Any tips for helping new pup & kitties to get along well?

[Teena]

Hi, Axel is 9 weeks old. We also have 2 cats inside. One is 6 years old, never goes near dog, could care less about him. The other is 1 year old & would love to play with puppie. Has been curiuos abbout him since the day we bought him home. At first they would just sniff each other. I ALWAYS watch them closely, when they are together & Axel is crated when i can't watch him. Now Axel & kitty want to play together, but not sure how to do it. Axel will turn kitty over on his back & sit on him. Kitty tolerates this but Axel is still mouthing things. He will nip kitty's foot, kitty meows & i seperate them. I am saying NO BITING , and watching them like a hawk. Anyone have tips on how you got pup & kitty to live in harmony? Oh, kitty has no front claws. He's inside only.
thanks,
Teena

[Teena]

Surely some of you have cats inside with your dogs. Tell me how you handled this , please.
Teena

[rottmommie]

brought the pup in with adult cats (4). lets tel the results. one cat is his favorite, he pins the dang cat down and licks him to death, the cat squints and gets all soaked!!! doesnt like it but wont hurt the dog. 2nd cat just stays away from the dog. 3rd cat beats the heck out of the dog. 4ht cat hates the dog so much i wouldnt be surprised if the cat doesnt figure out a way to kill him one night. 4 cats all different reactions. the dog really wouldnt try to hurt the cats at all, all he wants to do is lick them. that is the only thing i worried about, since he could have any one of them for lunch if he wanted to.

[xenacleo]

This is what we did. When we brought the puppy home we introduced her to the cat with her on a leash and the cat being held. We just let them sniff each other for a little bit. When there was no biting we told them good and then separated them. Every day after that we would increase their amount of time together. Eventually after about 3 days we would keep the puppy on a leash but let the cat down. After a few days of this we would let the puppy off the leash and keep a close eye. It seemed to work well since now our dogs and cats like each other better then us!!!! It's funny because when the dogs are fed you see four dogs eating out of separate bowls and water dishes and three cats sharing the water. (some of my cats even grab some dog food once in awhile). I hope all works out okay.!!!

[LisaS]

Something else to consider - how to keep the pup away from the litter box.
Anyway, the last time I introduced a pup to a house that had cats, the cats just kept away (e.g. top of fridge, top of bookcase) if they didn't want to be bothered -- but these were grown cats not kittens - and they were always supervised when together so pup couldn't pin a cat before he got away.
Silly dog grew up to use his front paws to bat at all sorts of things/people/cats/dogs - learned it from the cats no doubt.
You do need to be careful if kitty has claws - I've read on another list a terrible story about a young pup who nearly lost an eye from being batted by a cat.

[This message has been edited by LisaS (edited August 25, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by LisaS (edited August 25, 2000).]

[Teena]

Kitty (George) is a year old and he loves to roughhouse with our older cat. She doesn't like it. He wants someone to play with, so he keeps going up to axel to play. When Axel turns him over & sits on him, George does nothing. He's never offered to defend himself by scratching with back claws, biting, nothing. Axel wants to play too, but he keeps nipping at George's feet, tail. George just meows and i seperate them. I guess i'll just have to keep all contact closely watched. I hope with time they can become great friends.
Btw i have to brag a bit on Axel, he can sit, shake, & potty on command now. Yippie no accidents in house for days now!!
He barked at me to let him out a couple days ago & he made a beeline for his spot, once outside.
Thanks for the kitty advise!!
Teena

[Teena]

Any other cat owners hiding out there? What was it like bringing home pup to your cats?
Teena

[Joanne in NJ]

Population 5 dogs and 9 kitties.... still (whew). Being you have a pup I'll tell you from the pup standpoint what I observed.
I brought my rottie/springer into the household when she was 10 weeks old. You need to teach them right away that the kitties are NOT playtoys. They sometimes get to a stage when they think they are. No fun for kitty to be grabbed by the neck and shaken like a rag toy. Fun for the pup but the kitty can die. I was very lucky....Don't let it start. Kitties are sacred, not to be bothered. Tell that pup NO! Correct him every time he takes an interest in kitty and you may be all right. Even when kitties like to hiss & scuffle and fly around. BTW, one of my kitties is also declawed in front. Declawed cats learn to bite. Esmerelda will bite the dogs on their ears or lips when they're "sliming" her. They accept it, but some dogs may not...The other 4 are 2 dobies and 2 rottns who came into the household as adults.

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[WorkinDogz]

Teena,

The 3 cats were more than a little "peeved" that I brought yet another dog into their domain last November.

Elke had her moments when her desire to "love the kitties" was a little on the hard side. "NICE KITTY!" was repeated often; but the CATS are the ones who ultimately taught her "right from wrong" in feline play. (All but one of my cats is declawed in the front; all are indoor only cats)

Every so often; Elke would have her "butt" handed to her when she got overzealous; by one of the cats. Apparantly; even a declawed cats punch packs some power.

They all get along quite well now; and I often find a cat "hidden" between the legs or behind Ms. Elke while she's napping.

I never let any of my dogs "roughly handle" my cats without a correction from me.

ADORE my kitties!

[Karen J. Reece]

4 cats two dogs. Sami - 12 year old Siamese inside just smacks Mac on the nose when she wants him to leave her alone. Elby - 16 year old outside coldcocked Mac first day and now Mac rarely looks in his direction. Two kittens are a different story. They love him and will not leave him alone. He will try and sneak up on them - they run to him first. He rarely gets rough enough to make them cry but when they do - he lets them go.

[missy kelly's mom]

Missy has 3 feline brothers. When we brought her home at the age of 4 mos., ower 13 yr. old cat, reggie, showed Missy that he was the boss. He wacked her in the nose. Missy came to me, grumbling. I then corrected the cat "Make nice Reggie , Missy give kisses" Max is 2nd oldest cat. He stayed away from Missy for a long time. Bart, ower younger cat gets along with Missy very well. I never made a big deal out of the little disagreements they had, but I kept a watchfull eye on things. Now Missy is 21 mo. old , has a catatude. She tolerates the older cats, plays hard to tick off Max the cat, But the "game starts with Missy chasing Max, and Max turning around and chasing Missy....they chase each other until Mommy or Daddy says " Knock it off!" My living room and dining room turns into romper room. They separate fr a while and then they'er at it again. Now Bart, Missy's buddy, partner in crime, the littlest cat and the more tolerable of the three, Bart's cool! Missy and Bart get along great. I honestly think they work as a team. Bart the cat gets into mischief and Missy's the look out. Those two are comical. When I'm holding Bart on my lap{Bart is very affectionate and loves to be held] Missy comes up and gives kisses, one lap of the tonge and Bart's head is sopping wet. They chase each other too with no hissing or spitting, not like it is with the older cats.
I could go on with alot more about their relationship it would take to much time. Finaly, it makes a differance how the cats are introduced to each other. I don't allow rough house "we are to give kisses and make nice" at most times. We all have fun and have to share, the home in peace. I guess it all depends on how much your animals can tolerate each other, and how much you are willing to put up with. Be watchfull, and try not to make a big deal of it. If you have to keep them separted for a while. Hang in there! Missy Kelly's Mom Pam