introducing a puppy to a 3 yr old cat

[dms]

I have a 3 yr old cat that is not comfortable around strangers, much less dogs.I would love to get a golden or a lab but I am worried that the cat will react really badly. I love her dearly and wouldn't want her to lose her place in the family. I'm thinking that if I get a puppy, at least the cat will feel like she is the boss and before the dog gets too big it will know its place (ie that the cat is in charge). Any suggestions? Am I expecting too much?

Thanks

[elizabethann]

I was very leary of getting a dog because I have 2 cats who rule the household. I got a little puppy and named him Fenway. One cat, Cosmo, wasn't too sure of Fenway. Cosmo would hiss everytime Fenway got within a yard of him. My other cat, Maxie, became the alpha animal of the house and made sure Fenway did what Maxie wanted (like stay away from his food AND stay away from me)! I live in a 3 room apartment so you can only imagine how tough it was at first. Now, here it is 1 year later and we are all living in harmony. Cosmo no longer hisses at Fenway (even when Fenway goes to smell his butt). Cosmo tolerates him (though they are and never will be the best of friends). Maxie and Fenway have become buddies. They sleep on the same loveseat. They both sleep with me (one on one side, the other on the other side). Maxie still rules the roost and Fenway does what he says. It takes awhile and you have to be very patient but eventually they'll be able to live together. They may never be the best of buddies. But you'll just never know until you try. It just takes time. Good luck!

[LorraineO]

Originally posted by dms
I have a 3 yr old cat that is not comfortable around strangers, much less dogs.I would love to get a golden or a lab but I am worried that the cat will react really badly. I love her dearly and wouldn't want her to lose her place in the family. I'm thinking that if I get a puppy, at least the cat will feel like she is the boss and before the dog gets too big it will know its place (ie that the cat is in charge). Any suggestions? Am I expecting too much?

Thanks

I saw this problem before on a british animal show,,, it was 2 cats tho,,, but this ought to work as well... Take a face cloth and rub each pets face throughly,, then switch the face cloths and wipe each pet again with the other smell..... then SLOWLY get them in the same room.. start at each end of the room and just sit with them,, read a book or watch the TV,, do this for 5 or 10 mins each day until you get tot he point where you can have them side by side for 30 mins,,, Refresh the face cloths with a wiping down each time... this help the pets to know the others smell and lessen the fear reaction..... It might work.... youll just have to keep the 2 apart if and when you get the dog until the process works....

[dms]

thanks so much for the advice and support. it's so nice to hear that someone with 2 cats was actually able to get a dog & that at least one of them became friends.

I love the advice about wiping them down with face cloths! I can see how that would work and it sounds like a great idea.

dms

[LorraineO]

youre very welcome,, I hope it works for you,, it might take a bit of time depending on how stubborn your cat is.... Keep us posted on how you make out!!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Hi There, dms!

You didn't mention the AGE of the "proposed" new Golder / Lab...

Are we talking a very young PUP, or a 9mo or older Dog??

I've "done it" both ways - tiny Kitten moving in on a 1yo German Shepherd;
and 9mo and older Dogs moving in on an *established Kat*.

Unless the dog is a tiny PUP - that da KAT can quickly "size up"
as a *pushover* that da Kat can easily dominate;
the poor Cat will probably get his nose WAY out of joint;
*Hisssss* & *GRrrrowl*, use his Claws at every opportunity,
and spend a lot of time in "seclusion" (hidey-spots);
not to mention *pouting*!

In my case, first Cinder (6mo DOG), and a year later Smokey (1yo DOG) -
where "introduced" to Boots, the WELL-established KAT (1.5 yo),
who had been raised from KittenHood by a rather *pushy* Shepherd/Husky ~
so Boots had already learned some Dog-Smarts and wasn't TOOOOO stressed
when Cinder moved in.

Boots *Hissssed* & *Swatted* at every opportunity;
spent many hours "UP" and out of Cinder's reach;
and in general just tried to *ignore* the New Dawg!

Smokey was a harder "sell" - Boots was NOT a Happie Camper
when SmokeMutt was invited in by Cinder!
Smokey thought Boots Kat was a frisky lil Chew Toy!

What I did (with BOTH Dogs) was to Leash them when we were
in the house with the Cat having free run...

SLOWLY the dogs caught on that the KAT was NOT to be chased in
an "un-friendly" manner; and the KAT began to understand that
the dogs really wouldn't hurt him.

In YOUR case, regardless of the age of the New Dog -
you might want to keep the dog / Pup leashed while you try to
establish some "house rules" that they can both live with.

And be sure to REWARD *both parties* when they behave well with
each other!

Good Luck - but don't be afraid to Adopt a Dawg -
the Kat and the Dog will (eventually) work things out!

/s/ Phred
.