I just adopted a new one year old kitty from the shelter today. I have two dogs and two cats already, and I am afraid that they will not get along. Right now, the kitty is in a big cage in the living room so that she can get used to the environment. But as soon as my dogs went over to the cage, the cat started hissing and raising his back. Is there any hope for them to get along? My dogs would not hurt him, but I am afraid that he will scratch or bite them. Any suggestions?
2006-12-05 11:32:18 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
This is a tough one. The cat in the cage has no place to escape to. It is there in the middle of the floor, and it doesn't really understand that that dog isn't going to come through the gaps in the cage.
Your first chore will be to get the cats used to one another. This is probably best done after the new cat has been isolated in another room, with time to regain its emotional balance. That poor cat is scared right out of its mind right about now. You could gradually introduce the cats to each other and see how that goes. Sometimes, apart from some initial hissing, growling and swatting, there is not real problem. It sounds really bad to humans, but it isn't for the cat.
The bigger problem is to keep the dogs away from the cat, or at least have a place the cat can go to to get away from the dogs until she makes up her mind about them. The room you pick to isolate her in now would be a good place to put a babygate, after you open the door. That way, the cat sees this as her "safe place", because that was the first place she felt safe in your house. The cat can jump the baby gate to get back into that room and the dogs can't get over it.
I really hope things work out for you. Animals can mix happily, but introductions are really important.
2006-12-05 11:42:15 · answer #1 · answered by susi_qilvu 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Three Suggestions:
1.) Wait a little bit till the cat is a little older to introduce him/her to other animals, in the meantime talk to her and spend a lot of time with her.
2.) If you have a neighbor with another cat or puppy bring your kitten and gradually get him/her to interact with other animals.
3.) Don't keep him/her in a cage because it might make the kitten feel like it has no where to run or hide which would lead him/her hissing (fight or flight syndrome)
However....if all else fails do the following...
Get a Rottweiler with a muzzle and lock the Rottweiler and Kitten in the same room... and hope for the best...
2006-12-05 12:45:53 · answer #2 · answered by Work Hard, Make Money, Enjoy Life... 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen to the first answer you got here. and also, get something that the other dogs have slept on and the other cats. Just something that has their scent on it and put it in the room with the little fellow. Then put something out for the others to be able to smell it's scent. for about a day or so. then they should get used to each other more quickly. I've done this before.
Make sure it has had all of its' shots! so the other don't catch anything. Th er have been some really nasty respiratory problems going around according to my Vet.
2006-12-05 12:15:30 · answer #3 · answered by bluidjwl2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No offense SB, but maybe you should have checked into this before you adopted him.
New kittens/cats should have their own room for several days with limited or no access to the other animals. Gradually introduce the other animals one at a time for short periods, closely supervised. Eventually, hopefully, they will all get to know each other and play nicely.
2006-12-07 09:54:50 · answer #4 · answered by Atlas 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem a couple of months ago..
just let your cat be with the other pets but watch them and make sure they are being nice.
eventually she will get over it and join the party :)
give it a few weeks.
2006-12-05 11:45:32 · answer #5 · answered by Crazy.Cat.Lady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your kitty needs to be around them more let it out a little at a time, it will start to trust all of you
2006-12-05 11:43:49 · answer #6 · answered by kat_luvr2003 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put them in a room altoghter and them fight
2006-12-05 11:44:23 · answer #7 · answered by Eat organic stuff 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋