HELP! please!

[BrittanyLexie]

Ok well i just got a new puppy (mini schnauzer) who is nine weeks old.. Well she is already very used to cats. WELL.. i also have a cat (annie) who ive had since i was 6.. (im now 13) .. well my problem is, everytime my puppy sees annie she chases her and annie ends up staying hidden all day long. The puppy is eating her food (we try to stop it all we can but shes very sneaky) and when annie smells my puppy on her food.. she eats barely any of it. And i feel really bad becasue i dont want annie to think that ive traded her in or something.. or that i love lexie more than her.. but everytime i try to pet her, Lexie needs attention and has to be watched... what do i do??????? how do i get them to be friends?

[elizabethann]

In regards to the food, may I suggest you put Annie's food on a counter or another place that is high? Annie can jump up and eat but your puppy can't. That's what I do with my cats food.

When my dog Fenway was introduced to my kitties, Maxie and Cosmo, there were all types of emotions going on! Fenway chased Maxie but Maxie is a tough cat and he turned around and chased Fenway. Now Fenway knows not to chase Maxie or he'll get beaten up. However, Fenway and Maxie will sleep together so there's some love there. But Fenway also knows Maxie wears the pants in the family.

However, Cosmo is another story. Fenway will chase Cosmo because Cosmo is a little chicken and won't stand up for himself. What I do (or did) is tried to distract my dog with toys and attention whenever he tried to run after Cosmo. I'd get him to be more interested in the toys rather than Cosmo. When he chased Cosmo, I'd say "no" or "leave it".

To be honest, it took awhile for him to finally leave Cosmo alone (and to this day, he will SOMETIMES chase him). It just takes patience. After awhile your new puppy will get the hint that Annie doesn't really want to play and isn't a squeeky toy. Your puppy will be bored with Annie.

As for Annie, she will come out of her shell (or out from under the bed) eventually. But it may take time.

Don't worry too much about her. She knows you still love her. Who know's, they may eventually be friends (like Fenway and Maxie).

Good luck.

[Dixieland Dancer]

Give them time. Your pup is only 9 weeks old. They may never learn to be best friends but they will learn to tolerate each other. In this case it's the cat who will tolerate the dog. You should see a major difference in about a month or so.

As for the food problem... I solved that by putting the cat food on a desk that the dogs can't reach. Cats love to jump so that really shouldn't be a problem. When you make the transition make it something the cat really can't resist. Once the food bowl is discovered in the "new" location, the cat will return when it gets hungry.

[BrittanyLexie]

thanks for the advice you guys.. ill try it

[ginagt]

It was funny when I brought my puppy home and introduced her to my cats. I have 2 cats. My calico was very curious and went right up the puppy and they became long lost friends. My other cat would run everytime he saw the puppy so naturally the puppy would chase the him. That eventually stopped and he stopped hiding all the time. They all get along fine now. So just be patient your cat will come around. I also keep my cats food on the counter so the puppy can't get into it.

[jesse_3]

I would put the kitty food up where the puppy can't get it. My dog, Jesse, still tries to chase the cats. One, Peek-a-Boo, has figured out that if you don't run, she can't chase her!
The other kitty, Autumn, freaks out and runs away. Then Jesse chases her. They are slowly becoming friends though. Don't worry, I am sure that they will become pals in no time!

Steph and Jes