Fight like...cats and dogs?

Hello -

So I am hoping to move in with my boyfriend in the next couple of months (if his cat allergies are kept at bay )

My main question is that I'm looking for tips to introduce my 2 kitties, Shermie and Luna to my boyfriend's dog, Sidnie. I've read a little bit about this but I'd like to present my specific situation.

What I've done so far: 1). I know my cats don't like other cats very much, they've had problems w/ my mom's cat and other cats.

2). Cats and dog met at my place a few times. There was no fighting and only a very small amount of hissing on cat's part. Both parties seemed wary of each other and mostly tried to avoid each other.

3).Luna instinctively hides when anything happens (large group of people, loud noises etc.) due to her past abuses, so the first few times she did this. But when I made it so she couldn't hide under the bed she didn't freak out but just watched the cats.

4). took two cats over to boyfriend's house to explore the place and they seemed tense but again, no big confrontations. (put dog on patio first then let her in).

5). Have a comfort zone diffuser

6). cats have stayed the night now - Luna 1, shermie 2 and all day unsupervised for a bit too. at night have to lock cats out of our bedroom b/c of the allergies, but the dog stays in the bedroom.

So, I did come back to find Luna on top of the fridge and Shermie hiding in a box and he wouldn't come when I called him (he usually does). And some of their food was eaten (in a high place) and the litterbox was used. My boyfriend did tell me that some ppl were moving in and the dog barked which might've scared the cats. also Sid is pacing around and everyone still seems tense. Did I do something wrong?

Any suggestions on this matter? Also - if anyone has any ingenious suggestions on dog/cat living, i'm open to them all!

Did you leave the cats out unsupervised with the dog unsupervised? That part wasn't clear. I wouldn't recommend ever leaving the dog and cats out unsupervised together because you just may never know what will happen.

The cats are going to go into hiding in a new place for a while maybe even a week or two. As long as you know they are eating ...as in the dog didn't get to it..and they are using the litter box give them some time to acclimate. They may not ever love the dog, but they may learn to tolerate him.

What kind of dog is it?

I have a Great Dane and my current kitty only tolerates him. She will be in the same room with him, but whenever he gets close he gets a swat to the nose and several hisses and growls from her, then if he doesn't run away she darts upstairs b/c he can't go up there.

How does the dog act around them? Is he prey driven? Is he used to cats? Does he like them, dislike them?

The dog is a shepherd mix aussie and german i think- medium sized. She is not aggressive at all toward them, mostly she's a scaredy and a bit neurotic. She is aggressive w/ other dogs especially when my bf's daughter is around. but not to the cats. Also, she realy likes to run around and play w/ her toys and growl but hasn't ever growled at the cats.

some other weird things happening are that a couple times she made a move toward the cat (almost as if she's stalking them and pouncing). And the cat will swat and hiss then everyone's back to normal.

He's a herding dog, so even if he's great with cats, ignoring them for the most part, there may be times when his herding instincts drive him to bolt for a cat. Just a lunge with skittering of paws before he realizes what he's doing and stops can scare a cat. Just ask my 3 girls *rolls eyes*. They're also unsure about him, especially if he's still learning and getting used to them and breaking the rules a little bit. They're not sure yet how safe he is. But they'll eventually get used to him and they'll learn his little quirks and behaviours. Buffy knows my Jake pretty well, knows what can send him off (sudden movements, such as jumping onto a counter, which Jake knows is FORBIDDEN), but she plays off of it, tempting him, just for attention. Seriously, sometimes we've watched as Jake got scolded for stalking Buffy around the house (her turning her head every now and then to squawk at him in annoyance), and yet when he then goes to a corner to lay down and watch her, she gets this put-upon look on her face, turns around, walks towards him, then rubs against the table next to him and SCREAMS at him just like she'd been doing when he'd been following her. Jake will get a nervous "What do I do? The people are gonna yell at me..." look on his face. Buffy somehow knows, though, to walk slowly and calmly, not making sudden movements, and she gets the attention and reactions she craves.

If he's not used to cats, it may take some time for him to get used to them and to learn the rules. I can attest that while my dog (Aussie-Border Collie mix) wants to please me and not fight with the cats, sometimes they'll do something that kicks off his herding instincts and he just can't help himself. I'd be rich if I had a penny for every time he throws his body toward a cat (a lunge), only to immediately stop short with a shameful expression on his face, slowwwwwly looking up at me to see if I saw what he did. He knows I hate it when he and the cats have a, uh, "conflict", but I can see for myself how strong the herding instinct can be.

UPDATE:

So...haven't moved in yet, there are a lot of logistical things to work out before that happens. But I've been bringing Shermie over to my boy's house for 1 or 2 days a week.

The two haven't become friends but are also having a hard time ignoring each other. Shermie does this low growl in his throat and when the dog gets too near, he hisses. He usually watches the dog in a crouched position when the dog is pacing. Once humans and dog sit/lie down then Shermie does too (mostly). His fur is not puffed up and his tail is twitching but not going crazy. His ears are not back. Also, He has been doing stuff like eating, drinking water and using the litterbox. There was 1 or 2 times when Sherm swiped at dog for getting too close

Sidnie, the dog, likes to follow Sherms around and occasionally will lunge at her. One time, I think Sherm scared her and she yapped but that's about all the noise she makes. She acts nervous around him by pacing and following around the humans but my boy tells me that she's not scared b/c she's wagging her tail, her hackles are down and her ears are forward. I think she thinks the lunging stuff is playing.....

I'm hoping they'll get used to each other and eventually realize that a). dog is not going to hurt cat and b). cat does NOT want to play with dog

Any thoughts?

I think there is a lot to be said for managing the introductions and doing what you can to make things go smoothly. I also think that Shermie is likely to be on guard since it is not home territory. More than likely Sidnie will want to play and Shermie isn't going to be thrilled. If it were me I would keep the cat in one room, like a spare bedroom (for Shermie's protection) and bring the dog into that room when you can watch and give Sidnie commands. Also if Luna and Shermie hide under the bed you can toss them treats. That can help them have a positive association with Sidnie. This was how I got my feral boy used to my two dogs and it took a few months. He used the spare bedroom and gradually I moved his food bowl closer to the main feeding area where I feed our two dogs. Now they all come running to the treat cabinet if they hear it opening. Nothing seems to unify them so much as the thought of getting something yummy.

Good luck!

Another hurdle is that Shermie is pretty disinterested in cat treats of any kind. He does kinda like milk and butter but even most human food doesn't excite him. I'm hoping that once I actually move in and put up the cat trees and stuff, it'll make them feel like it's more their home.....

My Dog, is fine with most of my cats. But the younger Tom winds him up, sits right up close to him, and growls and stares. Dog ignores him. Then the cat gets closer, and does the same thing. And then, Gran, (my dog) goes instantly mental, and tries to kill the cat. The cat knows that the dog would easily dispatch him, if he caught him, but he can't help himself. One day the dog will catch him, then he'll be sorry. (The cat, I mean) Granite is fine with all the other cats, just not Gurt. (Gurt big)

Update: Shermie (cat) and Sidnie (dog) seem to be getting along fine now. If I put Shermie in Sid's path, he'll chirp/meow but he doesn't growl anymore and only hisses very occasionally. I think they kinda play together now b/c Sid will still lunge at/chase Shermie a bit and maybe bark once (though the barking always gets a "NO!") and Shermie will run away. But they can actually sniff noses w/o growling, chasing, hissing. Both seem pretty non-stressed about th4e situation now!

That's good, I'm glad they've gotten used to each other.