What is the best way to introduce a 10-week-old puppy to multiple cats (3) with different personalities?

Answer 1

Ha! I read that too fast and thought your cat had multiple personalities! Anyway, I just read an article about this and here is what I learned. It said that the "resident" pet, in your case the cats, should be confined to a room in the house and the puppy be able to roam the house freely. Take a towel or cloth and rub it all over the dog and put the towel in the room with the cats then rub and rub the cats with a towel and let the dog smell that. Then feed the cats on one side of the door in their room and the dog on the other side (this will make them associate good things with the sound/scent of one another). After a while, do this where they can see and smell but not interact with each other (between a baby gate) and finally let them meet. This process should take quiate a few days, maybe weeks, I can't recall. The article suggested that if either the cat(s) or the puppy is aggressive that they be squirted with water and praised if they are nice. Also, it said to NEVER leave the two together unattended. I especially agree with that part after my aunt's dog out of nowhere picked up her cat, shook it and killed it (and they lived together for years and years before this incident). Anyway, that's what I have to offer. I'll cite my source if I can find it, I think it was Pet wellness or animal wellness magazine.

Answer 2

You don't say how big the puppy is, so not sure if he could fight off the cats if there were a fight, but I would put the puppy in an x=pen or gate him off in a room so the cats can smell him and he them.

You can gradually let whatever cat seems to get on with him into the room with the puppy. Do it one cat at a time as you see which cat seems the most agreeable.

The puppy will likely not be a problem, the cats may.

Answer 3

1) first introduce the puppy to his own "spot", be it a box or basket, or towel in a particular corner or his traveling kennel, near his food and water bowls. He will feel the need to have a cat-free place to retreat to and to nap as his "home base".
note: puppy management and training is much easier on both of you when using the plastic or wire traveling kennel for specific uses (during people meals or for during the night)

Allow him time to become accustomed to his new "home base" before introduction to other animals -- a 1/2 day to a day.

2) both cats and puppy will get along better if they have their own areas, where they can retreat to and remain undisturbed.

3) first introductions need not be the nose-to-nose variety
With the puppy in your arms, or confined in his kennel, you can allow the cats, one-by-one to sniff around -- just make sure they are more than a paw's length apart. (the nature of the cat is to observe from a safe distance, a wiggly noisy strange puppy) There is going to be a considerably lengthy period of time before they become "friends", or before each will feel comfortable having the other walk past without making some physical notice of the event.

3) Your cats will show a change in their behavior when introduced to the puppy. As far as the cats are concerned, they have been invaded, and would greatly appreciate knowing the puppy's wandering area is limited and defined.

4) For the best possible peace, each animal should have their own "time and attention" from their human owners.

Answer 4

Well I don't know about cats, but my mom has a beagle that is almost 2 years old and she recently got a new puppy. She kept them in the same room together but she had one of those baby gates that she kept the puppy in. So they could see each other and get used to each other slowly.

Answer 5

take the pup and put it with them, just make sure the dog is not hurt, they will get along in time

I took a dog, fully grown (3 or so years) and introduced him to my cat's kittens (dog and cat had never gotten along) and in 3 days the cats were climbing on him and momma cat and my kodiak were laying on the floor ignoring each other.

just takes time