How to help your dog and cat live together safely

It’s important to give your cat and dog their own safe spaces away from each other.

Set up a core area for each pet where they’ll feel secure eating, drinking, resting, playing and going to the toilet. Make sure they can access all  their resources without meeting each other. Make sure that your existing cat or dog is relaxed spending time in their core area before bringing home your new arrival.

Cats often enjoy covered spaces, like a cat box without the door, cardboard boxes, or cave beds. You can create hiding spots by putting a blanket over a chair or table. Cats like to be up high when they feel worried, so giving them access to cat trees, raised furniture and wall shelves can help them feel more relaxed.

Many dogs feel most comfortable in open spaces where they can move around. Puppy pens or baby gates are a good way to keep your dog and cat apart without needing to put your dog in a small space. Some dogs also like having a covered area to relax in, like a crate covered by a blanket. Introduce your dog to a crate gradually using rewards so that they learn to relax in it.

Dogs and cats learn a lot about each other through smell. Letting them smell one another before they see each other will help them feel more relaxed when they meet. You do this before you bring your new pet home by swapping their blankets, soft toys or beds.

Here’s how:

• Ask the breeder, current owner, or rehoming centre for a blanket or toy that smells of your new pet.
• Place it in the middle of the floor for your resident pet to investigate at their own pace.
• Give the current carer of your new pet a blanket or toy that smells of your existing pet so they can do the same.
• In the first week after you bring your new pet home, continue swapping scents by exchanging bedding. Do this until both pets show no signs of stress or overexcitement at each other’s scent. For example, your cat is relaxed near the scented item, and your dog shows only mild interest in them.

You should start with your dog and cat being kept completely apart in different rooms with the doors shut so they can’t see each other.

Once they’re relaxed in their own spaces, you can let them see each other through a barrier like a baby gate or puppy pen. These introductions should be quiet, calm and short.

During these introductions:

• Supervise your dog and cat at all times. If you can’t stay with your dog and cat, put them in their separate rooms and shut the door.
• Allow both pets to freely approach and move away from the barrier when they choose.
• If you’re worried your dog may try to jump over or push through the barrier, put them on a lead.
• Let your dog and cat see each other through a barrier several times over a few days until they’re relaxed.
• You can give them treats, long-lasting chews or toys away from the barrier but still within view of each other. This will help them form calm, positive associations with each other. 

Barriers, like baby gates, puppy pens and crates can be used to let your dog and cat see each other without touching. Chasing is very rewarding for dogs, so it’s vital that they don’t get to practise this behaviour with cats. You can then increase how long they spend together slowly over a few days or weeks.

There are some things you can do to help them relax around each other:

• Supervise them when they can see each other. If you can’t be with them, put them in their own areas and shut any doors between them.
• Reward your pets for any calm and positive behaviours like glancing at each other or lying down.
• Give both your pets plenty of space to move away if they’re uncomfortable. This is particularly important for your cat as they’re very sensitive to stress.

As your dog and cat become more relaxed with each other you can give them more access with supervision. Start by putting your dog on a lead so they can’t approach your cat or follow them. You can then remove the barrier and let your dog and cat get familiar moving around each other over a few meetings.

Cats are typically more independent and less social than dogs. They’re also prey animals. This means they’re more likely to avoid your dog for a long time if they’re worried or scared of them.

It’s important that your cat stays as calm as possible and can choose to approach your dog when they’re ready. If things go too fast or your dog goes up to your cat first, they may feel stressed. This could make it more difficult for your cat to build a good relationship.

You can help your cat relax around your dog by:

• Giving them plenty of hiding spaces and high-up places to move away if they want to. cat trees, wall shelves and raised furniture can help with this.
• Never moving your cat closer or trying to hold them still for your dog. This will make them feel trapped and stressed.
• Rewarding your cat and dog for calm behaviours like looking at each other or lying down.
• Keeping your dog under control and guiding them further away if they try to chase your cat or get too excited.
• Ending the meeting and separating your pets if either shows signs of stress, worry or frustration. Let them calm down and seek the advice of a qualified behaviourist. 

Dogs have different needs from cats. They need a lot of social time, are most active during the day and have evolved with humans over a long time. Cats are much more independent, are active at dawn and dusk and were domesticated more recently than dogs.

These differences can make it hard for dogs and cats to get along sometimes. But thinking about their individual needs will help you set them up for a successful relationship.

Both dogs and cats use body language, facial expressions, scent and sounds to show how they’re feeling. However, they use these signals in different ways. This can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.

If a dog gets close too quickly, or is too playful or excitable near a cat, the cat might find it stressful or frightening. If a cat uses big movements or sounds near a dog, they might be excited, startled or worried by this.

Giving your dog and cat their own safe spaces and introducing them slowly over a few weeks can help them learn about each other and relax.

Learn to understand your dog’s body language and your cat’s body language, so you can recognise how they’re feeling. You can then take steps to manage their interactions to keep them both safe and happy. 

Dogs and cats can find it harder to relax together when they feel scared or stressed. Your cat will likely feel stressed if your dog tries to chase them, play when they’re not in the mood, or growls, snaps or bites.

Your dog may feel worried by your cat’s movements, sounds or smells. They may also feel nervous if your cat has growled at or hurt them in the past. Or they might worry your cat will take their food, toys or bed.

Dogs and cats can also feel stressed for other reasons, like hearing loud noises, being left alone, or feeling uncomfortable due to a health problem. Any extra stress will make it more difficult for your dog and cat to relax together, so working on any other problems is important.

To help keep everyone safe:

• Give your dog plenty of chances to use their chasing behaviour safely by chasing toys or treats.
• Make sure your dog has enough exercise so they’re more likely to rest around your cat.
• Give your cat lots of hiding spaces and high up places to move away from your dog if they need to. Cat trees and wall shelves can help with this.
• Place your cat’s bed, food, water and litter tray in places where they’re less likely to see your dog.
• Reward calm and positive interactions between your dog and cat.
• Keep your dog on a lead or houseline when supervising interactions so you can stop them from trying to chase your cat and guide them away if you need to.
• Separate them if your dog is staring, following or trying to chase your cat. Baby gates can help your cat move around the house without your dog following them.

Read our page for more advice on how to stop your dog chasing. If you can’t stop your dog from chasing your cat, or are worried your dog might hurt them, you probably need some professional support. Our friendly team of qualified experts can provide immediate advice over the phone and refer you to additional services if needed.

Dogs and cats are most comfortable with a predictable, consistent routine. Sudden changes like moving house, having a new person or animal move in, or changing furniture can make your dog and cat feel stressed and worried. This might make it more difficult for your dog and cat to relax with each other.

To help keep them calm:

• Give them space to move away from each other if they need to. Puppy pens or a crate can help your dog enjoy their own space, while cats often prefer to move up high onto shelves, furniture or cat trees.
• Make one change at a time and trying to keep the rest of your routine the same.
• Introduce new animals slowly over several weeks.

Bad experiences might make your dog and cat less likely to get on. If your cat remembers your dog chasing them or your dog has been scratched when they got close to your cat, they may struggle to get on in the future.

Similarly, if your dog has had bad experiences with other cats, they may feel worried, stressed and frustrated around all cats in the future.

If your dog and cat have had negative experiences with one another, you may need some professional support. Get in touch with our Behaviour Services team for help.

Sometimes dogs and cats feel protective of their resources including food, toys, sleeping areas or attention from you. This can look like jealousy.

In the wild, cats would usually find and protect their own resources as part of their territory. Pet cats often feel stressed and worried if they cannot get to an important resource. If your dog gets too close, or takes something your cat thinks is valuable, it might make them feel worried about your dog.

Dogs can also feel protective of their resources, and they might try to prevent cats from approaching by barking, growling or chasing. If the cat doesn’t move away quickly, the dog may escalate to snapping or biting.

You can help by making sure each pet has their own food, water, toys and resting places in separate areas. Give your dog treats, toys and water in their crate or bed. Put your cat’s things up high, like on a counter or cat tree, where the dog can’t reach. You can also use baby gates to keep them apart when they have things they really want, like food or toys.

Many dogs are interested in food. If you put your cat’s food where your dog can reach it, they’ll probably eat it. This might make your cat feel stressed and hungry. The best way to stop this is to make sure your dog can’t reach it.

You could use a special bowl that only releases cat food when it senses their microchip. Your cat will have to be near the bowl for food to appear. However, this might not work for large or strong dogs who might try and break into the bowl.

Another good option is to put your cat’s food behind a door, barrier or somewhere high. This can be on a counter, a shelf or the top of a cat tree. Make sure your cat can jump up and reach it. Some cats may need a stool, steps or extra shelves, especially if they’re small or have health problems.

If you can’t put the food up high, try feeding your cat when your dog is busy. This could be when the dog is outside playing, out on a walk or eating their own meal. Your cat will likely prefer several small meals throughout the day, as this follows their natural feeding pattern.

Some dogs will eat cat poo. This can be very unpleasant for owners, but it is quite common in dogs.  

There are several reasons they might do this, including:

• liking the smell or taste, even though it’s disgusting to us
• being hungry, even if they’re eating regular meals of their own
• enjoying chewing and licking as a general activity
• feeling bored and trying to find something to do
• getting your attention quickly because they know eating cat poo is difficult for you to ignore.

Although eating cat poo is a normal behaviour for dogs, it’s unhygienic and something most owners want to discourage. 

Here are some ways to prevent it:

• Clear up cat poo regularly. The quicker you get rid of the poo, the less chance your dog has to eat it.
• Check your garden and flowerbeds before you let your dog outside.
• Keep litter trays in a quiet place that your cat can access easily, but your dog can’t. You could put the trays somewhere up high. Or, in a separate room and use a cat flap in the door so only the cat can get in.
• Use a lead or long line in places where there might be cat poo, including other people’s homes with cats. This will help you guide your dog away from it.

Your dog may enjoy following your cat because:

• they’re bored or restless, particularly if they haven’t had the chance to get enough exercise
• they’re curious of your cat and the way they move
• they’d like to play
• they’ve learnt following the cat will make them move more or even start running and jumping.  

If your cat is getting stressed by your dog following them, here are some ways you can help:

• Make sure your dog has regular exercise suitable for their age and size. If you’re not sure how much exercise they need, check with your vet.
• Give them fun activities like toy play, sniffing games and training sessions throughout the day to stop them getting bored. This will help them feel more settled, so they’re less likely to follow your cat.
• Let your dog use their chasing behaviour in a safe way by chasing toys or treats you’ve thrown. This will help them stay calm when your cat moves.
• Give them plenty of individual attention so they’re less likely to follow your cat for attention.
• Use barriers like baby gates, puppy pens, and leads to stop them following your cat.
• Make sure your cat has high shelves or hiding places where your dog can’t reach them. Cat trees, shelves and quiet rooms can all help your cat feel safe.

Some dogs whine because they find cats exciting, especially if they haven’t spent much time around them. They may also whine if they feel frustrated because they’d like to play or go up to your cat, but the cat stays away or ignores them.

Dogs paw and nudge at things if they’re interested, excited or frustrated. They’re often trying to play, explore or make your cat move.

If your dog is whining at, pawing, or nudging your cat, these steps can help.

• Put your dog in their own, safe comfortable place. This could be a separate room, behind a baby gate, or in a crate or puppy pen.
• Give your dog something relaxing to do, like a long‑lasting chew or a lick mat.
• Help your dog use up some energy before they spend time near your cat. This might be a walk, safe off‑lead time, or playing with toys.
• Teach your dog to settle on a mat or a blanket. This exercise can help them relax and learn they won't be able to play or go over to your cat.
• Reward your dog with calm praise and fuss when they move away from your cat.
• Make sure your cat has safe places to go. This includes hiding spots and high places your dog can’t reach, like cat trees or wall shelves.

Many dogs like to chase moving things, particularly other animals like cats. So, some dogs lose interest when a cat’s still. Other dogs might try to catch and play with a cat, or chase as a way of protecting resources like food, toys or sleeping areas.  

Understanding why your dog is chasing your cat will help you find the best way to stop it. You can reduce the likelihood of chasing by following our advice in common scenarios.

It may not be possible to stop your dog watching, following or chasing your cat. If this happens, you may benefit from further support.  

Our friendly team of qualified experts can provide immediate advice over the phone and refer you to additional services. In the meantime, keep both pets safe and calm by keeping them apart and looking after them separately.

There are several reasons your dog might be showing a lot of interest in your cat, including:

• They’re bored and find your cat fun and interesting.
• They have a strong natural urge to chase your cat. They might follow or pester them to make them move so they can chase.
• They’re worried or frustrated by your cat and feel they need to protect themselves or their food, toys or bed. They may use chasing, growling, snapping or biting to make your cat move away.
• They enjoy playing with your cat and are trying to get their attention.  

To discourage your dog from pestering your cat, follow the management plan and advice on this page.

Many dogs will feel protective of their resources and feel worried or frustrated if other animals get too close to them. This can sometimes look like they’re jealous.  

Your dog may seem jealous of your cat if they’re worried about them approaching valuable resources like:

• beds or resting areas
• food and tasty treats
• toys
• people who give attention or treats
• doorways or narrow spaces that lead to other places, like corridors or gates.  

Here are some tips you can use to help your dog relax and keep your cat safe.

• Give valuable toys and treats to your dog and cat when they are apart. This will let them relax and enjoy these items without any conflict.
• Plan your routine so your dog and cat can each have one-to-one time with you. This will help them feel satisfied that they’ve had enough attention.
• Make sure your dog has had enough exercise and fun activities to feel ready to rest when they’re around your cat. This will help them feel less worried about having the cat near their things.
• Set up your dog and cat with their own separate bed and resting areas so they can relax without worrying about being disturbed.
• Keep your dog on a lead so you can safely move them away from your cat if they use defensive behaviour like growling or snapping.
• Use crates, puppy pens and baby gates to keep your dog and cat separate around valuable resources like toys, resting areas, food and attention from people.

There are lots of reasons your cat might chase, pounce, hiss, swipe at or scratch your dog. Your cat may feel fearful or worried about their space, important resources, or losing your attention or affection. Or they might be seeking attention from, or want to play with your dog and feel frustrated when your dog doesn’t join in. 

It’s important you follow the advice on this page. See your vet to rule out any medical reasons for your cat's behaviour. Keep your cat and dog separated when you can’t supervise, and learn to read your dog and cat's body language so you can call one of them away before things escalate.  

Our Behaviour Support Line can help with advice tailored to your furry friends.

Many dogs and cats learn to live with each other peacefully. Some do this without being best friends, others will form close relationships. This often looks like:

• sharing beds and sleeping together
• gently grooming each other
• greeting each other calmly, usually by sniffing or gently head bumping.

You can’t force a dog and cat to like each other. Whether they can be friends, would prefer to keep to themselves or don’t get on at all will depend on a lot of things, like:

• their age, size, personalities and past experiences
• the size and set-up of your house
• whether there are enough resources to prevent guarding
• any health conditions your dog or cat might have that could make them more easily worried, frustrated or defensive.

Making slow introductions between cats and dogs that have never met will help them build a good relationship. This should be done gradually over a few weeks, starting with having your pets in separate rooms and building up to having them together.

You can also help your dog and cat get on by:

• making sure they have regular health checks with a vet
• giving them each their own resources like food, toys and beds
• making sure they each have private areas to go to when they need alone time
• giving them each regular one-to-one attention.

Puppies are naturally playful and curious. They often use mouthing, nipping, pawing and pouncing behaviour to play. However, this can be worrying for cats, particularly if they’re around puppies bigger than them.  

To help your cat and puppy get on:

• Make sure your puppy has had the right amount of rest, exercise and fun activities to do away from your cat before they spend time together. This will help them be calmer around your cat.
• Put your puppy on a lead or keep them in a different room behind a gate, in a crate or a puppy pen to keep them a safe distance from your cat.
• Give your cat plenty of places to hide and get up high, including covered cat beds, cat trees, furniture or wall-mounted shelves.
• Make sure your cat’s resources like food, toys and litter tray are in places your puppy can’t reach so your cat can get to them without being pestered.

Introducing a new cat and dog should be done gradually and at the cat’s pace because cats are very sensitive to stress. Your cat will struggle to relax around your dog if they’re frightened or worried. First introductions should take a few weeks. The best way to do this is to follow the introduction plan on this page.

If your dog and cat have already been living together but are not getting along, you’ll need to work out why they’re uncomfortable with one another. Once you know why they’re struggling, you can put a plan in place. Changing feelings can take weeks, months or even longer.

If your dog and cat aren’t getting on, and you’re concerned about their wellbeing or safety, you may need some professional support. Our friendly team of qualified experts can provide immediate advice over the phone and refer you to additional services if needed.

Dogs and cats have very different needs and natural behaviours. There is a small chance they learn to get on without help. But it can be difficult to work out how to live with each other in small, human homes like houses or flats.

You can help your dog and cat get on if you set up your home, routine and care plans to meet your dog and cat’s individual needs. This should include:

• Separate sleeping, eating and places to wee or poo for your dog and cat.
• Plenty of fun activities for your dog to use up their energy away from your cat, like training, toy play, walks and food toys.
• Planning a routine that has one-to-one time for your dog and cat so they can each get individual attention from you. Their routine should also aim for them to be apart at times of day where they feel playful or excited such as after resting or before mealtimes.
• Lots of hiding places and high-up areas like cat trees and wall-mounted shelves for your cat to move away from your dog if they need to. Your dog may also need a place where they can get away from your cat, like a crate or puppy pen.

Dogs often groom cats to be friendly, so this may be a good sign that your dog is enjoying your cat’s company. However, there are a few things to look out for.

• Although your dog might be enjoying grooming your cat, if your cat doesn't like it they will feel stressed. This might cause their relationship to break down, so you should move your dog away if you think your cat would prefer to be left alone.
• Dogs may feel the need to groom if they have a health problem that makes them want to self soothe through licking. If your dog has suddenly started licking your cat, or you’re concerned about their health, book an appointment with your vet.
• Your dog might lick your cat to pester them into moving or playing. Your cat is likely to find the licking frustrating and stressful in this situation, particularly if they’re trying to rest or would prefer not to play.  

If your cat is enjoying your dog’s grooming and you have no concerns about any of your pet’s health, you don’t need to do anything. However, if your cat is trying to move away, hide or tell your dog off, you should move your dog away. You can then give them something else to do, like:

• offering them toy play, training or time outside if they seem bored or need exercise
• giving them calming activities like a long-lasting chew or a lick mat to help them relax.

When dogs stare, it’s often a sign that they’re feeling alert, frustrated, worried or frightened. Your dog might stare at your cat because they’re feeling:

• Alert and want your cat to move so they can be chased for fun.
• Frustrated or worried by something your cat is doing and need your cat to move away.
• Protective over a resource like their personal space, food, toys, beds or attention from you. So they want your cat to move away from them.

If your dog is staring at your cat, you should move them away from one another to keep everyone safe. Put them into different rooms or encourage your dog behind a baby gate or into a puppy pen or crate using treats.

There are lots of reasons a dog might bark at a cat, including:

• feeling frustrated or worried by your cat and barking to make them move away
• feeling bored and barking at your cat to make them move or play
• having a health problem which makes them bark at your cat to self soothe and make themselves feel better.

If your dog is barking at your cat, separate them and give your dog a calming activity to help them relax, like a long-lasting chew or a lick mat. If your dog hasn’t had enough exercise or they seem bored, giving them fun activities like a walk, toy play, training or a food puzzle should help.  

You can try letting your cat and dog spend time together once your dog is calmer, but make sure your cat has plenty of hiding spots and high-up places to move away to if they need.

We also have lots more advice if your dog’s barking is becoming a problem.

A growl is your dog's way of telling your cat that they feel worried and need space. You should separate your cat and dog as quickly and calmly as possible if your dog is growling. Look for reasons why they might feel uncomfortable with your cat, including:

• Any health problems that might be making your dog feel physically uncomfortable or painful. Treating any health problems will help your dog feel more relaxed around your cat.
• Any resources your dog may feel protective of, like food, beds, toys or your attention.
• The way your cat was behaving at the time. If your cat was approaching your dog, or being silly and playful, your dog might have felt worried or stressed. Change their routine so they spend time together when they’re calm. Avoid having them together when they’re feeling excitable or anxious.

If you cannot work out why your dog is growling, it’s happening regularly or you’re worried your dog may hurt your cat, seek professional support. Get in touch with our friendly team of qualified experts for advice.

Dog humping is not always sexual, particularly when it’s used towards objects or other species. Dogs who hump cats might be doing this because they’re:

• getting frustrated or overexcited and humping your cat to cope with these feelings
• feeling worried and using humping as stress relief
• restless, bored or excited and using humping to get rid of this energy.

Once you know why your dog is humping your cat, you can make changes to stop this.

• Change your dog’s and cat’s routine so they only see each other when they’re calm.
• Avoid letting them interact when your dog is excited.
• Keep them apart if your cat is causing your dog stress, frustration, excitement or worry.
• Give your dog more exercise and activities to use up their energy so they can relax. Make sure all exercise and activities are suitable for your dog’s age and size, health and ability.

If your dog is regularly trying to hump your cat, you may need some professional support. Get in touch with our friendly team of qualified experts for advice.

Some dogs have a very strong natural urge to chase and catch moving things like cats. These dogs may never be able to spend time with a cat safely. This could make sharing a home difficult and there’s a risk your dog might hurt your cat.

To help keep everyone safe:

• Keep them apart in different rooms with doors shut between them. This will stop any contact between them.
• Check the garden and outdoor spaces for cats before letting your dog out.
• Avoid taking your dog to places where there may be cats or other small animals around.
• Teach your dog to wear a basket muzzle and keep them on a lead in public places or other areas where there might be cats or small animals.

If you can’t keep your dog and cat apart, or your dog is still trying to get to your cat through closed doors, you may need to consider rehoming one of your animals.  

Speaking to a professional could help you work out which option is best for you and your pets. Our friendly team of qualified experts can provide immediate advice over the phone and refer you to additional services should you need further support.