Changes

* Cats that are expected to live alongside dogs should be [[Feline Socialisation|well-socialised]] with them during kittenhood.  

* Cats that are expected to live alongside dogs should be [[Feline Socialisation|well-socialised]] with them during kittenhood.  

* Cats should be provided with a number of easily accessible escape routes: baby-gates, high perches etc. These enable to the cat to avoid contact with the dog.

* Cats should be provided with a number of easily accessible escape routes: baby-gates, high perches etc. These enable to the cat to avoid contact with the dog.

* The cat should have at least on dedicated location where it can access food, water,a latrine, and resting sites away from contact with the dog.

* The cat should have at least on dedicated location where it can access food, water, a latrine, and resting sites away from contact with the dog.

* Introductions should be careful managed.

* Introductions should be carefully managed.

* Dogs should not be introduced to cats unless they are trained to respond to a range of basic commands that enable them to be verbally controlled.

* Dogs should not be introduced to cats unless they are trained to respond to a range of basic commands that enable them to be verbally controlled.

* During all initial encounters the dog should be restrained.

* During all initial encounters the dog should be restrained.

As with all fear and anxiety problems, the key aspect of prevent is experience during the sensitive period; kittens that have had positive experience with dogs are more likely to become adults that are able to cope with living with a dog.

As with all fear and anxiety problems, the key aspect of prevention is experience during the sensitive period; kittens that have had positive experience with dogs are more likely to become adults that are able to cope with living with a dog.

However, most cases of fear of other species involve the introduction of a dog to a household with a cat, or vice versa. Prevention therefore involves the first encounters between cat and dog.

However, most cases of fear of other species involve the introduction of a dog to a household with a cat, or vice versa. Prevention therefore involves the first encounters between cat and dog.

When introducing cats to unfamiliar dogs, it is important to allow the cat an escape route which allows it to get away from the dog without triggering a chase behaviour. Once dogs have learned how rewarding it is to chase a cat, it may be very difficult to get the animals to coexist.  

When introducing cats to unfamiliar dogs, it is important to allow the cat an escape route which allows it to get away from the dog without triggering chase behaviour. Once dogs have learned how rewarding it is to chase a cat, it may be very difficult to get the animals to coexist.  

===Preparing the environment===

===Preparing the Environment===

If the dog is introduced in the cat's home, then additional escape opportunities should be provided in advance of the first meeting (high shelves or a baby-gate are ideal). These should allow the cat to get away easily but still remain in sight of the dog. The cat should also be provided with a dedicated room to which it can freely go to rest, eat, drink, go to the toilet and avoid contact with the dog. Having a completely secure location of this kind enables the cat to feel safe exploring its environment. Baby gates should be installed to ensure that no unplanned encounters occur between cat and dog.

If the dog is introduced in the cat's home, then additional escape opportunities should be provided in advance of the first meeting (high shelves or a baby-gate are ideal). These should allow the cat to get away easily but still remain in sight of the dog. The cat should also be provided with a dedicated room to which it can freely go to rest, eat, drink, go to the toilet and avoid contact with the dog. Having a completely secure location of this kind enables the cat to feel safe exploring its environment. Baby gates should be installed to ensure that no unplanned encounters occur between cat and dog.

If the dog and cat are to be introduced in an environment that is unfamiliar to the cat, the cat should be introduced to the environment and allowed to fully settle win before the first introduction. For example, the cat should be initially confined to a room of its own, with food, water, latrine and resting sites. Once the cat is familiar with this room, it can be allowed to have access to more of the home, with barriers such as baby gates installed to prevent accidental encounters between dog and cat. The cat and dog would then be introduced in a room within the house where the cat is entirely comfortable and has already learned to use hiding and climbing places, and exits.

If the dog and cat are to be introduced in an environment that is unfamiliar to the cat, the cat should be introduced to the environment and allowed to fully settle in before the first introduction. For example, the cat should be initially confined to a room of its own, with food, water, latrine and resting sites. Once the cat is familiar with this room, it can be allowed access to more of the home, with barriers such as baby gates installed to prevent accidental encounters between dog and cat. The cat and dog should then be introduced in a room within the house where the cat is entirely comfortable and has already learned to use hiding and climbing places, and exits.

A synthetic analogue of the F3 fraction of facial and flank marking pheromones (Feliway) may be used to reduce underlying anxiety and stress.

A synthetic analogue of the F3 fraction of facial and flank marking pheromones (Feliway) may be used to reduce underlying anxiety and stress.

The distance a cat must move in order to escape is important. If a cat has to run a long distance it may panic, especially if the floor is slippery. Escape opportunities must therefore be very easily accessible within a few paces.

The distance a cat must move in order to escape is important. If a cat has to run a long distance it may panic, especially if the floor is slippery. Escape opportunities must therefore be very easily accessible within a few paces.

===Preparing the dog===

===Preparing the Dog===

The dog should be trained to reliably respond to a range of basic commands, and in particular a "leave" command (the dog stops following or chasing a thrown ball, and returns to the owner on command). If the dog exhibits high levels of arousal or territorial behaviour when it encounters cat in its garden or on the street, then this training is particularly important ad can be tested in these other situations. If a dog cannot be controlled using verbal commands, then it is not ready to be introduced to the cat.  

The dog should be trained to reliably respond to a range of basic commands, and in particular a "leave" command (the dog stops following or chasing a thrown ball, and returns to the owner on command). If the dog exhibits high levels of arousal or territorial behaviour when it encounters a cat in its garden or on the street, then this training is particularly important ad can be tested in these other situations. If a dog cannot be controlled using verbal commands, then it is not ready to be introduced to the cat.  

If the planned introduction of a particular dog is delayed by the need for it to be trained, it may be possible to use a stooge dog, that is know to be relaxed around cats, for initial introductions. This enables the cat to become used to introduction to a dog, which will help to increase the its confidence in preparation for the real introduction.

If the planned introduction of a particular dog is delayed by the need for it to be trained, it may be possible to use a stooge dog, that is known to be relaxed around cats, for initial introductions. This enables the cat to become used to introduction to a dog, which will help to increase the its confidence in preparation for the real introduction.

===Controlled exposure===

===Controlled Exposure===

Cats are not only alarmed by the sight of dogs, but also by their smell and the sounds they make. It is possible to habituate the cat to recordings of the noises that dogs make and their body odour. Placing pieces of the dog's bedding into the safe room occupied by the cat, enables it to explore, investigate and habituate to the smell. Sound desensitisation may be important in cases where the dog to be introduced is noisy and vocal.

Cats are not only alarmed by the sight of dogs, but also by their smell and the sounds they make. It is possible to habituate the cat to recordings of the noises that dogs make and their body odour. Placing pieces of the dog's bedding into the safe room occupied by the cat, enables it to explore, investigate and habituate to the smell. Sound desensitisation may be important in cases where the dog to be introduced is noisy and vocal.

===First introduction===

===First Introduction===

It can be very difficult to overcome memories of a first encounter between cat and dog that results in intimidation or chasing. From the dog's perspective, this first encounter can be exhilarating and frustrating; the dog becomes highly excited to see the cat and frustrated then it cannot approach or chase it. From the cat's perspective, there may have been feelings of intense fear or panic due to being barked at or purred. The first encounter must therefore be highly controlled, in order to avoid barking, chasing or other behaviours that indicate excitement for the dog and may be frightening for the cat.

It can be very difficult to overcome memories of a first encounter between cat and dog that results in intimidation or chasing. From the dog's perspective, this first encounter can be exhilarating and frustrating; the dog becomes highly excited to see the cat and frustrated that it cannot approach or chase it. From the cat's perspective, there may have been feelings of intense fear or panic due to being barked at or purred. The first encounter must therefore be highly controlled, in order to avoid barking, chasing or other behaviours that indicate excitement for the dog and may be frightening for the cat.

The dog should be distracted and controlled; leashed, and positively reinforced for staying sat or down on a bed close under close supervision. The cat should be allowed to enter the room and approach to a position from which it is able to watch the dog. With repeated experience, the cat should grow in confidence entering the room. The dog must receive repeated reinforcement for not reacting to the cat, as it moves around the floor, climbs, jumps and plays. Once it is clear that the dog is well controlled, then the same exercises can be carried out with the dog on an extendable leash, and ultimately off leash. Baby gates should remain until it is clear that no problem is developing.

The dog should be distracted and controlled; leashed, and positively reinforced for staying sitting down or on a bed under close supervision. The cat should be allowed to enter the room and approach to a position from which it is able to watch the dog. With repeated experience, the cat should grow in confidence entering the room. The dog must receive repeated reinforcement for not reacting to the cat, as it moves around the floor, climbs, jumps and plays. Once it is clear that the dog is well controlled, then the same exercises can be carried out with the dog on an extendable leash, and ultimately off leash. Baby gates should remain until it is clear that no problem is developing.

There is some evidence that a synthetic form of the F4 fraction of the feline facial and flank marking pheromone (Felifriend) can facilitate interactions between cats and novel social stimuli<ref>Mills, D.S., Dube, M.B., Zulch, H. (2012) Stress and Pheromonatherapy in Small Animal Clinical Behaviour. Wiley-Blackwell.</ref>. When applied to the shoulder and neck area of dogs, it may reduce avoidant behaviour by cats. However, this is only safe when the dog has no history of harming or attempting to harm cats. Cats that have already had experience of being chased or injured by dogs may confused by the dissonance between the visual recognition of threat combined with an odour cue that implies safe familiarity. This can induce [[Feline Fear Overview|panic]].

There is some evidence that a synthetic form of the F4 fraction of the feline facial and flank marking pheromone (Felifriend) can facilitate interactions between cats and novel social stimuli<ref>Mills, D.S., Dube, M.B., Zulch, H. (2012) Stress and Pheromonatherapy in Small Animal Clinical Behaviour. Wiley-Blackwell.</ref>. When applied to the shoulder and neck area of dogs, it may reduce avoidant behaviour by cats. However, this is only safe when the dog has no history of harming or attempting to harm cats. Cats that have already had experience of being chased or injured by dogs may confused by the dissonance between the visual recognition of threat combined with an odour cue that implies safe familiarity. This can induce [[Feline Fear Overview|panic]].