How to Introduce Your New Cat to Your Dog - with Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin

It's Training Cats and Dogs!

What do you do when you want to add a new cat into a house with a resident dog?

All pets are different, but for most of them, a little adjustment period is needed. How you introduce them is crucial if you want to see them getting along.

In a recent coaching call with fellow pet professional, Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin, Naomi took her through some simple steps to take to introduce her new cat, Peaches, to her dog, Husk.

Valli has always been a dog person, studying African Wild Dogs for her PhD and a career in dog population management. But cats have not been in her repertoire. She wanted some guidance on the best ways to slowly introduce her new feline family member to the household.

Naomi gives some simple tips to keep both pets happy and relaxed during this big adjustment period, as well as some management and enrichment advice.

Key Moments

[1:53] How to start planning for a new pet’s arrival

[3:30] Why you should focus on core skills in multi-animal households

[4:53] Preparing the house for a new cat

[8:41] Creating a safe space for a new cat

[15:11] Working on reinforcement strategies

[21:07] Why you should have two layers of management

[24:56] What to do if the dog doesn’t calm down around the cat

[29:29] Taking it slow when new pets meet

[35:38] Why cats need more reinforcement

[38:54] How to avoid an escaped cat

[46:11] Keeping distance at feeding time

[47:41] Enrichment activities during feeding time

Key Links

• Follow Naomi on Instagram
• Follow Valli on Instagram
• Get on the waitlist for the MERITS Method courses