Introducing a New Dog to Your Cat? Follow These Expert Steps

A successful introduction rarely begins with the animals standing face to face. The safer approach is a controlled process that allows the cat to retreat and teaches the dog that calm behaviour—not chasing—brings rewards.

Trainer Sarah Ripley used this method when introducing a kitten to a dog with a history of killing small animals. Her two-week result was unusually fast and should not be treated as a universal timetable; some introductions take weeks or months.