When introducing a rescue cat to a resident dog, what is one micro-step (barrier, scent swap, or decompression tactic) that consistently lowers arousal for you? Why does this single step make the biggest difference in your experience?

The single micro-step I rely on is decompression: giving the new cat its own separate space before any introductions. This lowers arousal for both animals and lets me stage short, supervised meetings that end on a positive note before any tension builds.