My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

new kitten older dog

11 replies

birthdaypanic · 19/01/2013 23:46

After a lot of thinking/talking we have got a kitten (have had cats before). We have an 8 yr Labrador and I would like advise on best way to introduce them. We had an older cat when we first got dog and the cat never took to her and moved herself upstairs. I don't want that to happen again.
We have spoken to a behaviour specialist who has given some advise, when the kitten spotted dog his back went up and he started hissing, today dog spotted kitten and growled. At the moment kitten is staying in a room that the dog never goes into.
I really want them to get on and welcome any advise. I want them to be able to be in same room without any problems, the kitten is very cuddly and I want that to continue.
We didn't go into this lightly spoke to many people including vet and behaviour specialist

OP posts:
Report
TheDetective · 19/01/2013 23:57

I was just going to say I had a lab and a kitten, the kitten hissed a couple of times, but soon the two were best of friends. The dog wasn't arsed about the introduction of the kitten. I just let them get on with it really, but I knew the dog had a soft arsed temperament like most labs.

I would just introduce them slowly, keep giving them opportunities, and intervene if only necessary?

I'm no expert though, and we just winged it - no choice really as the kitten was found homeless on the streets next to its dead sibling :( we took her in as owners could not be found.

Report
birthdaypanic · 20/01/2013 00:02

The vet. nurse has said cats always get the upper hand so I assume that means he will put dog in his place, at the moment we have opened door to the room kitten is in and letting him go out when he wants one of us is always near the dog just incase and we give her lots of treats so that hopefully she will associate kitten with treats. Everyone has told us not to panic but it's not easy.

OP posts:
Report
Floralnomad · 20/01/2013 00:05

Cats don't always get the upper hand as numerous threads on here lately have shown , however you are at an advantage as you got the cat second so he won't know any different and I assume your dog is generally good with cats.

Report
TheDetective · 20/01/2013 00:06

Yes. The cat will always be the boss Grin.

I've got a picture of my tiny kitten, sleeping smack bang in the middle of the massive dog bed, dog sat near by looking rather bemused watching said kitten... probably wondering how the frig one little tiny thing could stop her using her own bed Grin.

I know it isn't easy, but if your dog seems happy, then that is the main thing. Cats are clever creatures!

Report
tabulahrasa · 20/01/2013 00:11

Both my cats were introduced to the same dog as kittens (sadly he's dead now).

one came from a house with dogs the other didn't, the first one was vaguely interested in the dog on first sight, saw him being fed that night, walked up to him hissed and proceeded to steal his dinner - that pretty much set the tone of their relationship tbh, lol, the big dog just did whatever the tiny kitten demanded.

The second one never having met a dog was scared of him for about 2 weeks, but he left her alone and once she'd worked out he wasn't scary she realized he was warm, had a big bed and would let her chase his tail...they got on fantastically, she slept beside him and pretty much used him as a climbing frame while the older cat glared at them both, lol

From day one they were in the same room as the dog, I just didn't let him harass them and let the kitten set the pace.

Report
TheDetective · 20/01/2013 00:16

My kitten was the same as your second kitten tabulahrasa! She chased the dogs tail, cuddled up to him for warmth, she also ate the dogs dinner, always got the food scraps, and was useful for climbing on as a means to get up on things she couldn't manage previously! (She soon got big enough not to use the dog as a bloody stannah stair lift though!)

Report
TheDetective · 20/01/2013 00:17

I mean cuddled up to her, my dog is a bitch, force of habit... poor dog! Transgendered in this house!

Report
tabulahrasa · 20/01/2013 00:23

lol,I always have boy dogs and girl cats - so's not to confuse myself...(not really on purpose)

The older one got on fine with him, and was quite happy to use him to get food or as a springboard, but they were never really friends. The younger one adored him in the end. To be fair, the older cat only tolerates the younger cat as well it isn't species specific, she just isn't keen on anything that isn't human.

Report
birthdaypanic · 20/01/2013 23:04

Thanks for advice, today we left door open again and kitten has ventured out a lot but as soon as dog spots him she growls (not much and a low rumble rather than the angry growl she has ) and tries to chase kitten who runs back into room dog never goes in.
I am still worried that they will never get used to each other and yes I know it's early days only had kitten 5 days and only let him have access to rest of house for last 2 days, but I'm still worried.

OP posts:
Report
kiwigirl42 · 20/01/2013 23:37

Our poor 6 yr old lab is firmly under the paw of 3 cats. We had one already when we got her which was fine but she has adapted to,the other 2 well. Our second cat was a 2 yr old Ragdoll, so laid back he is horizontal, literally somthat wasn't an issue. Third cat was an 8 wk old Ragdoll kitten - full of fight, this one, had poor Rosie dog baled up in corner of kitchen first night we got him and she had to be rescued Grin they are all good friends now, the cats always greet the dog with a miow and rub when they enter the room and the raggies have a lot of form for stealing naps in dog basket. I think she'd cry if we got another cat but at moment things are fine. Plus she is very useful for eating dead cat food.

Report
cozietoesie · 21/01/2013 11:02

My Mom had a Siamese and a thoroughly under-the-paw dog. When the Siamese met a car one night, we bought her a new one but we were just a little uncertain how the dog would react to the new housemate because it had become quite full of itself in the absence of a cat.

When we brought the new kitten in, the dog just sank on its haunches, looked at the kitten and then looked at my Mom. You could just tell from the look on its face that it was thinking 'Oh Gawd - it's back!'

No problems at all thereafter. Smile

If the dog is used to cats, it should be fine. Just don't try to force anything - give them safe places to go and let them make their own accommodation with each other. Lots of TLC to both of course.

Good luck.

Smile

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.