Semi-OT: new QI? Cat?

Carefully and slowly. Don't force the issue.

Having zip dog experience, I'll say up front I'm not an expert on this inter-species dating thing. :)

That said, be aware that the non-issue at the vets is because that's *not her territory*. She knows she doesn't "own" the vet's office, so she doesn't have to defend that territory.

Dogs and cats both are territorial, and that's half the get-along puzzle; pecking order is the other half.

--ig

I don't see a problem with it. Dogs are pack animals. You should be the leader of your pack. It will take some patience on your part, and some control over your dog while it gets the point that "master" has spoken, but I have never had an issue with any of my dogs allowing a cat into the house. That said, wandering stray cats in the yard are fair game to the poochies.

We have a cat and a dog at the moment. My daughter comes to stay with her two cats from time to time.The first time we had to set limits with the dog. It took longer for the cats to accept that the dog was OK. But they got used to the idea. Each time they got together the initial tension lasted a shorter period of time. Now its kind of a cautious sniffing, while they each say " yeah, I remember you". Her cats and my cat have a few more issues that they have to sort out each time, but eventually they agree to ignore each other.

It is definately easier with a dog and cat as dogs behaviour can be controlled. I haven't met anyone yet that can "control" their cat!

Marilyn in Alberta, Canada

I might suggest keeping kitty in a wire crate for a while, along with food, water, bed, toys. That way the dog knows she's in the house, and they can safely get used to each other. Gen

I would bring the new cat into the house and place her in a dog kennel for the first few days. Place a litter box, water and a cuddly blankie in it for comfort. Place the kennel in a quiet room, away from the dog. After a couple of days, let her have the run of that room. When she seems comfortable with her new digs and your family, it's time to introduce the dog.

With the cat safely in the kennel, let the dog come in, on a leash, and sniff the cat for a while. I can pretty much guarantee that there will be a few hisses and cat growls, that's natural. If there is trouble you can quickly pull the dog away, and try again another day. Eventually the cat will understand that the dog lives there too.

If the cat is young, she will probably adjust just fine, just give it a little time. Eventually you'll be able to let her have the run of the house. If the dog gets too aggressive with her, she'll just have to bop him on the nose a couple of times. He'll figure it out, and so will the cat.

You can get dog kennels on freecycle most of the time, if not, just shut the cat up in a quiet room with the cat amenities and continue from there.

It won't be hard, but it'll take patience. Remember to love up the dog a bit extra, cause now he has to share you.

Denise

I would definitely retry the tshirt swap. Of course, I haven't done this at all....we got both of the dogs we've had from the shelter and really didn't have the time to let them get used to each others' smells. Instead, I just brought the dogs home, the cats' eyes got HUGE, one hissed, the dogs both sniffed the cats' butts, and that was that. Shadow (my love kitty) actually reared up and smacked Brady on his nose a few times before he (Brady) figured out that Shadow didn't like a cold dog nose in his butt....Nugget just grumbles and walks away someplace that Brady can't fit into...lol.

Best of luck....and I think that they will probably get along just fine, and on their own terms.

Larisa

Use a bathroom/bedroom/other room not frequently used that you can let the cat be alone in. That will be it's new territory were it can adjust and feel safe. It should have food, water, litter box, toys, bed etc. in there. Leave the cat in there and let the two get used to each others smells under the door that way. Don't lock the dog up, it is its home and the cat is the newbie. Then, you introduce them face to face I would do it in a room where the cat has areas that it can hide or climb if it feels threatened by the dog. And make sure you put the dog on a leash so you can control it until you know how it will react/behave with the cat. With our dogs we didn't have to do that for very long, but this depends on the dog. Once you feel comfortable with the way the dog interacts, let it off the leash. Let them have more and more time together, but always supervised so if there are any issues you are there. I wouldn't step in at every little unpleasant interaction. Just step in before it gets too much so neither is hurt. They need some 'little tiffs' to know where their bound are with one another. Once you are comfortable with how they interact then you can allow them time unsupervised or even let the cat have free roaming. Let the animals tell you when they are ready for the next step. Sometimes it takes just a few days, sometimes weeks depending on the individual animals involved. Growling, hissing, barking, small 'tiffs' etc. are all normal during the adjustment period.

We started with 1 cat then after 8 years and in a 2 1/2 year time period we added a dog, added 2nd cat, gave away the dog cause it didn't feel comfortable around young kids and then got another dog this fall. This is how the vet advised us the first time we added a new pet, and how we handled all our introductions. Each time we took it slow and let the animals tell us when they were ready for more interaction. They may decided to be friends (2nd cat was with both dogs and is with the other cat and the dogs towards the 1st cat) or they may just tolerate each other (1st cat towards both the dogs). The little tiffs may continue though - ours has but it is like any 'sibblings' relationships - sometimes one is in a bad mood or doesn't feel like playing etc. They are always very little and no one gets hurt. You will have to just wait and see. HTH. Good luck.