I currently have 2 male cats who are both 17mths old, named Jackson and Nelson, I recently took in an 8 week old female named Tabitha, I also have 2 dogs. When I got Jackson and Nelson I got them together as they are brothers, my eldest dog had never been around a cat and absolutely hated them so we were worried it wouldn't work with them, but through sheer determination and very careful introductions, plus allowing the dogs to get used to their sent we won and both my dogs will now lay with the cats (my eldest dog is 12 so we were really worried)
Now they obviously had each other so would hide together, play together and eat together, I think they also looked out for each other when the dogs were about so they settled pretty quick once meetings took place, Tabitha is on her own, Jackson is okay with her, he watches her and will sometimes play with her, Tabitha is very cheeky and will go and paw him in the face and he just sits there, when she's eating he will hover over her but as soon as she growls he goes away, he's lovely if she really annoys him he just moves where she can't get him.
Nelson however is a different story, he will sometimes just watch her, but he also chases her sometimes, and he does knock her away with his paw quite hard sometimes (almost like he is giving her a clip around the ear hole) Tabitha is scared of him, she runs and hides the moment he comes in. She also hisses at the dogs, she is terrified of them, neither of them go near her other then the youngest dog sometimes tries to sniff her. At the moment at night we crate Tabitha (to ensure Nelson doesn't bother her and also while she is still hissy with the dogs to ensure none of them go for her, I don't think they ever would but I like to be careful) but i'm keen to get rid of the crate, so are there any tips anyone can give to help Nelson and Tabitha bond, and help Tabitha realise the dogs won't hurt her? She has only been here a week so i'm not expecting over night results, just want peace of mind really that i'm doing all I can do (cats are fairly new to me, I am more a dog person and certainly found getting them used to my boys easier then i'm finding Nelson and Tabitha bonding )
Sorry for the essay wanted to paint a picture of what things are like here as best I could x