Have to regime a elderly cat already have a puppy!! Help!!!

[Hazelnutwhirls]

Hi I have a 10 month old shihtzu cross puppy, he is very good although a bit nervy with other dogs. He does seem to like cats, always trying to say hello in the street sits and wags if they come close in the street and ran terrified when my sister's kitten hissed at him. But he has never actually made contact with a cat or had one in our house, he is still a baby so can sometimes be exuberant and is used to having the run of the house, follows me everywhere and sleeps down the side of the bed (although several dog beds are available to him!!)
My son is moving in with his gf who has a 16 year old blue Russian female cat. They cant take the cat to their privately rented flat and she has been unable to rehome her, when they first asked me I said no because of the dog but they haven't been able to find anyone else to take her and if they don't move into this flat next Friday they will be homeless, I have agreed to try to take her to save her from having to go to the rspca!! Any tips for making this a success? I am not worried about the dog hurting the cat more the other way round and have no idea how too create a separate space for them both when Bailey is used to having the run of the house, I don't think he will cope well being restricted to downstairs especially at bedtime!!

[Wolfiefan]

I think it is Blue Cross who have a great fact sheet on just this eventuality!

[Hazelnutwhirls]

Ooh I shall have a look thank you 😁

[Wolfiefan]

Stair gates are useful. We also did scent swapping. Reward dog with a treat for looking at you and ignoring cat. So teach a look at me.
We use a longline to ensure dog doesn't pounce on cat. (Playful giant sight hound pup!)
At 16 cat is unlikely to run and make itself interesting!

[Hazelnutwhirls]

That's very true!!! I think that stair gates are definitely going to be the way forward!! I have seen pictures of your dog and she is beautiful 😊 I have a long line somewhere I think I will sort that out!! Thank you so much 😊

[Wolfiefan]

We actually have a stairgate with a cat flap. But cats won't use it. They demand we open the gate!
Thanks. She's my beautiful baby hound!

[Hazelnutwhirls]

That sounds like a brilliant idea!! Unfortunately my dog is smaller than the cat!!! 😂😂