How can we help our cats to accept a dog?

First, thank you for fostering. You have most likely saved a life.

I have 3 cats and a dog. Only one of the cats "accepts" my dog (more like the cat tolerates the dog). The other 2 want nothing to do with the dog. They have all lived together for over 10 years, and the dog has never bothered any of the cats. Give the cats their space. Usually the cats will mind their own business, and the dog will learn soon enough to respect that space.

Keep the dog on a leash when he is around the cats for the first few days, and be sure the cats have places to escape to if they feel threatened. This is going to sound silly, but tell the cats about the dog and call it their dog friend. Animals understand much more than we realize.

Introduce each cat individually to the dog by name. Be patient. We had a tiny (6 pound) 12 year old Rex cat when we got our first dog. She was frightened so she scratched the dog's nose. After that the dog was afraid of her and she was afraid of the dog. It took several months for her to notice that the dog was afraid. Then she was fine, in fact she was a terror. She would keep the dog away from his food and his pillow.

Be sure the cat's food and litter box are in a place the dog can't access.

It is hard to introduce any new animal to cats who aren't well socilized with other animals (Even something as simple as a lizard was difficult for me) But it is a common misconception that dogs and cats are any harder to introduce then any other combination.

Actually it has a lot to do with the dog and what it was bred for. hunting dogs have a habit to chase EVERYTHING, jack russels and bloodhounds are really bad about this. A german sheppard, as long as the dog is used to cats and won't incessently chase them around, the cats will more then likely be fine with him.

What i would do is moderate the interaction at first. maybe have them sniff each other through a safety gate of with the dog in a kennell. and then put them in a pen together, see how they react with one another. Eventually in afew weeks, you can leave them together unsupervised.

What we did was keep the dogs in one place and let our cat approach them. Once he was used to them in their pen, we let them out, but on leash. After the cat was used to that, we let them have more freedom on the leashes, and then stepped it up to them being off-leash. We let the cat approach them at each stage so that he was in control of things and that seemed to help, along with time and experience with the dogs.

Keep them separated but in a situation in which they can see and smell each other, separated by a carrier or screen door, etc. It will take some time but they should become acclimated to each other. It may work out ,but you have to be prepared just in case it doesn't

they will likely never be bosom buddies...if the dog is good with them,that is the best you can hope for...cats usually will only bond with dogs if they are raised with them from a very young age...also weed helps a great deal...

Slowly, slowly, slowly. whenever you're actually not around to oversee ascertain that your canine does not have get entry to to the kittens. once you're around do not attempt to "introduce" them, in basic terms enable the kittens have the run of the homestead and shop the canine on lead while you're apprehensive she would be able to attempt to harm them. She desires to earnings to understand their area and that kittens are actually not for chasing or tough play. Being a collie blend your canine probable has a extreme chase rigidity, so that's problematic for her to regulate herself around the kittens. you're able to coach her what's suited behaviour. the convenience is that with the collie lab impacts she could be enormously trainable and would respond nicely to reward based training. with a bit of luck you have already taught her the fundamentals so which you would be able to easily build on those instructions in the presence of the kittens. in the journey that your canine gets excited around the cats then strengthen the area she is from them and artwork on calm behaviour eg: down/wait. are not getting excited and yell at her, this in itself would be seen as rewarding. reward her each and every time she is tolerant and calm around the kittens (treats, pats, play). reward her enormously while she is calm without being asked. the nice and comfortable button is which you rather want calm behaviour around the kittens to be rewarding jointly as excited behaviour would be handed over (you're able to try this wisely in case you have her on lead). From what you have defined it sounds love that's amazingly probable that she would be able to get used to residing around the cats. i think of you basically rushed issues by using permitting her that on the ingredient of the cat on your hands. by no skill restrict the cats strikes while around the canine, they could have the means to experience risk-free and have an get away course, this would supply the kittens the better hand. that is going to additionally propose your canine won't be able to ever education undesirable behaviour like chasing or biting the kittens. stable success, persevere and that i'm specific you're able to have a harmonious enjoyed ones returned.

juz let em chill and hang out 2gether 4 a while theyll get used to each other sooner or later

It's a cat. He will get over it and eventually start playing with him. They are just stubborn.

Give them a Sh*t load of Catnip so they are so high they dont care about the dog and are just thinking "whoa! look at my paws! there so huge!"