How to get your
dog to accept a new feline family member!
When we received the call that a kitten was in need of a
home, my daughter was so excited she couldn’t stop talking for at least ten minutes
straight!
The only obstacle was getting past our two other family members,
Zeus a Doberman and Luna the Weimaraner.
We all knew Zeus would be a problem, as he has never been friendly with
other animals and has demonstrated his dislike many times. Be it the neighbour’s
cat, who made the mistake of entering our yard or the time when a lost pet rabbit,
hopped into our yard and well…that story didn’t end well either! In fact I could write a whole blog about Zeus
and his animal phobias.
I wanted the little kitty as badly as my daughter and in our
home, where there is a will… there is always a way.
So here is my method, perhaps it has been tried before…I don’t
know, but it definitely worked like a charm as all my fury family members get
along like you will not believe. And I
mean, eating from each other’s food bowls, playing together and even grooming each
other, yip, you read right… cat grooms dog, dog grooms cat!
I had purchased a large breed dog crate, which came in very
handy during the introduction phase.
The first week, since the kitten was really so tiny, it was
rather easy. At night, I kept Felix
behind closed doors with one of my children, everyone got a turn to babysit,
and loved having a little bundle of fluff to themselves for the night. During the day, while the dogs were outside,
Felix was allowed to explore the house and get used to his new surroundings, sounds
and many smells. In turn, the dogs knew
there was a new creature in the house and they too were getting to know the
smell and sound of a kitty – which Zeus was already showing his disapproval!
The second week was a little intimidating and perseverance
is the key. As usual Felix had the run
of the house during the day. By now the
dogs were peeping at him through the windows.
I noticed Luna, the Weimaraner, seemed very relaxed, which was an
excellent sign. Zeus would notice the
cat and then lap our house a few times… this concerned me terribly and I knew
the next phase had to start. Every evening,
we would put Felix safely into the crate and then allow each dog a turn to
visit Felix. On lead, I’d make the dogs
wait outside the bedroom, and take them in one at a time. Luna, was fine, immediately we could see that
she had no problem with Felix. She
sniffed and watched on curiously and yes, the cat hissed and growled with all
his might. When Zeus had his turn, the visits
were about 5 seconds. He leapt at the
crate, growling the deepest growl and gave a few snarling bite barks at the
poor kitten… who didn’t know what hit him.
Luckily, he was very safe in the crate and if anything, wondered what the hell just came into the
room. That whole week, we all
participated in the dog visiting cat ritual, with Zeus still showing no signs
of accepting the new member even though his visits were getting longer and
longer.
The third week was much harder. Felix didn’t like being kept in a room during
the evenings, no matter who he was with, he was determined to escape. His little paw would come sliding out from
under the bedroom door, pawing and feeling his way to freedom. Luna was always on the other side, waiting
patiently for Felix’s paw to slide out for her to nudge and sniff at. That’s when I decided to move the dog crate
to the living room. Every evening,
before I allowed the dog back into the house, I’d put Felix in the crate. Zeus’s
first reaction to this new plan was scary.
Like lightning he charged the crate, tackling it so hard,
that it slide across the living room floor.
It happened so quickly not one of us could have stopped him. Eventually we gained control of the situation
and had to keep Zeus in check and on lead often. It was trying times that’s for sure!
He would growl at the cat, pretend to walk past calmly then
suddenly bite the crate. Eventually, I
kept Zeus close to me at all times, talking to him, giving him things to do and
of course, reprimanding his eye contact towards the kitty. He would start staring and get a particular look
just before he would charge…that’s when I’d intervene and remind him to
stay. Luna on the other hand was loving
the new attention, her and Felix started playing through the crate. The cat showed no care in the world towards
Zeus and only when Zeus sneaked in a bullying scene, would Felix hiss or growl
back. At bed time, Felix was taken back
to one of the children’s room and the dogs would settle down.
We continued to do this during the fourth week, and I was
even beginning to imagine that this is how it’s going to be for the rest of our
lives. By now Felix was fighting to get
into the crate and Luna wanted to sleep in the children’s room, with
Felix. Any chance he could, Felix would
dodge his way out the room. Sprinting as
fast as we all know cats can! I have
three children, so when one cat gets away, three screams are heard for Felix’s
life. My job was to make sure Zeus stays
wherever he was and the bugger knew what was going on and thankfully, he listened.
Until one evening, Zeus and Luna were
settling down for bed, when Felix escaped from the room, except he escaped with
such speed he landed up sprinting right to where the dogs sleep. My husband and I were there and we witnessed
the shock on both Zeus and Luna’s face.
Felix bolted into the room, noticed the dogs and gave a “brrrr…” hello
meow sort of thing and Zeus just stood there, no reaction, nothing. Luna greeted the kitten, sniffing Felix
inside and out, but Zeus the bully, did absolutely nothing. Mr Bully was scared of the kitten. Every time the cat walked towards him, he
took a step or two back and sometimes ran away for his life. I guess when Felix started to chase Zeus and
vice versa that’s when they became friends.
After that, I continued to keep an eye on Zeus and kept his
direct contact with the kitten short and sweet. I still never left them alone together but
increased their time together as the days moved on.
Eventually, Felix was not using the crate and slept wherever
he chose to and everything started to slot into place naturally. Within three months all our animals were
getting along perfectly.
So, it can be done, if I can do it…anyone can do it…if Zeus
can accept a cat, well then there is hope for all other animals out there who
have to accept a family member.
At this momma’s house, you will get along! J
Isabel Beukes
