We have just got a border collie puppy and already have 2 cats,after reading lots of books, none of them tell us what the best way of getting them together is. The puppy is 9wks old and wants to run and ply with them but we prevent this to stop bloodshed. most people that we have spoken to have said just put them together and let them get on with it and they will work things out but we are not happy with this idea. Up until now we have introduced the very slowly but the cats hiss alot and we hold the dog back from running at them. what should we do? Let them fight or keep doing what we are doing ? Help
email me with any advice

john@gammon24.fsnet.co.uk

I think the original advice was ok, the pup & cats will soon sort it out for themselves, they are not daft. However, you could put the cats in a cage where the pup can approach, ie in middle of kitchen etc. The pup would soon lose interest & the cats would realise they were safe & it might make it calmer for when the y finally meet. Personally though, I would just let them get on with it. We have 12 (I think!) farm cats here & the hound pups come every year from the hunt, for their summer walk, and after a few days they get a biffed nose & keep away. By the time they go back to Kennels in 6 months time, they are curled up in the hay with the cats, all best mates. Just let them do it naturally.

Would have thought that if the cats can get out of the way they will, with luck, your dog can't climb curtains.

Hi, I agree let them get on with it, as long as the cats can escape. It is very very unlikely that your puppy will be hurt , however the cats in the cage idea may be a good one except that the cats cannot escape and the pup could dance around the cage having great fun annoying the captives, which wouldn't take the situation forward. Really, just let them get on with it and try not to appear to concerned as the cats and the puppy will pick up on this. The sooner the cats get this puppy "under the thumb" the better before he/she gets any bigger.

On the contrary, I have known two dogs that have lost an eye to a cat lashing out and having four cats and three dogs myself, I am always very careful when introducing a new puppy or kitten to the family. A cat that is set in it's ways will not take too kindly to suddenly being rushed at by a playful pup who knows no better until it is too late. There needs to be very careful supervision until each is confident with the other.

I have introduced puppy to cats and kittens to dogs. Witht he puppy I held her and let the cats (who were interested) have a sniff. If the pup ran at the cat a firm No usually worked. We have had the ocassional wack on the nose but in general they all get on incredilbly. The old lady (16) still hiss's a bit but the young cats curl up witht he dogs and they just love each other. They will sort it out in the end and the cats always end up ruling the dogs.

Have fun.

Debbie

we introduced our cat to the dogs by bringing it in and putting it in a crate (more the size or a car one) the dogs they were sniffing all round the crate and trying to get as close to the kitten as poss, but the cats are smart enough that when they had had enough they just told that dogs of wither with a bat of the paw or a hiss and then the dogs were never a problem - they even sleep with each other and because it was done through a crate the cat was not mauled by the dogs and the cat could not hurt the dogs even though it could still tell them of - just wish they had as much sence to tell our current youngster of as he constantley chases them and pins them to the floor - although he is know growing out of it - 1 telling of and hell leave them alone for good