My family just bought a male puppy and even though he is not being a threat to my cat, she is hostile towards him (which I assume is normal for territory reasons). What's a good way to bring them together to get along?

While you pretty much have to allow the cat to figure out that the puppy is not an automatic threat...you CAN support the puppy developing GOOD MANNERS towards the cat!

The key is two fold...don't allow the puppy to chase or harass the cat....REDIRECT the puppy to do other things when the cat enters the room...and REWARD (praise and treat) the puppy for ignoring the cat as often as you can!

You don't reward if the puppy reacts to the cat, that's when you remove the puppy from where the cat is, IF the puppy doesn't refocus back on YOU when you attempt to redirect their attention.

But DO make seeing the cat a big fat positive for the pup...use a lead on the pup if you have to, call him to you (reward for coming!) ask for a SIT, and help the puppy to do that...(reward again!)

Soon the pup will associate the cat with WONDERFUL things...as long as he is not FOCUSING on the cat...he'll figure it out pretty quickly with your positive support and reinforcement!

The cat too may figure it out...all of ours have.

Although SADIE our Sr. Queen, will sometimes still look at Hannah as if to say...."they should have flushed you before you got too big to go down the drain! Stupid dog!"

Sadie DOES NOT invite "play." Saylore the youngest DOES try to get Hannah (my SARS dog) and Patch, our little old man (Parsons Jack Russ) to play, and THEY tend to be..."WHAT THE FRIG...CAT...YIKES STOP IT!)

However, they all have agreed....to the cats...IF YOU RUN...I GET TO CHASE YOU! and to the dogs...IF I DON'T RUN..YOU BETTER STOP IT, OR I GET TO KNOCK THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF YOU...AND I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT!

AND...they all pretty much adhere to their own "rules."

Sipper on the left and Sadie on the right...
Sadie (the sadist) a second after the first shot...she shoved Sipper off and took her spot...ready for her close up Mr. DiMill!
and
Saylore napping with Hannah...bliss!

Depends on what they are doing now and where the cat goes.

If the cat has places to go to get away from the new addition (up on a desk, under the couch, outside, under the bed, etc) then let the cat have access to these areas and let the puppy be a puppy - sniff, approach, bark (happily/playfully) and let the cat set the boundaries with hissing, growling and 'slapping'.

Do not underestimate the intelligence of the cat. While its hackles are up, and its hiss sounds serious, it most likely will be slapping with its claws in (velvet paw) and not clawing. The cat will try that first before moving to using the claws.

DO NOT hold the cat down and force it to 'play' with the puppy. Leave the cat an escape route. The Puppy will adapt more readily to the cat.

With every cat/dog situation we have had the cats have ended up dominating the household, setting the boundaries and in time "accidentally" laying close to the dog (when no one is looking).

Tolerance of the dog will take place, as soon as the dog knows its place in the cat's house (As you are aware everyone in the house serves the cat and is obedient to the cat, including you! LOL).

If the puppy is too persistent, then separate the puppy from the cat, admonishing the puppy with 'No' or 'leave the cat alone' as you pull the puppy away.

Also make certain to have toys for the puppy to play with so it will be less inclined in playing with the cat all the time.

I say just use the cat and make a stir fry from it. Problem solved. x3
*smacks self for being evil*