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I have to begin by saying that the easiest way to have a multi species household is if you start out with babies. A kitten and a puppy who at least for now are close in size and can grow up together in harmony. The second best way to do things would be to bring a kitten into a pre-established dog household. Dogs are much more loyal and accepting of such changes. You will however encounter the biggest problem when you have a pre-established cat household and suddenly try to throw in a dog.
See cats have certain ideas on the way things should be run. They set up their own hierarchy and don't like anyone trying to come in and rearrange things. When they have spent years or months as the spoiled and pampered babies, they will never easily understand your sudden need for a canine companion. Your cats will look at a dog and they just can't rationalize any reason whatsoever for the existence thereof. What is good about any creature who slobbers, eats like a slob and thinks the litter box might be the snack aisle?? NOTHING, in their honestly egotistical opinions. To a cat there is nothing better than, of course, a cat!
There are however some methods you can utilize to try to make the transition a little easier on both your nerves and those of your cat. First of all, make sure that they are aware of and have seen dogs before at some point in time. Don't just surprise them by coming home with a creature have never seen or smelled before but will instantly deem deplorable nonetheless. If necessary have a friend bring over a dog who is cat friendly and let them catch a sniff or two. Stay close at hand throughout the process however to prevent the dog from walking away with major scratches. They are usually ready to jump right into a new friendship while the cats are just a little more wary and just a little more well endowed in the razor sharp needle department.
If you can, borrow a few items of dog bedding or toys from a friend so you can leave them laying around the house so the cats can smell the various smells and get their fang baring done early. That way when you bring one in on a permanent basis, some of the doggy smells will already be permeating your home and won't be such a surprise to the felines.
The easiest way to do this is to of course bring in a puppy. An adult dog is sure to upset the feline rulers of your residence and take much longer to adjust to than a baby. Adult dogs can be as set in their ways as your felines and if they like to play with cats and the cats want nothing to do with them, then the fur will surely fly. Maybe some of your own blood and skin if you are caught in the middle as I once was. Most cats, even males, have a parenting instinct. They will give more leniency to a baby than they will to an adult to learn the house rules. This also prevents the problem of the dog being set in their ways and opinions already. A puppy will learn that the cats run the show and will find their place in it somewhere. They will also learn faster which cats they can play with and which to avoid.
Do not keep them seperated for any particular period of time. Let them see each other in action and adjust to each other in their own time. You may of course supervise the first introductions, but from then on, let them be on their own. Trust me, animals know more about adjusting to each other and how soon it will or won't happen. If you have a multi cat household, there may be some who will never particularly like the puppy, but they will learn to tolerate them and do what they really do best, IGNORE them.
To prevent any fights or arguments, keep their feeding spots seperate. If your cat feels more secure eating at a higher perch away from the puppy, then by all means let them. This will prevent your puppy from learning to snap at the cats in the food dishes and will prevent the cats from scratching the puppy to get them out of it. In most cases cat foods do not agree with dogs or puppies anyway and they are best kept out of reach. One of the best ways to integrate the household is to let them share just the water dishes. This way they can all learn to interact side by side a little more each day. Make sure your cats have a sleep spot out of reach of the puppy as they tend to want to sleep more and will not appreciate a puppy pouncing on them to play in the middle of a nap.
Whether you are bringing in a puppy or you opt for a full grown dog, remember to be prepared for some dissention in the ranks. Keep your cats' favorite spots sacred as much as possible by teaching the dogs to stay away and leave kitty alone when they are there. Keep your cats' favorite toys just for the cats: buy the dog their own. Don't expect them to cuddle up together to sleep or to be willing to share their favorite treats. There are just some things a feline must keep as their own.
Most of all, make sure your cats know that they aren't being ousted by this new beast you have brought in to invade their sanctuary. While a new pet needs a lot of attention, the old ones still need to know they are loved and treasured just as much as they always were before. Make sure you don't treat them any differently just because you have someone new around. Cats egos require a lot or reassuring and stroking to keep them content.
If you do decide to try to bring in a grown dog instead of a puppy around adult cats, make sure you carefully check the animals behaviour and background as much as possible before bringing it home. You obviously don't want to bring in one that hates or kills cats. Make sure they will be compatible with all your other household pets, including birds, rodents and children.
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