When a new animal arrives, it's natural to want them to meet as soon as possible and watch them become friends. That's exactly what tends to go wrong. The animal already living at home feels like someone has entered its territory, the newcomer is scared, and a tense first meeting can shape their relationship for months. If you take it slowly, the odds change a lot.
Before they arrive
Preparation starts a few days beforehand.
- Set up a room for the newcomer with a bed, water, food and, if it's a cat, a litter box and a hiding place. This will be its base for the first few days.
- Double up on resources. Each animal should have its own bowl, bed and toys. For cats, the recommendation is one litter box per cat plus an extra one.
- Swap scents. Rub a towel or a soft blanket on each animal and leave the other's near its bed. That way they start getting to know each other without seeing each other.
- Check the newcomer's health. Make sure it has been to the vet, is dewormed and has up-to-date vaccinations before they share any space.
Dog with dog
Dogs are best introduced on neutral ground and on the move.
- Meet on a quiet street or in a park that isn't busy, with each dog on its own leash and a different person.
- Start by walking in parallel, several meters apart, without forcing them to get closer. Gradually reduce the distance if both are relaxed.
- Let them sniff each other for a few seconds with the leash loose, then calmly separate them and keep walking. Several short contacts are better than one long one.
- Go into the house together after the walk, with the resident dog going in first, and remove any toys and bones that could cause disputes beforehand.
Pay attention to the signals: a loose body, play bows and pauses are good signs. A stiff body, a fixed stare, tense lips or growling mean they need more distance and time.
Cat with cat
Cats cope worse with change, so patience is even more important here. The process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
- Complete separation at first. The newcomer stays in its room. They can hear and smell each other under the door, but they can't see each other.
- Swap spaces. Let each one explore the other's area while the other is in a different part of the house.
- Visual contact with a barrier. A door left slightly open with a stopper, a screen or a baby gate. Give them food or treats on each side so they associate the other's presence with something good.
- Short supervised meetings, with escape routes and high spots for both.
A little hissing is normal. If there's chasing, fur-flying fights, or one of them stops eating or using the litter box, go back a step. Having more than one scratching post helps each cat mark its space without clashing; in how to choose a scratching post we give you some ideas.
Dog with cat
The key here is for the cat to feel safe and always have a way to escape.
- For the first meetings, keep the dog on a leash and the cat free, in a room where it can climb onto a high piece of furniture.
- Reward the dog when it looks at the cat and stays calm, or when it looks away. Don't let it chase the cat "to play": for the cat, it's not a game.
- Protect the cat's areas. Keep its food, litter box and bed somewhere the dog can't reach.
- Be careful with dogs that have a strong hunting instinct. In those cases, it's best to ask a dog trainer for help before leaving them together unsupervised.
Mistakes to avoid
- Forcing contact, such as holding the cat in your arms in front of the dog.
- Punishing growls or hisses. They're useful warnings. If you punish them, the animal learns not to warn you.
- Neglecting the resident pet. Keep its routines, its walks and its time with you. If it feels it has lost its place, tension rises.
- Leaving them alone together too soon. Until they've been living together peacefully for a while, separate them when you're not around.
When should you ask a professional for help?
If there are still fights after several weeks, one of the animals spends its time hiding, or you notice changes in its appetite or behavior, talk to your vet and a behavior professional. Sometimes a more detailed plan is needed, and the sooner it's addressed, the better.
A second refuge for the cat of the house or a bed of its own for the newcomer helps a lot during these days. In beds and rest for cats you'll find beds, caves and hammocks so each one has a spot of their own.