How to convince Pleasant Hill cats to accept a new canine roommate

DEAR JOAN: We’ve had rescue dogs for many years, and we were able to successfully introduce two rescue kittens into our house several years ago. They got along fine, maybe because the dogs were older and the cats were kittens.

Our dogs have died and we’d like to rescue another. We tried one, but it didn’t work out. We need a better plan before we try again. I envision years of living with cats confined to our bedrooms and a pet gate in the hallway. Do you have suggestions on introducing a new dog to the cats?

— C.L., Pleasant Hill

DEAR C.L.: Cats and dogs tend to fight like, well, cats and dogs, but there are plenty of examples of them coexisting in relative peace. The keys are finding the right animals and taking it very slowly.

Things to consider in your case are dog breed and temperament. Bigger dogs often are friendlier to cats than smaller dogs, but the cats might not see it that way. Because your cats got along well with your other dogs, you might try finding a new dog around the same size.

An older dog also might be a better fit. Cats are cautious animals that take their time to size up a newcomer. Puppies tend to operate with joyous abandon, which can startle the cats and get everyone off on the wrong foot. Older dogs usually are less exuberant and willing to take things at a slightly less frenetic pace.

Check out the dogs available at the rescue, ask a lot of questions about how they get along with other animals, both cats and dogs, and do some breed research – if you know the breed or mix of breeds.

Once you’ve made a decision, move into the slow lane and prepare to stay there for a while.. Keep the animals separated by a closed door so they don’t see each other. After a couple of days, put towels in their favorite sleeping spots, then switch them so they can get smell each other.

The next step requires two people, one to play with the cats on their side of the door, and the other to play with the dog. When they seem comfortable hearing the sounds, open the door but keep a pet gate across the entry and drape it with a towel. Continue the play/training sessions. When those seem to be going well, move the towel to one side an inch, letting the pets get a glimpse of each other. Gradually move the towel, widening the view.

All of this should be done over a few weeks, depending on how the animals are reacting. Anytime the dog or the cat shows signs of fear or aggression, end the session and close the door. Once they seem routinely comfortable, you can remove the towel and eventually the barrier, but let the behaviors of the pets dictate the timing. There’s no need to rush and in the end, you’ll be glad you took it slowly.

DEAR JOAN: Now that it’s starting to get warmer, we’ve had several ant invasions in our house, which made us wonder – do ants hibernate in the winter? We hadn’t seen one for months.

— Jill C., Concord

DEAR JILL: Wouldn’t that be lovely if they all napped for months at a time? But no, they either make their way indoors when it’s wet and cold, or retreat deeper into their nests to avoid the chill.

Animal Life runs on Mondays. Reach Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.