Author Topic: How do I introduce the puppy to my cats  (Read 770 times)

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Offline Suzieb

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How do I introduce the puppy to my cats
« on: March 08, 2014, 12:14:44 PM »
Bringing my puppy home tomorrow and just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to introduce him to my two 5 year old cats. I've read online that you're suppose to put the puppy in his crate when they first meet so the cats can investigate but feel safe at the same time. Should I do it this way or just pop him down in the room and see what happens!   :005:

Offline Charlie Pup

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Re: How do I introduce the puppy to my cats
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2014, 04:54:09 PM »
How are you getting on? My puppy, now 6 months is still chasing the cat, our problem is the cat will not tell him off. Had kept them apart but now we only have stair and kitchen gates up. We were literally just sat in garden with Charlie off lead when our cat came in and got chased out.  Aaagggghhhh..   I wish there was a miracle cure :(

Offline Suzieb

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Re: How do I introduce the puppy to my cats
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2014, 08:44:54 PM »
It's going ok so far. They are curious about each other but at the moment when Jeffrey gets too close to the cats they hiss at him, and if they come over to him he barks at them. There's been no fighting though, they're just a bit nervous of each other so hopefully that will improve the longer he's here. I've been giving them treats every time they are near each other and behaving nicely which is helping a bit.

Offline Sara750S

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Re: How do I introduce the puppy to my cats
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2014, 09:57:55 AM »
I wish you every success with this, we failed and in the end our cat decided he couldn't be bothered with Toby and now he has been fostered by neighbours!



Offline MaggieR

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Re: How do I introduce the puppy to my cats
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2014, 10:50:41 AM »
Give the cats time... don't try to force it and always make sure they have an escape route from the pup.  Try not to let the pup chase the cat, that becomes a great game, so where possible treat the pup when he sees the cat and doesn't chase.  Its possible.... my cats were same age as yours are.  They both took themselves off upstairs when I brought Maggie home - Tonic, ginger tom, took two weeks before he realised if he stood his ground he had the making of the pup.  One afternoon he did, popped a paw on her head and pushed her to the floor and they had a good sniff.  They've been best mates ever since..... the other one, well, thats taken a lot longer.  I think it was a couple of years before Slim & Maggie actually got to sniffing distance... even now Slim is very wary of Maggie and Mags does bully her, not nastily, but sees it as her job to for instance shepherd her downstairs and out the back door in the evening.  Mags is desperate to play with Slim, but that ain't ever gonna happen... but the three of them do now sleep on the bed in the back bedroom in the sun sometimes.  So its possible.  Enjoy.....
Lisa & Maggie x

One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why.  ~Author Unknown

Offline Charlie Pup

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Re: How do I introduce the puppy to my cats
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2014, 04:16:21 PM »
Give the cats time... don't try to force it and always make sure they have an escape route from the pup.  Try not to let the pup chase the cat, that becomes a great game, so where possible treat the pup when he sees the cat and doesn't chase.  Its possible.... my cats were same age as yours are.  They both took themselves off upstairs when I brought Maggie home - Tonic, ginger tom, took two weeks before he realised if he stood his ground he had the making of the pup.  One afternoon he did, popped a paw on her head and pushed her to the floor and they had a good sniff.  They've been best mates ever since..... the other one, well, thats taken a lot longer.  I think it was a couple of years before Slim & Maggie actually got to sniffing distance... even now Slim is very wary of Maggie and Mags does bully her, not nastily, but sees it as her job to for instance shepherd her downstairs and out the back door in the evening.  Mags is desperate to play with Slim, but that ain't ever gonna happen... but the three of them do now sleep on the bed in the back bedroom in the sun sometimes.  So its possible.  Enjoy.....

It's good to know they will eventually tolerate even if they are not best of buddies.  Charlie is not allowed to chase our cat but it is hard work only letting him off lead in the house and garden if the cat isn't there.  We have a stair gate so if the cat is in he normally prefers to be upstairs and Charlie cannot get to him then.  Our problem is the cat is too laid back to tell Charlie off, therefore makes life more difficult.  We are really working on the leave it command and once strengthened and listened to, only then will Charlie be allowed off lead around the cat.  Small steps and time for us, I am not expecting any miracles for at least another 6 months!