Getting a Feral Cat Used to Dogs

One of the ferals I feed is starting to become semi-friendly.  She will let me pet her, especially while she's eating because I guess her mind is on other things.  She doesn't approach me to be petted, but if I am close to her, she's getting more and more to where she'll let me pet her.  She will even arch her back up a bit when I'm stroking it, or if I pat/scratch her at the base of her tail, she'll stand on tippy toes.  This evening I actually picked her up just a little bit and held her off of the ground for a few seconds.  She didn't freak out, but as soon as I felt like she was about to get squirmy, I put her down. 

I would love to make her an inside cat, but I have two dogs -- a very sweet gentle female pit bull, and semi-hyper male shepherd mix.  I currently have one cat who is about 16 years old, and the dogs get along fine with him, and the cat gets along with them.  But I feel like if I bring in a cat that is afraid of them, and runs from them, then they are going to chase it.  Every once in a while one of the feral cats will be in our backyard, and if the dogs are outside they always chase it.  So is there a way to get a feral cat to be unafraid of dogs?

I brought a feral inside 3 years ago.  I have another cat living inside as well as a large dog.  Yet she is well behaved and trained to listen.  That is the key.  The dogs have to be trained to not chase the cat. 

If you do plan to bring the cat inside, it will need a room of its own for a bit. This room will need to be completely cat proofed.  This means picking up the bed or laying it flat on the floor.  Under the bed is the first place a cat will go to hide making it almost impossible to get them out.  Also block off behind other large furniture.  Keep windows closed too and watch for blinds and draperies.   You will need to get the cat to the vet for vaccines, check up, worming and be sure it is free of cat illnesses so your other cat does not get sick. 

Introductions to the dog should not be done until the cat is used to living inside and you can properly handle the cat.  The room of its own will be the safe room where only this cat resides.  When I brought my feral cat inside, he stayed in his room for almost one year.  He did come out with supervision, but stayed there at night with the door closed.  It was a long process.

When I introduced the dog, I kept her on a short leash and for the first week when the cat was out and about, I kept here carabined to my pants.  This was to teach her to keep her distance and not chase the cat.  She was used to one cat and it was easier the second time.

Here is an article that may help you.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-dogs

Thanks for the reply! It was very helpful and has definitely given me some things to think about.

Another thing that might be helpful when you do introduce your feral cat to your dogs, if she's a climber, is to give her a way of escape from them if things get out of hand or if she doesn't want to be bothered.  I don't know what you call them but Jackson Galaxy likes to put these little ledges on the walls so they can climb up high and just observe from way up.  It works well if you have two cats who don't get along, as long as one is a climber and the other is not, I suppose.  A cat tree would be good too and also window ledges.