any tips on introducing a 6 week old kitten to a 18 mothld old labrador retriever?

Answer 1

Introduce them slowly...let him smell a towel or something you had the kitten in and see his reaction...if all is well then let him actually SEE the kitten and sniff her. Then gradually put the kitty down and watch the dog, tell him NO in a stern voice if he tries anything "funny" Also dont neglect you dog just bc you got a new kitty...he will then have even more of a grudge since that "damn furry thing" is getting more attention than him...give him more attention so he knows he isnt being replaced...good luck and take care ;-)

Answer 2

We did it the other way round—brought a 6mo old puppy into a house with two cats. After a few biffs on the nose, the dog soon learned who was boss (and it wasn't her!). After a couple of months, the younger cat got along fine with the dog—they used to curl up and sleep next to each other. The older cat, who was really on her last legs, never got used to the dog, despite the dog's repeated attempts to make friends.

Don't know how well it would work the other way round, although if the lab is female, some kind of mothering instinct might kick in, and it might adopt the kitten as a surrogate 'puppy' (this is not unusual).

I would say take it slow, try to keep them separated until the dog gets used to the fact that there's another animal living in the house, and maybe give the dog some kind of treat when you first introduce them, rather than a smack if it barks, so that it associates the kitten with reward, not punishment.

Here's to harmony. Good luck.

Answer 3

DONT. At six weeks old, the kitten should still be with its mother. If you intend to have it in the same house as a shambling, boisterous Lab, a kitten 6 weeks old will be dead inside a week; your lab will trample it, squash it or otherwise kill it, thinking it is a toy. Labs are wonderful, but they are very clumsy, and a small kitten would have absolutely no chance of survival.You need an almost-grown kitten af about 6 months, and leave this poor helpless kitten with her mum for another three weeks.

Answer 4

Put the dog in a kennel and the kitten in a kennel and face the kennels to eachother. That way they can smell eachother without attacking one another. Do this for awhile then let them out together once the barking and hissing stops. Keep a close eye on them in case the puppy gets to rough. I have a 9 month old lab and she is very playful and gets overly excited around other animals and kids. The kitten will protect herself with her claws but when my lab met a cat she just kept playing with it even though her nose was bleeding and her face from getting batted. They'll get a long with time.

Good Luck

Answer 5

I don't know about your dog although any labs I knew were pretty mellow. When I brought a kitten home I introduced it in the following manner. I held the kitten in my hand and slowly brought it to the dog (he's a big mixed breed named Bear) Bear naturally came forward to check out my hands. I let the two of them look at each other quietly talking to Bear to be nice. The kitten licked his nose and that was that. I then went to my Shepard and did the same thing. He wasn't quite as relaxed so I firmly spoke the word "Gentle" just as when I am hand feeding him. He sniffed and walked away. Both my dogs were given to me by the local PD. They were abused animals so I had to instill faith in me with them. If your animal has a good relationship with you there should be no problem. The little cat can be frequently seen sleeping on top on either dog at any time.

Answer 6

we have a cat 5 years old and a puppy chow chow 1 year old
the cat was here first
when we got the dog the cat hid in our room for 2 weeks and wouldn't come down

we realised unless we forced them to meet then the cat will never come down.

So we put them together - and after 2 months of REALLY hard work IE watching them - slowly making the cat feel more comfortable and making sure the dog knows he can't chase the cat ..... now I'm very proud to say they love each other.

they play together - eat together - sit together
they are great
so it can be done but with lots of patients!!
good luck

Answer 7

Take it nice and slow you do not want to rush things. Start off by keeping them apart. Keep the kitten in one room and the puppy in another. Keep switching which room they stay in, so for instance say you put the cat in the living room and the dog in the kitchen. You would them swap them round and put the cat in the kitchen and the dog in the living room. You need to get them used to each others smell. Give them a blanket each and keep switching that too, once they are used to this try and introduce them slowly if they start to fight separate them again.

Answer 8

Oh wow 6 weeks is so tiny. Best of luck with everything. I have had cats all my life and obviously have had to introduce them to each other and basically I just put the little one down on the ground and wait for the reaction. There is no hard and fast way to get them used to each other, they will do it in their own time. There will be a lot of hissing, and growling until they get each others scent on themselves. In time they will be inseparable.

Answer 9

Fit a spiked collar on the kitten, and tighten the dogs collar. With any luck, the kitten should stick in the dog's throat so you can get it back reasonably easily

Answer 10

Labs are good nature dogs would introduce your kitten slowly to see how they interact with one another.your lab is young and should adjust to your kitten.Be careful that the kitten doesn't irritate,the lab,he may cause harm. . Especially while your lab is eating,he may think kitty is stealing his food.Over time they will be buddies.