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Introducing dog to resident cat

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  • 06-09-2009 12:37pm
    #1
    Kooli
    Registered Users Posts: 1,312 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,
    I wonder if anyone has any advice. We got a new dog a month or so ago, but already have a cat. The cat is quite a nervy little thing, and we haven't properly introduced them yet (waiting till the dog became more obedient!)

    Any ideas how to introduce them? They are well aware of each other - have seen each other through glass etc, and we've been swapping their blankets back and forth to get used to each other's smells.

    We don't need them to be best buddies, but we don't want to have to keep them apart for ever.

    Thanks!


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    #2
    mymo
    Registered Users Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭mymo


    Hi we introduced a pup to our 8yr old cat last summer, then another adult cat, then another pup couple of months back. (must be mad)
    He is a very nervous cat, but just ignored the pup mostly and kept out of his way. Is it a pup or adult dog? Big or small?
    Make sure there's somewhere for cat to escape to and maybe introduce them with dog on the lead.
    Don't let the dog chase the cat obviously and things should settle down, did take longer for cat to get used to other cat than either dog.


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    #3
    tootyflutty
    Registered Users Posts: 782 ✭✭✭tootyflutty


    What we did, was bring them both into the same room. Make sure there are plenty of high places/places to hide for the cat if he gets too scared. You should be in the room to make sure nothing goes drastically wrong.
    You just have to let them sniff each other out and see what happens.
    Our 17 year old dog was never a cat lover, in fact detested them, but when we got our kitten we had to introduce them as the cat would be in the house too.
    You just have to give them some time to adjust to each other and it should settle down with time. It did take a week or so until they stopped hissing and barking at each other but now they walk by each other without a backwards glance!
    Swapping the blankets is a good idea and should, other then that you just have to let them do what they have to do.
    Make it as safe an environment as you can and let them sniff about, don't intervene unless you have to and all should be fine. :)


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