How do you think a four year old cat would behave if I introduced a Bichon Frise puppy into her home?
By glenis Kimberley from Leicestershire
It might take some time but they will get along. You might want to try having the puppy on a leash for at least the first time so they can sniff each other. If the puppy wants to chase the cats, definitely deter it in some way. Don't give up and give one of them away (I get so frustrated when I hear of things like that). It just takes some patience and boundaries. :)
Suggestion: Take an animal crate, good-sized, and put the puppy in it. Let them get acquainted. Then put the cat in the crate and the puppy outside. Switch them back and forth every couple of hours. Use this method as long as it takes for them to at least make a truce.
You have to keep them seperated( it could take 2 weeks). Keep a door between them where they can smell each other, but no contact. At first they might be afraid of each other, but they will get used to eachother, and be curious enough to meet.
In all my experience (several family pets and fosters) the best thing to do it just let them meet right off the bat. It may take a few weeks of suffering through hissing/growling/barking, but eventually they'll get used to each other. I've never had animals get aggressive with each other physically.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My husband and I rescued a kitten almost a month ago. She got along with our roommate's cats. We ended up with a puppy recently, and our kitten does not like her at all. The puppy loves the kitten and just wants to play with her. The nicest we can get the kitten to be is if we have one pet on each end of couch.
It has been almost a week. I was wondering if there was a way I could help them get along. My 2-year old likes to hold the kitten and she has scratched him hissing and swatting at the dog.A week is not long. The kitten has to get used to all the human and animal scents. Give her time.
This will take a little more time but it may be a good idea to keep them apart for a while (maybe change rooms everyday but leave the sleeping things behind) especially if the kitten is scratching or biting.
I found my first cat thrown in the gutter on the side of the road. I rescued him and brought him home. A few weeks later we took a puppy from a friend. It took 3 weeks for the two animals to adjust.
Once they adjusted it was so cute. The cat would go out in the yard and drink from the dog's bowl or eat from his food dish.
Give them time. They will become good friends. The two are still very young and they will become playmates soon.
I have had my cat since he was less than a month old, he has grown up with my two dogs. He was inseparable from my older dog who I unfortunately had to put down. They used to cuddle and sleep together all day and he tries with my other dog, but she is not a cuddler. Fast forward 2 months: we got a new puppy, my dog is cool with it, the puppy is cool with my dog, the cat not so much. The puppy doesn't seem to care much about the cat nor is curious enough to even pay attention to him, but regardless of what the puppy is doing the cat will hiss at him.
The puppy will be fully asleep and the cat will come up to him and hiss at him, the puppy just keeps sleeping. Is it possible that the cat may come around because I'd really like for them to be cuddle buddies since I know how much the cat misses cuddling while he sleeps?Both of them have to get used to each other. Give your cat a blanket with the puppys scent.
We have a 2 year old cat whom we've had since she was about 3-4 months old. she was rescued, and has always been very skittish and afraid of everything. When we have company over, even for an entire weekend, our cat will hide the whole time only coming out to eat during the night.
We recently brought home a 4-week-old Pit puppy who can barely walk or see yet since he was the runt, but is getting better everyday. The first day, our cat hid and acted like she was upset at us, not even eating dinner that night. She is a little curious though, keeping her distance, but approaching until the pup makes a sudden move and she freaks out and runs away.
By The Smiths
The fact she is starting to come out is a good sign, but I would strongly urge you to talk to a Vet or animal behavioralist, you need pro advice here. Six years ago we had several cats and rescued a three month old puppy. They were skittish at first, but eventually relaxed when they realized he wasn't really that interested in them.
My new Pit puppy wants to "play", but the two three year old cats just hiss and growl from under the bed when he comes around. It's been 5 days now. One of the cats comes out, but the other stays way clear from my puppy. Is this normal?
By Lulu
Yes. Cats don't gravitate towards dogs. Give it time and they will probably like each other better. They don't have to actually like each other, just not hurt each other! LOL. I am at this moment visiting friends for the first time with my new dogs. My friends have cats. The dogs have been fine with the cats, but the cats are still pretty leery of the dogs.
