. To mark National Cat Day on 29 October, the charity has shared its recent findings.
Using data from its ground-breaking Generation Pup research, a cohort study of canine health, behaviour and welfare, the charity found over a quarter of puppies (26.7%) joined a home with at least one cat.
From the study Dogs Trust found that owners introduced their puppies to their existing household feline friends at different speeds – only 40.2% did so gradually, and the remaining introduced them during the puppy’s first day in their new home. Mostly the pups behaved by playing, being over-excited and chasing their fellow furry housemate. Although to the puppy these behaviours may be friendly, they might not be perceived as such to the resident cat. Puppies were more likely to show only desirable behaviour towards the cats – from the feline perspective – such as remaining calm and uninterested, if they were introduced under 12-weeks-old, gradually and/or if they lived in a household with another dog.
Understanding the relationship between our four-legged friends is an important aspect of the charity’s work in trying to reduce the number of people who give up their dogs because of behaviour issues, as well as to help ensure that both animals are content in each other’s company.
Dogs Trust’s top tips in introducing dogs and cats:
- Scent swap – sniffs are an extremely important way dogs and cats communicate. Use their different smells to introduce your pets to each other before you bring your new pet home.
- Create separate areas – give each pet their own core area where they will feel secure and have all they need, including access to the outdoors without having to pass each other.
- Use barriers – use physical barriers such as baby gates to keep them separated, in the short term at least.
- Be present – make sure you are there to watch them and reward good behaviour. Keep your dog on a lead until you are confident that they are calm and relaxed around one another.
- Go at your cat’s pace – introductions should always be at your cat’s pace and be able to move away if they want to. Reward your dog for being calm in the presence of your cat and be at the ready to move your dog away if they show signs of being worried around your cat approaching.
- Separate when needed – if your dog tries to chase or is over-excited simply move them away or out of sight and build contact more gradually.
Dr Sara Owczarczak-Garstecka and Rachel Kinsman of Dogs Trust Canine Behaviour Research Studies, who lead the study said:
“Cats and dogs are extremely popular pets, and although they can live amicably together, understanding their relationships is highly important because the quality of the relationships can impact both animals’ welfare and potentially the owners’ wellbeing too.
“Owners for both pets need to understand cat and dog interactions to bust the myth that they don’t get along with each other. They also need to be aware of their dog’s and cat’s body language and recognise signs of stress.”
Participants in the study have shared some charming insight on the growing relationship between their furry housemates with comments including “[At] times they play very gently or play jointly with a toy, sometimes they sleep together” and “There’s a little bit of grooming each other. And they often fall asleep next to each other”.
The full research paper can be viewed here.
For advice on cats and dogs living together visit The Best Way To Introduce A Dog To A Cat .
