It is probably a good idea to put a baby gate across a room where the cat's litter box and food will be. Make sure that the cat can access a litter box easily, without having to risk running past the dog to get there. Social Structure Keep in mind the big differences in dog and cat language when combining them in a household. Cats usually have one queen and all her subjects with independent Tom Cats that vie for territory and the queen cat. Cats desire as much territory as possible, while dogs crave leadership and are most comfortable with a defined territory.
Communication Remember that dog and cat communication are very different.
Cats wag their tails when they are angry as a warning. Meowing is a demand and barking is a warning. Dogs get wide pupils when they are aggressive, cats get wide pupils when they are relaxed and affectionate. Rolling onto one's back means submission in dog language and is a defensive, fighting position for a cat. Cats with claws have an obvious advantage in communicating to dogs, but cats without claws can still climb and swat.