Best way to indroduce a cat to 3 dogs...?

Hey everyone! Looking for your input on the cat and dog issue. I'm moving in with my boyfriend come May, and he has three rowdy dogs. 2 huskies and one giant malamute. They are pretty hyper when it comes to new things.

"Oh, you just walked in through the door? I'm gonna jump up and down and yell and howl and try to get you to pet me. Oh, you just made dinner? That looks good I'm gonna get in your face and beg for some too! What's that? a new thing I've never smelled? Let me have it!"

that sort of thing. I know how it's going to go, cat will run and hide somewhere and the dogs will chase her under a couch where they will whine and stick their head under there trying to get her. She will hiss and be upset and never want to come out.

I'm really trying to avoid that. Boyfriend has an entire floor upstairs currently vacant, which I plan to transform into an 'apartment' for kitty and myself. There will be a baby gate and invisible fence node set up so the dogs won't be able to go upstairs, so she will have a safe place to be. I've got some Feliway on the way to make the house more happy for her as well. But I'd really like them to get acquainted so she won't have to spend all her time upstairs! Any suggestions are appreciated

Pearlteeth said:

 
Boyfriend has an entire floor upstairs currently vacant, which I plan to transform into an 'apartment' for kitty and myself. There will be a baby gate and invisible fence node set up so the dogs won't be able to go upstairs, so she will have a safe place to be. I've got some Feliway on the way to make the house more happy for her as well. But I'd really like them to get acquainted so she won't have to spend all her time upstairs! Any suggestions are appreciated

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You're on the right track. However, you can't force the acquaintance; it happens on its own pace and timeline. She will have to stay upstairs for as long as it takes for her to make friends with all of them.

(edit: I thought there was an article on introducing cats to dog so why can't I find it?)

The concept of a cat-dog introduction is that you cannot control the cat, so your focus should be controlling the dog. Dog must be obedience-trained, and must see your BF as the alpha male. This is important. The dogs must be able to obey commands.

Start off by scent-swapping, just as you would when introducing cats to cats. Old blanket or towel will do. Rub them all over Dog, give blanket to Cat for a day, rub all over Cat, give to Dog for a day, etc. Swap toys too. 

When you've done that, you're ready to introduce; one dog at a time (three at once is probably going to scare the poor kitty). Before doing the introduction, you want to tire out Dog. Your BF should take the dog for a long walk. Dog should be tired, not as hyper, but happy.

You didn't describe how the floor is like, so I'm going on quite a bit of assumption here. Bring Dog upstairs, and have him or her sit and stay in one corner. Make sure BF is holding the leash, and the leash must not be retractable, since that'll just let Dog chase Cat. You then bring Cat into the same room, on opposite corner. If Dog sees your BF as the alpha male, he or she will stay put throughout the whole thing.

Cat will react upon seeing Dog; how, I have no idea. Unless there's a physical fight, let her do whatever she wants, and keep an eye on them. She might be terrified of Dog, or she might come out and sniff Dog. As long as your BF can control Dog, it's fine. Treats help. Praise Dog for being calm; dogs love human praises.

For the first meeting, limit it to 5 or 10 minutes. Gradually increase the time for introductions; keep doing this until both animals have no reaction to each other - this means that they have accepted each other as non-threats. Once that happens, you can remove the leash and see how Dog would react.

After the first dog is introduced, the second and third should go much more smoothly. You can also try feeding the dogs and the cat opposite the baby door, just as you would with two cats.

I like that plan! Yes the dogs listen to my bf very well so this should work out ok.

yeah should be good