Introducing new kitten to two dogs.

[lookforthesun]

I have a new 16 week kitten. I also have 2 labradors.

The kitten has spent the weekend the other side of a baby gate from the dogs and seems to have settled in (been here 2 days) and is very friendly.

The dogs have been into the same room the kitten is in a few times (one at a time) on a lead and are extremely "interested" in getting closer to her! The kitten is pretty chilled watching them from up high as her breeder had a dog and apparently they used to cuddle up together!

But I've never had a cat. What is the next step please? It isn't practical to live in fear of someone leaving the baby gate open and the dogs getting in. They need to be able to co-exist in the house but of course Im very worried about the can being hurt.

Can anyone talk me thru what to do now after a few days of the dogs being in the room for 5-10 mins at a time on a lead. I'm certain if they were off the lead and she ran they would chase her.

I'm certain if they were off the lead and she ran they would chase her

You need to stop this happening - chasing is a self-rewarding activity and it's much harder to stop a dog chasing once it's started. Do they have strong leave & recall commands?

I'd keep the baby gates - kitten will soon be able to get over them herself, & this gives her safe places to retreat to if the dogs become too overbearing.

Keep giving her plenty of high places to get out of reach.

This training group has a guide on introducing dogs and cats which we found very helpful - www.facebook.com/groups/dogtrainingadviceandsupport/?ref=share

(Although we introduced a puppy to two existing cats - and we still have the baby gate on the stairs as upstairs is the cats safe space away from playful bouncy dog)

You are doing the right thing- takes a while. Next step is evening meetings ie after dogs are tired after a long walk, and you are all relaxing (eg in front of the TV). Keep dogs on leads at first and let kitten loose. (dog treats help when behaviour is good!).

Eventually the dogs will get used to her if you don't make a fuss or let them play up. Can last from a few days to a few weeks- don't go too fast (depends on the dog- one of ours was fine after 24 hours, the other took a month, and now ignores her- he will never snuggle up to her). Let the dogs have a cat free area too- eg maybe don't let her in their dogbeds.

Then eventually you won't need to keep the dogs on leads. I didn't leave them all loose together for ages, but now they all co exist in peace.

Cats protection do a YouTube video on this.

Do they have much if a prey drive? One of our ndn labs chased but the other wasn’t interested.

Thank you all. They do have good recall but I’m not sure how bomb proof when faced with a running cat. I will leave it a few more days of looking at each other thru the baby gate I think!