| The same system can be used with cats and | | | | should bear the following considerations in mind: 1) |
| dogs, but after a week or so of eating at | | | | The cat must have escape routes and |
| opposite sides of the door, a face to face | | | | sanctuaries in the house available at all times. |
| meeting, with the dog on a lead, in the same | | | | Faced with a bothersome dog, a cat's first |
| room, can take place. Make sure the dog obeys | | | | reaction is to flee and hide rather than make a |
| its commands to 'Sit', 'Stay', etc., and have the | | | | fight of it. 2) When you are away from home |
| two animals at first on opposite sides of the | | | | during the introductory period, you should always |
| room with the cat held on somebody's lap. Titbits | | | | keep the two animals separate. 3) Always feed |
| should be proffered all round. This scenario should | | | | the cat on a shelf or a working surface - |
| be repeated many times until there is no sign of | | | | somewhere high that the dog cannot reach. As |
| aggression or fear from either party, the cat in | | | | ever, a high vantage point will give the cat a |
| particular not struggling to get away. Then the | | | | feeling of security and contentment. 4) Place the |
| two animals can slowly and progressively over a | | | | cat's litter tray somewhere where it can gain |
| number of meetings be brought closer to one | | | | access, but the dog cannot. Keep the cat flap |
| another. The dog should be praised and rewarded | | | | locked until peace and amity reign in order to |
| for good, obedient behaviour in the presence of | | | | deter the cat from leaving home for good. 5) |
| the cat, never punished, so that it does not come | | | | Feed the dog separately and alone; dog food is |
| to regard the cat as being the cause of any | | | | not suitable for cats and a cat trying to take a |
| punishment. That could lead to the dog 'taking it | | | | mouthful from the dog's bowl could cause the dog |
| out' on the cat when it got the chance. The next | | | | to react tetchily. 6) Until the dog is totally |
| stage is for you to arrange scenarios where the | | | | unconcerned by the presence of the cat, you |
| dog and cat meet in the same room with the | | | | should leave its lead attached to its collar, even in |
| door closed. Don't rush bringing the two together; | | | | the house, just in case it decides to make a dash |
| let them take their time. The dog must be | | | | for Puss and you have to grab it. 7) It is |
| watched carefully and on its best behaviour, calm | | | | sometimes worthwhile giving the cat and the dog |
| and obedient, with no excited prancing about or | | | | each its own territory; for example, the cat |
| barking. You will need patience as the scenario will | | | | having upstairs and the dog downstairs. There |
| have to be repeated perhaps many times, but | | | | should be no trespassing, to begin with at least. 8) |
| eventually the two pets will metaphorically shake | | | | Don't rush things. Remember that the introduction |
| hands, or paws, and become friends. Additional | | | | period between the two species can be as long |
| considerations When introducing a cat into a | | | | as three months or even longer. |
| household in which a dog is already resident, you | | | | |