Cat found after 2.5 years - integrating with dog

[summerhillgang]

Hi there! Hoping someone can help!

My much loved cat now 9 years old has been found 2.5 years after going missing. She was adopted (kidnapped) by some people who hadn't bothered to take her to the vets to get scanned until she became ill and they had no choice. We now have a dog, a baby and have moved to a different part of the country, but are overjoyed to have her back and I'm getting everything ready for her to come back tomorrow.

Anyone have any tips on making her feel loved, welcomed and integrating with a highly strung cavapoo who loves to chase?

Thanks! Xx

Wow! How great to have your cat returned to you.

C5 ran a series of programmes about cats and dogs living together and you may be able to pick up some nice tips..

www.channel5.com/show/cats-and-dogs-at-war/

Keep them separate for at least a couple of weeks. Make sure your cat can always retreat to safety and work on your dog! You will need to be able to recall the dog if it's bothering the cat. Depending on how assertive the cat is, your dog could end up scratched otherwise!
Lovely that you've got her back though. What a surprise after so long.

I think I'd be putting up some high shelves that the cat can get to but the dog/baby can't. How fantastic that she's back though.

What a lovely surprise! Your cat will need to be kept indoors for a couple of weeks to settle back in, so maybe she can have her bed, bowls and litter tray upstairs initially, with a baby gate to keep your dog downstairs. Your cat will probably be able to jump over the baby gate when she's ready, but it will give her a safe space to retreat to.

When introducing the dog and cat, keep your dog on the lead...we fed the dog and cat on either side of the baby gate so they could see and smell each other whilst doing something nice (eating). I also have a cavalier cross who loves to chase, but they're fine together now.

Oh dear, how traumatic for the cat. Maybe she's happy where she is, cats choose where to live.

@MissMaple82 she was staying at friends whilst I was out of the country and unfortunately the door was left open one day and she got lost. It was devastating. She was also wearing a collar at the time.

Her current 'owners' live in a small flat without a garden so I think she's not been out during the time she's been missing. They also haven't ever registered her with a vet until now and didn't even own a cat carrier. She needed prescription flea treatment which they would have found out if they had taking the time to get her scanned.

We've moved out of London and live by the sea with about 3 times more room than we had before and have a huge garden.

If I didn't think I could give her a better life I wouldn't have taken her back.

Thank you for everyone for your suggestions. We have a basement which opens out onto the garden that the dog can't get to, so she'll be living there for a little whilst we get them used to each other's smells. Then will let her explore whilst dog is crated or whilst she's out on her walks. Let dog sniff the cats basket and swap bedding. Then bring cat upstairs in her crate and have dog sniff around whilst leashed.

Then gradually invite them to come together without crates but keep dog leashed and reward dog for being calm.

I love the idea of having them both eating across the bars.

Yes have a lots of shelving and spaces where she can climb up. She'll also always be around to run down to the basement to hide out, the dog can't get there as there is a spiral staircase.

@summerhillgang

How did you get on with the return of your cat? Just read the post and hoping everything went well.