Dogs and A New Maine Coon Cat?

Question

My two yorkies have always lived with a cat until recently. Someone gave me a 1 year old Maine Coon cat. What's the best way to get them together? I know the cat lived with other cats, but not dogs. I want to make this as least stressful as possible.

Thanks

Answer 1

Keep the cat in a closed-off room (a spare bedroom is a great place) with his/her food, water, and litter box. Let the dogs sniff at the door all they want, and the cat can do the same from the other side.

When all three start ignoring the door that blocks them from each other (could be days or weeks), take the cat out of the room in a carrier. Set the carrier on the floor where the dogs can see inside and the cat can see outside. Let them sniff each other through the carrier's gate, look at each other, and expect hissing and barking like crazy. Do this every day for a few weeks, keeping the cat in the closed-off room when you aren't doing this (and make sure you are supervising when you do take the cat out of the room), and when there is no hissing or aggressive barking (playful barking and meowing are acceptable), then start taking the cat out each day not in the carrier. Make sure you supervise these visits very well, and if any of the animals show signs of aggression (growling on any pet''s part, swatting with claws (swatting without claws is acceptable), or biting, then remove the animal that is showing aggression. Do these visits for a few minutes at first, then slowly extend them until the cat is out for several hours at a time. If the hours-long visits go well (no aggression on anyone's part), then it's time for the cat to be allowed out all the time. Keep supervising everyone, and when you leave the house, make sure the cat is in the closed-off room.

When you are certain that there will be no fighting, then you don't have to put the cat in the closed-off room when you leave the house.

This may be a very quick and easy process, taking only a few weeks, or it may be a long drawn-out process, taking months. The main thing to remember is to not get impatient. Let them get used to each other slowly, and soon they will either be friends or at least be neutral towards eac other.

One more thing...make sure to keep visiting times as positive as possible. Don't punish anyone during these times, except by removing them from the space. Give lots of treats and play with them while they visit, so that they will soon associate each other with fun and food.