Ok, here's the scoop: I have an indoor cat, 11 years old. I recently got married to a man who already has a dog (hyper, slobbery, english springer spaniel - not like a cute jack russell or anything) who is almost 5 or something. Whatever.
My cat, of course, is way more important than any dog, so he gets to stay indoors all day long and the dog has to stay out. :-)
My husband does bring in the dog at night, but in a room with a closed door, so the two animals don't interact.
Frankly, I'd rather the dog go, but that, unfortunately, is not an option. Now, when and how should they be introduced formally?
I'm also traveling next week, so I'm a bit nervous about that, leaving them all together. Whee.
Advice? Thanks!!
2007-05-30 05:08:07 · 4 answers · asked by ? 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
To the concerned person who said we should have introduced them before the marriage, we lived 200 miles apart before the wedding. Quite a trek for either animal to just have an introduction.
2007-05-30 05:49:03 · update #1
hmm...I think you and your husband should bring the two animals to a room. You hold the cat, and he holds the dog - firmly. Then, just let them sniff around, see each other, be in the same area for a few minutes - with you guys still holding them. Day by day, gradually increase the amount of time that the animals spend together, still holding them, and then one day when they've been together for a while, carefully let go of them. They will probably be used to each other by now and be able to get along somewhat. Good luck!
2007-05-30 05:12:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hmm..
This is a tricky one...
maybe if you simply take the two of them, and put them both in the bathroom and close the door. Leave plenty of food and water in there for each, and make sure the dog has done his "business" before being closed in the bathroom for a period of time.
Then you should leave them alone entirely... just the two of them alone together with no outside distractions, for about maybe three straight hours
You could continue to do this everyday,
and eventually they will get used to each other
and if your lucky, they might become buddies!
=]
I hope this helps.
2007-05-30 14:59:41 · answer #2 · answered by Om-nom Bacterium 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm more of a cat person myself, but we've had both over the years, and if the dog is not a "cat killer", there is a very good chance they might become friends. Be patient with the dog and for a while always make sure these introductory visits are supervised, until you really feel that they are friends.
Once we had a cat who was so beloved by our two dogs, that they actually once fought over whose "baby" she was.
2007-05-30 05:21:05 · answer #3 · answered by Zelda Hunter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should have been introduced formally before you got married. You obviously don't care too much about your husband or his dog. I think you and the cat should just move out together and let your husband find someone who will love him and accept his dog.
2007-05-30 05:18:02 · answer #4 · answered by kat 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋