How does one go about cat testing a dog?
I didn't see a thread on here about it and I wanted to know.

We kinda just put the puppy down and the cats tried sniffing him/her out. They were pretty upset about them being in the house, so for a few weeks they hissed/growled at them, but all are ok with them accept one who has nothing to do with either one of the pups. Just monitor thing's extremely close, because the pups can get a little too interested and it would be terrible for the cat to smack the puppy and get him/her in the eye, which can cause a serious injury. I have baby gates up, so they can see/smell each other without having full contact.

yeaa. We have 3 cats and they weren't to exited to see him to say the least. Shadow wanted sniff them out and play but soon they started hissing haha. I have him gated up in the living room if I see him eyeing one or chasing one I tell him leave it and point him in another direction.

Okay, but what about an adult dog?

I introduced my adult sibe to cats indoors with the cats loose and my sibe on a lead so that I had control over the situation if necessary. My sibe is fine around cats indoors as long as they don't run, however outside the house they are fair game as far as he is concerned.

In the shelters, here atleast, they take a calm cat, hold it by it's neck and hind quarters and let the dog sniff it. That was the cat can't attack it, and the dog can't attack it. If the dog doesn't care, they let the cat on the floor to see what the dog does, but the dog is on a leash to make sure, JUST in case.

We use the same method to introduce our cats to our fosters and new dogs.

At the shelter I volunteer for, they just walk a dog by the outdoor cat enclosure and see how it reacts. See if it acts like it wants to eat the cats or doesn't care. Not that that's a great way to cat test, but they are pretty limited on what they are allowed to do.

I cat test by taking my most "dog like" cat and having the dog on the leash. Our last 3 fosters have had no problems with cats- thankfully. Stark will chase if they run but otherwise has no interest.

Signs I look for:
High arousal (body held high, tail up, wagging, ears forward)
Lunging
Barking
Fixed stare

I think this is going to depend on the temperment of the cat you are introducing as much as how you go about it.

Both of my cats have been well socialized around large dogs and are not afraid of nor do they attempt to hurt dogs. They both know to get away and have a "Safe Haven" in the house where they can be left alone.

Daphne will hiss, growl and fluff up and maybe bat at the dog WITHOUT her claws to show she is in charge and then she would be fine and in fact play with the dog.

As for Macy, she will just keep her distance and will just get up and run away to the "Safe Haven" when the dog approaches her for the first several weeks. Then she slowly starts interacting with the dog on her terms.

I just turned Saphire loose while I was there to see how she reacted and it went just as I expected. Saphire wanted to play and the cats reacted as above.

As a result, Saphire learned not to chase the cats or they hide instead of playing with her. She doesn't even chase other cats.

Now Daphne and Saphire regularly enjoy playing tag and Macy helps me walk Saphire. Everyone gets along great. .