In this Q&A, I’m helping Geneva figure out a very specific (and very real) challenge: moving to a new home while also introducing her cat, Daniel Striped Tiger, to a newly adopted dog. That’s a lot of change at once, and the key is remembering what each animal needs to feel confident. For cats, mojo starts with territory. For dogs, it’s often more about connection to you and the signals you’re giving them. I walk you through starting Daniel in a base camp—his own room—loaded up with all his “good smelling stuff” like his cat tree, beds, litter box, and anything that makes him think, “This is mine.” While he anchors to the new territory, the dog can be out more, because dogs tend to settle through your presence and routine. Then we move into slow, structured introductions: scent and space swaps, then feeding on opposite sides of a gate. First they smell without seeing, then you gradually add calm visual exposure at a safe distance. The big takeaway: stack small wins, keep it slow, and get them doing something other than staring at each other—especially eating—so good things happen when they’re near one another.