I have a cat of my own, and from personal experience I’d say the cat’s personality is definitely the most important factor when considering bringing other dogs in and out of your home. I hold meet and greets in my apartment, and it’s usually pretty easy to tell from the initial encounter whether they will get along or not. I’ll close the doors to my bedroom and bathroom so a chase doesn’t ensue, but if your cat hides under the couch I would not force it out or it might get defensive. It’s a good sign if the dog doesn’t pay much attention to the cat or if the dog just sniffs it and walks away. However, you may want to be more selective if your cat uses its claws when it gets defensive. A majority of the dogs I watch will sometimes bark at or chase my cat because they want to play, but they would never hurt him. This could be very stressful for your cat, or it could be dangerous for the pup if the cat uses its claws. Warning signs include the dog’s demeanor completely changing once they see the cat, growling or aggressive barking, or the dog not giving up on trying to reach the cat even after it’s hidden somewhere. I’ve found that when dogs just want to play they’ll usually give up pretty quickly and direct their attention somewhere else. Best of luck!

A potential client with a chihuahua/pug mix wants to bring her dog over to see how it behaves around cats. However, I'm not sure she realizes that most cats do not warm up to dogs immediately or that many dogs may initially overpower the cat before they learn the cat's boundaries. I always keep my cat separated from any dogs I sit as a precautionary measure, so I don't mind sitting dogs that don't get along with cats. However, I am afraid that the client will choose not to book with me if the encounter is anything less than perfect despite this being a good match otherwise.

Do you have any tips/suggestions on how to introduce her dog to my cat with the most favorable outcome?