Cats and Dogs...

[PrincessFiona]

Any suggestions for helping our dog adjust to our new cat? (No scolding please). We adopted a 4 year old cat today from the humane society. We couldn't stomach the idea of this adorable cat being put to sleep...it's time was up! The humane society here houses their cats at Petsmart...we went to get some things for Molly and...well...the rest is history! Everyone was gravitating to the kittens...and adopting them...and they had name our cat "hope" because they wanted there to still be some hope for him (the melodrama of it all). The cat has had a pretty up and down life...and the introduction has been an all day thing......we've really had to go about it slowly. Molly would snuggle it and cuddle it asap, but the cat is totally freaked out!!! He's curious about Molly, but hisses and snaps if she gets too close. We had them both in neighboring little kennels for a large part of the day and then let the cat out to explore the house on his own...then we had Molly on the leash for awhile...and the cat was really curious about her then...now the cat is under our bed and Molly is laying next to it...we just want to do this right so that they'll be friends.

Help...

Kris

PS>..at least cats don't bark

[DCJenn]

Well- we did it all wrong, pretty much brought the dog in and the cats just shredded the poor pup. I think his nose was slashed and bleeding within 15 seconds of walking in the door.

Now, they've just kind of worked out a mutual existence. Petey avoids the cats whenever possible (he won't even walk near them and if he gets stuck in a room with one of them he whines until we come resuce him). Rascal has a new lease on life though and seems to really enjoy cornering the dog and attacking him. I swear that cat levitates across the room to get the poor dog. He just doesn't care when we do to him either. His goal is to kill the dog. The only place that is neutral is the bed. I guess Rascal knows that if he shreds the dog on my bed, he won't be invited back!

I think if Rascal weren't around, Darla and Trouble would be friends with the dog. Now, if Rascal isn't around they're pretty friendly with him. Trouble even plays with him sometimes (until Rascal walks in- then she ignores the dog like "me, no I wasn't playing with that dog, I don't even like dogs".

Good luck-

and thanks for rescuing an older kitty!

Jenn

Sounds like you are doing great, Kris! Seriously! I would be hard pressed to think of *any* time that a cat and dog have immediately bonded with one another! Our dog will send our cat flying under the bed a few times a week *still* after one year! Just give the cat lots of love and in a few days, you will see wonderful improvements! It doesn't sound like Molly is going to be threatening in any sort of way (quite the opposite which sounds great!!)! Cats take a lot of time to adjust to their surroundings. . . and they are moody!

Congrats on your new addition!!!!

[PrincessFiona]

well...

By the end of the night, we had let them both have pretty much free roam of the house...Molly is so thrilled to have a 'brother' and so disappointed that he won't play with her! She stands about two feet back from him wagging her tail with this goofy grin on her face (she does have a grin) and just wags and wags and wags without making a peep. Eventually, the cat (my daughter insists on naming him Lou, so at least for now, he's Lou) hisses and growls and Molly, which sends her running for cover. What's funny is that if the cat comes in and growls at her, she hides...and she is about 5 times bigger than the cat...at least!

The cat slept up on the bed with us, which made Molly nuts!!! She is really mooching it up for attention today

Lou is so skinny though. We hadn't noticed it as much yesterday because he has beautiful, fluffy black and white fur...but when you hold him, he's just skin and bones....I'm sure I can change that though

Kris