New Pussy

[SpikeyBush]

Judy the female boxer has settled in. Now it is time to get a wee kitten. Any tips as to how to introduce a new kitten to a house with a dog?

[RATTER15]

How old is the boxer, if still young the kitten will stick up for himself usually as long as you monitor the situation, encourage them both to lap milk from the same bowl, don't tolerate any unpleasantness.

[RATTER15]

Probable best to not introduce them on the first day, let kitty settle in a day or so first
.

[annie0000]

cats shouldn't drink milk ratter.

[RATTER15]

This is a training exercise, no problem with it drinking milk for the said purpose.

[annie0000]

wouldn't water work then?

[RATTER15]

Nooo, they need milk for a treat, they would only drink water when thirsty.

I used to break my ferrets and terriers this way, I never had an incident, they associate each other with good things and treats.

[RATTER15]

Eddie, great minds!! its not spikey anymore lol

[Euphemia]

I don't have a dirty mind, certainly not at my age, but I did think twice before opening this thread.

[carmalee]

when you introduce them, make sure you have control of the dog - dogs and cats live well together but if the dog has been allowed to chase the cat (even once) it makes it much more difficult.

[sidkid]

Cats shouldn't drink milk? What twaddle. Try telling my little mate Olley that he can't have his daily saucer of milk. He'd take your face off with a single swipe of his paw! Seriously though, he's fifteen years old now and as fit as a butcher's dog......

[wolf63]

Many cats are lactose intolerant but many can drink it and have no problem.

We used to give our cat Carnation milk and he lived well into his teens.

Good luck Judy and Spikey

[boxtops]

It's hedgehogs that shouldn't drink milk............

[annie0000]

Ah!! I see what you are saying then Ratter. However, apparently MOST cats are lactose intolerant - giving them milk can cause dehydration, stomach cramps and diarrhea - especially bad for kittens who have been known to die from drinking cows milk. You can buy special lactose reduced cat milk which I guess would do the trick. Boxy, that applies to hedgehogs too - which should be given cat food not milk.

I know that everyone will know a cat that drank milk every day and lived to a ripe old age - it's the same argument you have all the time where someone knows someone who smoked 40 a day and got knocked down by a bus when they were a hundred and ten........there are always the exceptions, but why take the chance when cats are perfectly happy drinking water?

[carmalee]

In the wild, once a kitten is weaned it won't drink milk again - it's appreciated by most cats but not natural and can cause problems in the majority of felines.

[sidkid]

...but I don't think my cat is an exception, there are probably thousands of healthy milk-drinking cats out there.

[RATTER15]

Sidkid, im sure you are right but that doesn't mean that anybody should take the risk, knowing it can cause a problem it would be irresponsible to give any animal something that is known to cause problems, this is why I don't feed my dogs on processed dog food.

[carmalee]

and skidkid you are entitled to your opinion and I'm pleased your kitty is well. But I repeat, milk is not a natual food for adult cats although some will take it in without any problems.

[SpikeyBush]

Ratter, not sure exactly how old the boxer is, got her from a rescue centre. She's going grey round her chops so she's no spring chicken.

Whilst out on walks she hasn't seemed overly interested in bothering the odd moggy we've come across. I wanted to see how she would be with cats first, rather than getting a kitten at the same time from the same place. (also the rescue centre didn't take cards, and I only had enough pictures of the Queen on me for one animal, otherwise I may have come home with a dozen or so new friends!)