Introducing Pets to Your Home

It's true! Not all cats and dogs need to behave like their stereotypes, but to make sure your household becomes a place of peace and calm, you need to handle their introduction correctly and that puppy gets a bit of instruction.

Nonetheless, a great deal will depend on the temperament of your cat. Cats that to have a fearful disposition, rescue cats can be prone to this, can react badly to the introduction of a dog. Such cats should be left alone. Both animals are hunters by nature, so their instinct is to chase anything that tries to run away. In addition, puppies and kittens are both curious and like to investigate everything, kittens though, don't like to suffer fools gladly and, if anything adverse happens, it can affect them well into adulthood.

When a puppy sees a cat for the first time it will want to investigate. Being a hunting animal, if the cat runs away, the puppy will chase after it and in a short time, the cat will become scared of the puppy. Cats that seek sanctuary high up will get barked at, a sign of the puppies frustration of not being able to play with his new friend! If it comes to this, the cat can get so traumatized, it might leave home.

So, it is vital to condition the puppies behavior if any chance of a lasting friendship is to succeed.

Generally, the best kind of dog to introduce into a household with a cat is one that has a calm and placid temperament and is unlikely to react to sudden movement. Skittish, highly strung, or dogs that have been bred for pursuit are unsuitable, the poor cat will have a nervous breakdown. A puppy also needs to learn the command "NO" quickly.

The most crucial time is the first 5 or 6 meetings between the two. On no account just dump the puppy down with the cat and see if they "get on". Puppies are usually kept in the kitchen for a month or so for house training, but it is also a good way of enabling the cat to come and visit and, more importantly, withdraw when it wants to. After approximately a week, try putting the cat in a carrier on a table, or something similar, where the puppy can't get at it. Do this for around fifteen minutes, two or three times a day, so they both get used to each others scent. If you discover that the puppy barks to much, try using treats as a distraction. It is sometimes a good idea to do this just before feeding time so the puppy is hungry and can be more easily distracted with food.

After a week or two and if the cat seems comfortable, introduce the two with a lead on the puppy to curb any sudden movements whilst they investigate one another. In this instant, all you are trying to do is build familiarity, so don't let them play and never force the cat to come near the puppy. You can use treats to encourage the cat, but be sure you also distract the puppy from trying to play with the cat. If, after the first ten or so meetings, there are no 'fight or flight' reactions, the cat will start to relax. As the cat relaxes the puppies excitement should also reduce and overtime the cat will accept or even relish the company of the puppy.

Hopefully, all your efforts will produce results, and you end up with a happy household with both cat and dog, and what better way to celebrate this new alliance than a professional pet portrait, a memento that will remind you of happy times for many years to come.