Hi.  I'm getting a Golden Retriever puppy in a few weeks.  I have a five year old (neutered) cat and would appreciate any tips on how to introduce them.  Have read Gwen Bailey and have basic intro tips but see there is a lot of experience on this forum and wonder what other people have been through.  Thanks.

Introduce them very slowly with your puppy on a lead, and expect lots of hissing from your cat. My own cat moved upstairs for about 2 weeks, in the end we let her come down in her own time and now our dog and cat are both used to each other with no problems.

If you can get to the breeders house ask if you can leave a piece of bedding for the pups to sleep on. Then a few days before bringing pup home go and collect said bedding and leave it where the cat can get the smell of it. When you bring the puppy home (whether you can do the above or not ;-) ) make sure that your cat has somewhere to escape to that the pup cannot reach. Expect your cat to go off in a huff for a few weeks or so. It's perfectly normal :-) Don't try to force the friendship, it won't work that way. When I brought home my first cat (about 10 years ago) one of my dogs decided that she was going to eat it   It took a few weeks of first one animal in the living room, then the other, before we could safely have the two in the room together. I know this is the other way about, but the principal is the same. You are bringing something strange into the original pets home, so expect a few tellings off from your cat :-D

Yay, a puppy :) :) I can't really add any more than the great advice allready posted (but, as I love to ramble on I'll join in too!!)
My cat (house cat), disapeared upstairs for a couple of weeks, even though she is used to the dog we already had, in her own time she has decided that she can cope with being in the same room as a pesky puppy ;), in fact, now the cat enjoys winding the puppy up.
The one thing to bear in mind is that 1 quick swipe from the cat can do a lot of damage to puppy eyes, my sister's pup (Boxer)had to have it's eye removed after her cat had a swipe at it, it only left a tiny, tiny scratch, but the infection it caused within the eyeball did too much damage to save the eye (despite immediate vet treatment and anti biotics) :( I'm not trying to scare you or be all doom & gloom, it's just that we all tend to worry about the little cat getting hurt & forget how leathal they can be!!

I must look like a right wierdo at home, whenever the pup (at over 8 stone), get close to our tiny cat (a few pounds), I rush to move the pup so he doesn't get hurt!! (the cat is quick & agile enough to get out of his way).

Plenty of patience and they will both learn to get along :) & that sounds like a great idea by LindyLou - getting something with the pups scent on for the cat to get used to.

I was told never let the dog chase the cat as they will always be enemies. Dont know if thats true. When i got my dog i used to put the dog in the crate and let the cat go over and sniff. Then i progressed to putting pup on a lead and sniffing cat then they were gradually introduced for short spells at a time. They will never be best of friends but they tolerate each other. Infact the cat chases the dog!!!!

Thank you so much for that (and to everyone else who has contributed).  I knew about leaving a towel or something for the puppies' scent to get on it for the puppy but never thought about doing it prior to puppy coming to the house for the cat - a very very useful bit of info.  I do expect cat not to speak to me for a few weeks .... but do take the introductions very responsibly and seriously for both cat and puppy as do realise what a cat scratch can do.  Again, many thanks for everyone's help.  I will let you know how it goes. x