Kitten to dog intro ...

[suzi-q]

Since my question yesterday we have tried putting dog on lead and letting him just see the kitten sitting on someones lap quietly. He sits there mesmerised, just staring at kitten panting and dribbling all over the place. He starts kind of high pitched whining and shaking like a jelly and for the whole time shes in the room hes like this - for the whole of the grand prix on telly this afternoon - an hour and a half - he kept up this behaviour. Is this normal? and is there any hope of him settling down. We've let him get really close and actually smell her even to the point of putting his nose on her. She just sits there with the occasional hiss but he is just out of it, ignores treats. Help ....

[divegirl]

Hi....made me laugh so much.....we have just introduced a kitten into our home.... 1 Great Dane and 3 Yorkshire Terriers......and what fun we had!!! Day one..... me looking like I'd been attacked by Freddie Kruger and crying alot[''What have I done?'' type of thing!!!]. One month on....the bravest kitten you've ever met!!! Even Floyd the Dane bows down in respect! To be honest I would say that eventually you have to just let them get on with it..... Kittens are very fast and dogs are really not that stupid! One good swipe from the kitten and the dog will learn respect and vice versa. Believe me it's scary at times, but if I remember rightly your dog is quite young and they WILL learn. One of my Yorkies is now best pals with Church the kitten[named after the cat in Pet Cemetary....has no soul and is pure evil!!!!], and Church wins in every fight.... but funny is not the word....lol...... just hang in there. As for the drool....you want to see my Dane when one of my Yorkies are in season..... Yuck...so not a good look!!!

Good luck
Lisa x

ps....I would just like to say, even if I leave them to get on with it.....I am always nearby....just in case.

[kita1]

Make sure the cat has some high places (top of a cupboard etc.) that the dog cannot get to!

I am sure they will settle in time, eventually the dog will get so tired he has to give up!

Just make sure you don't have valuable ornaments on any shelves at the moment!

My dog (size of a Dane) has never had cats in my house, just lately a neighbours cat has started coming in when we open the door, it waltzes in, straight past my dogs nose and starts casually eating out of his bowl! He (bless him) just layes there watching it!!

Don't worry - like divegirl says let them get on with it, they will probably end up best friends (or if not they will agree to disagree and the cat will live high rise!).

Good luck

[suzi-q]

Thanks for your answers - at least we are not the only fools to try and introduce a kitten into the proceedings. Will persevere and maybe a bit braver and just try and let them get on with it when we are around. I'll still separate them when we are out though. I'd be worrying all day about the carnage that might be going on otherwise.