topic Re: How to introduce a kitten to a dog in Pet Lovers

How to introduce a kitten to a dog

joviolin — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 18:40:24 GMT

My daughter recently rescued a kitten who is now about 5 months old. We have a 6-year-old Chihuahua/Westie mix who despises cats - makes the most awful snarling sounds if we encounter one outside during a walk! We would like to introduce the two animals and would appreciate any suggestions on how to do so (BTW - I've never owned a cat). I've heard we should first rub an old shirt over the cat and leave in the house for our dog to peruse.

Any further tips would be greatly appreciated!

Re: How to introduce a kitten to a dog

ahoymate — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 18:46:49 GMT

Why not call your vet about this. My experience wasn't good. Natural enemies.

Re: How to introduce a kitten to a dog

beach-mom — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 19:04:29 GMT

@joviolin - DH is a veterinarian. He said dogs and cats live together all of the time successfully. You have to find out what happened in the past with your dog to figure out why your dog despises cats, if you can. Your dog is an adult and you should introduce them gradually so they get used to each other. He said to call your veterinarian, who knows your dog already, and he/she can give you some ideas. Thank your daughter and you for rescuing this sweet kitten! This has happened to us a few times- DD has found and rescued kittens. She always says her dad will find them a home, and somehow it is always ours! But I wouldn't have it any other way! Good luck!

Re: How to introduce a kitten to a dog

Sooner — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 19:10:01 GMT

We got a little sweet kitten once. Brought it home, brough in our little terrier mix sweet dog who went up to the kitten cautiously and sweet.

Kitten bowed up, swatted dog on the nose and chased into a bedroom and in the closet, standing outside all bowed up, paw raised and spitting, like "Yeah. Come on out! You want some more of that?"

My dad was so mad and embarrassed for the poor coward dog. They did become friends later on.

With animals you never know.

Re: How to introduce a kitten to a dog

geezerette — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 19:17:21 GMT

Slowly, carefully, and in stages.

And hope it works. Sometimes they become best buds for life. Other times they merely tolerate each other. And then there are those instances that you're lucky if there isn't bodily damage. It may take a lot of work and patience if your dog already doesn't care for cats. Although sometimes a cat outside is different than a cat inside.

Google is a great source for something like this. Infinite articles about this subject.

Re: How to introduce a kitten to a dog

CelticCrafter — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:55:18 GMT

Do you live together?

If you don't live together why do you want to do this?

Re: How to introduce a kitten to a dog

NickNack — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:19:23 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
Do you live together?

If you don't live together why do you want to do this?

@CelticCrafter @joviolin I was wondering the same thing. If your daughter doesn't live with you I wouldn't try to introduce them. They would need to be around each other all the time for weeks at a time to get used to each other, especially since you said your dog doesn't like cats.

If you live together, you're supposed to set up a separate room for the kitten and leave him in there for about a week. Then they sniff each other under the door.

I tried to do that when introducing my kitten (now 3 1/2 year old cat) to my previous dog. The kitten meowed loudly all the time, and that didn't last long. I finally just introduced them with my dog on a leash, and everything went fine. The kitten did hiss and arch his back at my dog a couple of times, but after a while they became friends. My dog had lived with a cat before I got her, though, and they had gotten along.

Re: How to introduce a kitten to a dog

MoonieBaby — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 01:41:45 GMT

For a while make small short burst intros - but as you do please CRATE one of them. Allow for the scent of each to become familiar and DO NOT allow them to be in the company of each other without human accompanyment.

Re: How to introduce a kitten to a dog

RedTop — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 22:22:29 GMT

And sometimes it just doesn't happen. We have 2 male dogs that HATE cats and have killed more than a few cats. The stipulations for adopting these 2 were that they would be outside dogs in the country where there are no cats.

My brother across the road has an inside cat, and our dogs bristle up at the smell of cat on him.