Introducing cats and dogs - help!!

[PuntCuffin]

I have an 8 year old Vizsla, we had a cat from when she first arrived until last May. She was always fine with him and if she got too boisterous, the cat would bop her, job done.

I finally found a rescue who was supposedly a confident, dog proof cat. Settled him in upstairs, where the dog is not allowed. He is very happy and playful (all night!!). But he runs and hides from the dog which encourages her to chase him. I have started keeping her on a lead in the house so she can't.

It is only 3 weeks in, but I had expected the cat to have the confidence to stand up to the dog. What can I do to help him? I have Feliway plug ins all over the place. There are hidey holes, high up spots, you name it.

He has had at least 4 homes before coming to me and I won't be moving him on again, so it may just be time, more time and yet more time. He is only a young cat so I feel he really should be able to adjust.

Um... I'm afraid that successful dog-cat stories usually start with cat there first. You can either resign yourself to cat lives upstairs dog lives downstairs or find new home for cat. They may eventually work out a modus operandi. Or may not. Just because Old Cat was brilliant with This Dog doesn't mean that New Cat will have This Dog taped. They're all different!

How have you been managing the introductions so far? You need to keep face-to-face encounters very short at first, with the dog restrained. At the first sign of wanting to chase the cat, take the dog away, then play with him so that he learns his humans are the source of all fun and games, not the cat.

It sounds as though possibly you're feeling the cat needs to adjust but in reality, it's your dog who will have to make the adjustments, as he is the resident and the cat is in an entirely new situation.

It is a case of being very patient and keeping them separated unless supervised, until you can be confident the dog won't chase - otherwise it's self-perpetuating, as the cat runs and the dog gets the reward of chasing. Short introductions will gradually build the cat's confidence too, but it's unrealistic to expect him to stand up to the dog - it's the other way round - the dog needs to learn not to chase him.

That is what we are doing. Dog on lead and in her bed, rewarded for staying still and calm. About an hour ago, cat had come downstairs, so I carefully brought him into the room with dog and put him on table so he could observe, while I stroked and reassured him. Dog didn't move a muscle, didn't even notice cat was there, but cat still turned tail and scarpered off upstairs.

Just wondering if I am missing something else that I could be doing as I am determined to make this work somehow.

Have you tried scent blending - swapping bedding between the two so their natural smells mingle? It is early days - in my experience (introducing pup to two cats, then some years later introducing new cat to existing cat and adult dog) it takes a good couple of months for everything to settle down.

When I brought my new cat home, she at first barely went into the dog's company, even though the dog was indifferent, but then she gradually stayed longer in the same room - I expect your cat is still feeling strange in the house as a whole, especially as he's had 4 different homes in the past, and the dog is only part of the overall 'strangeness' that's making him wary.

The cat came with some bits from the previous home that we put in the dog's bed for a few days but I haven't taken anything of hers upstairs. I tend to think the whole house probably stinks of dog even though there are no carpets downstairs etc.

I am probably just being impatient! I wish I could tell him that this home is permanent not no.5 in an ever growing list!