Dog and Cat

Jonatan is not only moving to a new home and meeting two adult cats—he will also be introduced to a dog. And he’s not used to dogs.

Our dog loves everything and everyone, and he’d probably be happy even if we brought home a lizard. However, we want to ensure he remains calm when Jonatan arrives, so we have been training him to stay still, no matter what happens around him.

Not an easy task for a little guy with the energy of a Duracell bunny! He needs to learn to go to his bed when asked and understand that he doesn’t always have to be the center of attention. In short, he needs to learn how to relax—even though he is incredibly charming and sweet.

The worst thing you can do is let a dog chase a cat. It’s heartbreaking when people say, "They’ll sort it out themselves." I get so many messages from people struggling with dogs that bark at or chase cats—it happens far more often than you’d think.

If you don’t have basic control over your dog, you should reconsider adding a cat to the household. The same applies if you adopt a rescue dog without knowing if it can live with cats. Even if a dog has lived with one cat before, that doesn’t mean it will accept a new cat. And if you get a puppy, you must adapt your home so the cat has space and time to adjust while you keep the puppy under control.

Food Guarding

In our home, both the cats and the dog have free access to dry food, so no one is starving.

We have actively prevented our dog from developing resource guarding over food, bones, and treats. A kitten will want to sniff everything, and we don’t want Jonatan to get bitten.

Many dog owners struggle with food aggression. If you’re unsure, establish good routines so your dog can eat in peace. Some cats also growl to defend their food.

Here, treats are shared in a group, and chew bones are placed in the middle of the floor. Our dog is happiest when he can chew on a bone while lying on our lap—preferably while we hold it for him. He even tries to tempt the cats by snuggling up to them while eating. But they don’t understand his eating habits and usually walk away, mostly because he’s noisy and slurps a lot.

We also never take anything away from the dog without exchanging it for something else—like a treat, toy, or affection. This way, he never feels like he’s losing something. This is especially useful if he steals something he shouldn’t have.

If your dog guards food or toys, remove those items while the kitten is young or give them only in a safe space where the dog won’t be disturbed.

For us, this is not an issue. Our dog is at the bottom of the hierarchy and naturally steps aside if the cats want to check his food. This has been his behavior from day one, and he gets rewarded for it. The cats were here first—end of discussion.

Little brother Odin is a gentle dog with only good intentions.

Focus on Calm Training

The most important thing now is continuing calm training. The dog should go to his place and stay there, no matter what happens. This will make it much easier to introduce him to Jonatan in a relaxed way.

A dog that runs around, sniffs too much, gets too excited, or barks can scare the cat. A dog that lies still has a much more "cat-friendly" energy. That way, the cat can approach if and when he feels comfortable.

The training method is simple: Use a bed or blanket, give the command "go to your place," and reward. Repeat over and over—until it sticks. This is useful in many situations: when traveling, visiting others, or even on walks.

Physical and Mental Exercise

In the days leading up to Jonatan’s arrival, and on the day itself, we’ll make sure the dog gets plenty of physical and mental exercise. The more tired he is, the easier it will be for him to stay calm.

Everything is set for this to go smoothly! 😊🐾