What is the best and safest way to introduce my 6 year old dog to my 6 year old cat?

Question

I'm about to move back into my parents house again next April. They have a 6 year old Mini Dachshund named Curry who is very loyal and very possesive of me when I come home. No one is allowed near me. While living on my own I adopted a cat Puffy from the animal shelter. She is very laid back and easy going and is used to being on her own with me. She is about 6 years old to and only has her back claws. What would be the best way to introduce my posesssive dog to my sweet and loving cat. The dog has already killed a bird that my mom had as a pet years ago and at the vet he snaps at other animals. Yet when my friends kid comes over with their dog he is fine. I really feel to be safe we should buy a muzzle for the dog since he did kill a bird. I really don't want to give up my cat but sadly my parents say I will have to if they don't get along.

Answer 1

Ok... This would be a lot easier if kitty had all her claws. Since she doesn't she's going to be insanely nervous around puppy monster. Pointy kitties = more confident kitties.

First. Kitty lives in your bedroom. Puppy monster isn't allowed in the bedroom. Hopefully they will get themselves sorted out inside of just a couple of months so that they can share that space with you. But don't rush it! Rilly. Kitties and puppy monsters that are slowly adjusted to each other can be come greatest, bestest buds. And there is some classic reasoning for this. The cat doesn't consider the dog a competitor. The dog will come to consider the cat as part of the pack. Due to the fact that neither of them will ever know the truth they can have a great relationship.

I mean HONESTLY! What great relationship doesn't contain a great lie? I ask you!

Next order of business. Kitty buddy needs a place to go that puppy monster can't get to. Again... this would be much, much, much easier if kitty buddy was still pointy... but... can't fix that. What you have to do is work out the maximum height that puppy monster can jump to and then put a hiding place above that point. These are commercially available from pet stores. Or, if you are any good with tools, timber, and carpet you can make one yourself.

Why do this? Kitty buddies need their space. Puppy monsters can be serious attention hounds. (Hounds! Ha! I kill me!)

The real trick here is going to be to train puppy monster to stay the hell away from kitty buddy's potty box. Dogs can be really weird about cat poop.

As for actually exposing the two of them to each other... well... that's quite a bit easier than it may sound. You are the frist step. You gotta cuddle them both one at a time. You'll end up smelling like both the kitty buddy and the puppy monster. This is more important to puppy monster than it is to kitty buddy but it's still important. Puppy monster has to associate the smell of kitty too you. Once that ticks over puppy monster is going to consider kitty as part of the pack. That shouldn't take more than seven days. Dogs are easy that way.

Next. A physical barrier for your bedroom door. Puppy monster needs to be able to see past it but not get past it. Again... working out how high puppy monster can jump will be key here. After about two weeks of kitty buddy being locked in the room, introduce the physical barrier. This will make it possible for kitty buddy to get out and explore the rest of the house but still have a safe place to retreat to if puppy monster gets too big in the noise-making department.

You'll know when it's safe to remove the physical barrier. Kitty buddy and puppy monster will just be hanging out with each other. ***But*** make sure that kitty buddy still has his own private getaway.

Answer 2

Dogs can't be muzzled all the time as they'll die from overheating since they won't be able to pant.

Dachsunds are hunting dogs, which explains the bird. You will have to introduce the dog and the cat gradually. The cat should remain closed in one room for a while until he's settled and the dog should be allowed to sniff under the door. He'll also smell the cat's scent on you. When the cat had settled in a bit, put the dog outside or have someone take the dog out for a while and let the cat explore the house.

When the cat and dog meet face to face for the first time, the cat should be able to get to a safe place if need be and the dog should be on a leash and choker. The dog should be allowed to sniff the cat if the cat permits him too but under no circumstances is he allowed to bark, growl, snap, or take off after the cat. If he does give him a yank and tell him "No" in a stern, firm voice. Most of your work is going to be with the dog in the form of obedience training. If the dog doesn't know already, teach him to sit, stay, come, etc. He must learn that the cat is a pack member to be respected. He also must learn that the cat is not a threat.

Keep on eye on them when they're together at all times and always make sure the cat has a way to get to a safe place. Sometimes an older dog will acclimate to a cat and sometimes they won't. You just have to have a lot of patience and be persistant in th dog's training.

Answer 3

Put your cat in a crate and let the dog go around the crate. If that goes well you can then put the dog on a leash and let the cat out. If the dog tries to attack the cat, just tug on the leash. If not, let the dog loose, but keep a close eye on them. Cats know how to get away from a dog. I have an 11 year old cat that does not like dogs or other cats at all. She goes on top of my kitchen cupboards and stays to herself. A muzzle really won't do you any good because most dogs can take them off.

Answer 4

Introducing them by letting them meet normally is usually fine, especially since your new dog is a pup and your cat is declawed. You could start by setting your pup down on the opposite side of the room from your cat if your worried about how they will react to eachother. From there the new pup can explore some and depending on her, meeting your cat will usually happen at their own pace. It would be a good idea to keep an eye on the both of them for the first couple days when they are around eachother though. If either one of them seems to start some fight, make them back up from eachother a bit and tell the one who starts the fight No. Keep them away from eachother a few mins to let them calm down, then, depending on you and their interest in eachother, you may allow them top get a little closer to eachother again.

Answer 5

I would put the dog on one side of a wire fence, in a kennel or a gate, like a baby gate, and let the two be introduced safely. Then you can get an idea of how the dog will react.

Answer 6

i have five cats and two dog's . all get along great . but it takes time . buy yourself a squirt bottle with an adjustable nozzle . when the dog start's bothering your cat . squirt him with the water bottle and say the dogs name and a firm NO! keep them separated if you are going to be gone . show them equal attention . and let them smell each other but hold them so they can't hurt each other and don't force them to like each other. give them time to know each other . little by little . you can't make them change over night . i have my cat's inside and the two taco dog's inside . use orange or citrus spray's such as Lysol in a spray bottle to kill pet Oder's , and baking soda in the litter box. clean out the box's every day. but down change the litter every day . once a week for that . the citrus spray's . kills the acid and smells and helps to keep you house smelling fresh and clean.