Understanding our cats & small animals policy

Welcome to Hope 4 Paws UK & Spain Rescue & Rehoming Service. This page details our Cats & Small Animals Policy, designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all animals involved in the adoption process. Please read carefully to understand your responsibilities as an adopter.

Hope4Paws UK & Spain – Cats & Small Animals Policy

This policy forms part of your Adoption Agreement. At Hope4Paws UK & Spain, we strive to provide accurate and honest information regarding each dog’s behaviour, including their compatibility with cats and small animals. However, due to the nature of rescue dogs, it is impossible to guarantee how a dog will behave in a new home environment.

This policy outlines the steps and precautions that adopters must follow when introducing their new dog to cats and small animals.

  1. Testing Around Cats and Small Animals
  • Behavioural testing
  • Foster home observations
  • Feedback from rescuers abroad
  • Prior history where known

However, dogs may behave differently after adoption due to:

  1. New environments or unfamiliar surroundings
  2. Different animals, routines, scents, and household dynamics

Therefore, we cannot guarantee that a dog previously described as “good with cats” or “untested” will behave the same in your home.

Research, preparation, and careful introductions are mandatory. Please follow the guidance in Sections 2–5.

Safe introductions are key

  1. Caution When Introducing Your Dog to Other Animals
  • fights
  • injuries
  • fear-based behaviours
  • long-term incompatibility
  • surrender of the dog
  • trauma for both animals

Introducing a cat to a dog should be done slowly and carefully:

  1. Scent-Swapping Stage
  • Use clean soft cloths to rub each pet
  • Place the cloths in the other pet’s environment
  • Repeat daily until neither reacts to the smell

If the cat or dog avoids the cloth, this stage must be extended.

Your cat must have:

  • A room the dog cannot access
  • High escape points
  • A quiet space free from pressure or cornering

Only proceed after scent-swapping has been successful:

  • Keep the dog on a lead
  • Keep the dog calm (consider exercising the dog beforehand)
  • Reward calm behaviour with treats and praise
  • Ensure the cat can retreat freely and is not trapped
  • Never force the cat to approach
  • Do not allow chasing
  • Keep introductions short and controlled
  • Repeat frequently until both animals relax

Once both are comfortable, the dog may progress to a long line, and later be off-lead only when the cat feels safe and escape routes are available.

Never leave the dog and cat unsupervised until both are fully settled.

Supervision and ongoing support

  1. Supervision Is Essential
  • Supervise all interactions until confident both animals are safe
  • Keep separation barriers (e.g., baby gates) until stable behaviour is consistent
  • Never leave a rescue dog alone with cats or small pets during the first several weeks

Even animals that “seem settled” may regress or react unexpectedly.

During introductions, observe your dog for signs of:

  • Slowing down or freezing
  • Leaning away / lip-licking
  • Crouched posture or tucked tail
  • Upright stiff tail
  • Paw lift
  • Approaching then retreating (conflicted behaviour)
  • Appeasement grin (“submissive smile”)
  • Shaking
  • Panting beyond normal exertion

These signals indicate fear, stress, or conflict, and interactions must be paused.

If concerns continue, contact us for support.

If you notice aggression, fear, or escalating behaviour:

  • Contact Hope4Paws UK & Spain immediately
  • Inform us of any incidents
  • Provide video (if safe), notes, or observations
  • Follow all training or behavioural advice provided

We will support you, but professional training is required if compatibility issues arise.

Hope4Paws UK & Spain:

  • Provides behavioural information in good faith, based on available assessments
  • Cannot guarantee future behaviour, particularly in relation to cats or small pets
  • Is not liable for injuries, conflict, or behavioural issues arising after adoption

By adopting a dog from Hope4Paws UK & Spain, you accept:

  • The inherent risks of introducing animals
  • Responsibility for carrying out safe introductions
  • Responsibility for seeking training or behaviour support if required

Training is essential to help your dog settle around other pets. We will support you, but adopters must take an active role.

If animals are clearly incompatible:

  • The adopter must consult a qualified trainer/behaviourist
  • Proof of training must be provided
  • We will not collect or rehome the dog without evidence of professional intervention

After a minimum 3-month settling period, if issues remain unresolved, we will assist in rehoming.

The adopter is responsible for:

  • Transporting the dog to its new home (or agreed location)
  • A £100 administration fee to process the rehoming

Please carefully read the full Re-Homing Policy Terms & Conditions.

This Cats & Small Animals Policy is an essential part of those requirements.