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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/cat wont be nice to new dog
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Question
I got a new dog and brought it home that night i had my cat for 2 years and i put the cat by the dog the cat starts hissing . How can i make them friends?
Natalie,
You can't put them together and expect them to instantly be friends. It won't work that way. It can take months for them to get along. The process has to be taken slow and correctly.
Don't try to force her to be friends or she will resent them. Let her know firmly that you don't like her behavior but don't punish her for not being nice to the dog or she will associate the dog with punishment and it will be harder.
Put something the dog lays on in or near her bed so she can get used to the dogs' smell. Then when she is near them they will be a familiar smell.
Until she accepts and trusts it, only let her be around the dog under supervision to make sure she doesn't have any negative experiences with the dog that could jade her for life. And keep her claws trimmed!
I am including a couple of links to articles about cat and dog introductions. Some parts may not apply but you may find some of the information helpful. (Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar):
http://www.thedogman.net/DogmanArticlesText.asp?ID#366
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action#library&act#show&item#cattodogintro...
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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