Introducing New Puppy to Cats

Log Out | Lost Password? | Topics | Search | Who's Online Contact | Register | My Profile | SO home | MOL home

Thread Originator Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post   Closed: New threads not accepted on this page

Author Message   emmie Supporter Username: Emmie Post Number: 741 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 8:23 pm:        I have a new grand-puppy and would like to dog sit when my daughter and family go on vacation, etc. I am not worried about this gentle pup hurting my cats, other way around. Both my cats are indoor cats and both have been around dogs, but several years have gone by since their last real "doggy contact." We thought we would start out with short puppy visits and gradually increase the time together, under major supervision. I am affraid cats are going to run and hide at first or maybe assert their turfdom, I don't really know what to expect and how to do this properly, so it works out on all ends, for the three of them. Certainly don't want fur, of any kind, flying. One cat was rescued from a shelter, so their were dogs all around, other cat was actually raised as an abandoned kitten by my blind dog Emmie, but Emmie is long dead. Puppy rescued from a "kill shelter" in GA, so pup has probably been around cats before. Puppy is 13 weeks old very sweet and docile. Any ideas to a smooth and non-traumatic introduction?   MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3735 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 9:55 pm:        When we first brought my dog home as a little pup, he ran in to our apartment and ran right up to my cats to say hello in that silly puppy way. My female alpha cat at the time swatted him across his nose. He learned right then and there where his place was. No one was seriously injured. After that, puppy was kept confined to the kitchen behind a baby gate, or in his crate, and the cats were able to familiarize themselves with him on their terms. When he was not confined, kitties found a place to be, until such time as they all learned to peacefully coexist. Not sure how much progress you can make with only occassional visits, as opposed to 24/7 exposure. Maybe have the pup on a leash for a brief face-to-face introduction with the cats, and proceed according to their reaction?   catmanjac Citizen Username: Catmanjac Post Number: 196 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 11:25 am:        MeAndTheBoys offers good advice. Having had cats and dogs most of my life, this is the best way, instead of occasional visits. My German Shepherd was lucky-- she had two cats-- one at home, one at work. She found one of them when it was a tiny kitten. Introducing a newer cat to her years later resulted in the same response-- a slap across the face, and eventual co-existing.   emmie Supporter Username: Emmie Post Number: 742 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 1:14 pm:        Thanks guys, good advice. We will have frequent visits and occasional sleepovers. Looking forward to some fun.(?)   jab Citizen Username: Jab Post Number: 563 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 2:29 pm:        We set up a baby gate when we got our younger cat, mainly because he was so tiny that we were afraid we would step on him if we didn't know what room he was in (though we kept him near us when we could) and a side benefit was that the older cat could jump over the gate when she was ready to meet him. On the first day, she made several brief visits (and on the second day the tiny kitten learned how to climb over the baby gate). I think using the baby gate for the dog is a great idea, because the cats can then come and go as they please.   Eats Shoots & Leaves Citizen Username: Mfpark Post Number: 3343 Registered: 9-2001 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 3:29 pm:        Fun times at Emmie's:   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7670 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 8:58 pm:        We take our neighbor's dog whenever they go out of town. As lng as the dog doesn't bark and chase the cats, no problem. And we caught one of the cats taunting the dog, so that doesn't happen anymore. Like Me&, when our oldest was still with us, the dog tried to make friends and was firmly and harmelssly swatted on the nose. We have two left and they all know each other now. My Monster & the dog are good friends and the dog & other just hang.   catmanjac Citizen Username: Catmanjac Post Number: 198 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 11:10 am:        Two cute videos on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bcV-TL9mho http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0Q3vOh6BzU&search=puppy%20cat%20cute   emmie Supporter Username: Emmie Post Number: 745 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 4:42 pm:        Catman, You are right very cute videos!