Dogs Trust – the largest dog welfare organization in the UK, has conducted research on the interaction between dogs and cats, revealing that these animals will become more friendly if allowed to interact from the start.
The study by Dogs Trust found that factors such as the speed of introduction and the age of puppies can significantly impact their behavior towards the resident cats.
Less than 10% of puppies exposed to cats remained calm throughout the study. (Photo: Sonsedska/Getty Images/iStockphoto).
The research shows that about 20.1% of pet owners introduce new puppies to existing cats immediately, while 18.9% do so within less than 2 hours. However, a gradual introduction between puppies and cats significantly increases the chances of them getting along.
According to the findings, puppies introduced to cats for more than a day—especially those under 12 weeks old—tend to be calmer and friendlier, which could help foster a more harmonious relationship.
A veterinarian noted that most dogs exhibit “undesirable” behaviors when first introduced to cats, including aggression or playing with the cat when it does not wish to engage. Less than 10% of puppies introduced to cats appeared calm and relaxed.
Dr. Rachel Casey, Strategy and Transformation Director at Dogs Trust, a veterinarian and animal behavior expert, suggests, “Take this slowly and choose a location where the cat does not feel threatened by the puppy.”
The study was conducted as part of the Generation Pup project, with over 9,500 puppies registered, including 4,500 puppies that interacted with cats.
These findings will be presented at the annual New Scientist Live 2024 science festival, taking place in London this weekend.
