Do Maine Coons Get Along With Dogs? Vet-Reviewed Introduction & Safety Tips

Whether you’re looking to add a Maine Coon to your home or to add a dog when you already have this cat breed, you need to ensure that you’re not creating problems by putting the two animals together.

Fortunately, Maine Coons generally get along well with dogs, depending on their socialisation and personality. Remember, though, that they’re only half of the equation. We highlighted everything that you need to know here, and we have the tips that you should follow anytime you’re introducing a cat and a dog for the first time.

Do Maine Coons Get Along With Dogs?

While Maine Coons typically get along with dogs just fine because of their docile and loving nature, they’re only one part of the interaction. They still need to be socialised properly from a young age, as well as introduced to the dog or other pets appropriately and gradually. This improves the success of the process.

The other half that you’ll need to focus on is the dog, their individual personality, breed, age, previous experiences, and socialisation. Canines that are incessant and won’t leave felines alone aren’t a good fit, even if the cat does have a docile temperament.

Moreover, dogs with strong herding instincts may not get along great with cats, as they may try to chase them around the home. However, this behavior is often manageable with proper training and supervision. In short, if you have a Maine Coon, they usually won’t be the problem, but that doesn’t mean you can pair them with any dog out there!

The 6 Vet-Reviewed Tips for Introducing Your Maine Coon to Dogs

Just because you shouldn’t have any issues introducing a well-socialised Maine Coon to a well-behaved dog doesn’t mean you want to take this benefit for granted. So, we highlighted several tips that you should follow to help ensure a smooth integration between your Maine Coon and your dog.

1. Start Slow

While we understand the temptation to just try to introduce your dog to your Maine Coon right away and see how it goes, one bad interaction can be extremely challenging to overcome. Therefore, we highly recommend starting out slowly.

This means taking it one step at a time and allowing both your Maine Coon and your dog to fully adjust before moving on to the next phase!

2. Introduce Scents

Before you introduce your dog and your cat directly to each other, we recommend introducing them to each other’s scents and getting comfortable with that first. To do this, simply leave both pets in separate rooms for a set amount of time, then switch the pets. If swapping rooms feels too overwhelming, you can instead give each pet an item like a blanket or toy that carries the other animal’s scent. Make sure they do not see each other yet during this stage.

This gives them time to explore the scent of the other animal and get comfortable with it before they meet for the first time.

3. Teach Basic Commands

This is something that’s much easier to teach the dog simply because they’re usually a bit more compliant. Having the ability to get a quick recall, to get them to sit, or to stop barking can go a long way toward a smooth interaction.

It’ll depend on the individual dog for how long this training takes, but most dogs can master these basic commands in a few weeks if you work at it consistently. However, reinforcing these behaviors in more distracting situations, like around a cat, may take additional time and patience.

4. Get Them To See Each Other

After they have become comfortable with one another’s scent, move on to the next step. Allow them to see each other through a glass door or a pet gate, while keeping the dog on the leash. Do not allow them to interact at this time. Reward all calm and relaxed behavior of both pets using treats. Ideally, have a helper who will supervise the other pet. The goal is for both pets to be unbothered by each other’s presence, with a bit of curiosity, but no signs of fear based on their observed body language. Keep these sessions short but repeat them a few times per day.

If your pets start to feel a bit overwhelmed with each other, they should have somewhere they can get away. While it’s not always the easiest to set up, take the time to find the perfect locations for each pet.

5. Monitor Interactions

No matter how you expect the introduction to go, you need to be there as the supervisor for not only the first interaction between the two animals but also all their other interactions for a while. It doesn’t take long for things to go south, so monitor these engagements so you can step in before things get to that point. Always keep the dog on the leash so you can control their movements, while the cat can be let loose in the same room and explore at their own pace.

Again, use positive reinforcement with treats and praise for both pets in order to reward good behavior so the pets can associate the other one’s presence with good things. Keep ini

6. Stay Vigilant

It’s really easy to let down your guard when things are going well, but just because things are going well now doesn’t mean they always will. Because of this, you need to keep your guard up and stay vigilant when your Maine Coon is interacting with your dog.

It might be a bit more work, but if it stops a bad interaction from happening, it’s more than worth it.

Final Thoughts

If you already have a Maine Coon and you want to get a dog, you’re in luck. These cats generally get along great with canines, especially if you take the time to introduce them properly, and if you have socialised both pets from a young age or got a puppy. But don’t take it for granted! Take your time with the introductions and ensure that you get the right type of dog that won’t try to chase your cat and create problems for everyone.

See Also:

• Can Dogs & Pet Rats Get Along? 6 Vet-Approved Ways to Help It

• Do Dogs and Guinea Pigs Get Along? 6 Vet-Approved Tips on Living With Them Both