My partner and I are wanting to move in together into my house, but I’m struggling with how to make it work for our pets. They have a lovely dog who I absolutely adore—he’s friendly, but very excitable around cats. I have two beautiful cats, and while one is quite confident, the other is extremely anxious.
She’s had a tough time in the past—when she was in a cattery, she became so stressed that she scratched herself badly. She’s still recovering and is on steroid tablets to regrow the hair she lost from that experience. She is the most loving cat and only anxious if I go away or if strangers come to the house. The idea of introducing her to an excitable dog who will likely want to be in her space, play, and jump around her makes me really anxious. I don’t want her to feel unsafe or like she has no quality of life in her own home.
We haven’t introduced them yet because I worry it could set her back. I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have managed a similar situation. How do we make this work in a way that’s as stress-free as possible for my anxious cat? I know it sounds silly but part of me is just thinking is it easier to never move in together, which is really sad to think?
(Just to add—I don’t want my partner to have to rehome the dog. We both love our pets deeply, and they’re part of our family. My cats are my babies, and I know many of you will understand that feeling!)