Integrating young cat and old dog.

[slvrwhispr]

I don't have a lot of time, because things are happening fast. I'm moving back in with my parents, effective immediately, decided an hour ago. Packing all my stuff in record time. My husband and I are splitting. No need for condolences; I know you all care, and I appreciate it more than you know.

But I've got Izzy, and I've got Tyler. Tyler's 11, black lab, been an only pet his entire life, save for a few hamsters. Izzy's almost 2, very much still a kitten, rambunctious as all get-out, but very skittish as she was a stray.

In an hour, I'm going to be moving her there. I'll keep her in my bedroom for a little bit until she's less freaked out (nice big space under my bed, so she'll be plenty comfortable to hide, and safe there).

I know the whole sniffing under the door thing, and the acquainting each other with the other's scent stuff. But realistically, what I'm worried about is Izzy's energy level when paired against Tyler's senior status. He plays like a puppy, but not all the time. Are they going to be okay? If they fight, what do I do to resolve it? Just let me know what I need to expect, how long I should wait between stages of movement, how to diffuse fights, things like that. I appreciate it.

I love this message board because of the quality and caliber of people who post here. You are all fantastic, and I want you to know how much I appreciate you.

[Tina B and crew]

Well...sounds like life is really giving you the go round! But it also sounds like you have it under control...I wish you the best in this situation silvr...

At any rate, I have never dealt with the dog/cat thing myself..but I guess my first question would be if Tyler has ever been around a cat and if so how did Tyler handle it. My main concern would be for the safety of Izzy when confronted with a large dog. I would guess that only allowing them together while they can be supervised until you know what the reactions are going to be. I've known of plenty of people who have had large dogs with cats and had no problems what so ever. I'm sure others on the board can give much better advice than I can though....Good luck with it all...I'm sure things will work out just fine. Just be sure Izzy gets plenty of attention in this stressful time, which I'm sure you have already thought about...and don't forget to take care of yourself!!

[slvrwhispr]

Thanks, Tina. Izzy and Tyler saw each other when I was bringing her in. She was very displeased with this, all hissing and claws in my chest, despite me having her wrapped in a familiar blanket. Tyler just wanted to play.

He's a big, dopey, happy-go-lucky dog. He's very good with small critters; he often brings me toads as presents, into the house. Which I never appreciate as much as he expects me to, but hey, whatcha gonna do. One time when we were younger, my sister's hamster got loose in the house. Tyler found it and brought it back to me in his mouth, slobbery, but completely unharmed. For a big dog like that to pick up a toad or a hamster and not harm it, I'm really not worried about him and Izzy.

Izzy, however, is very territorial and she's the one I'm going to have a problem with. Seriously, Tyler was three rooms away and they saw each other. Tyler was happy with wagging tail; Izzy was ears pinned and hissing. Of course, it's a big change for her, so.

I'm mostly all moved in now. I've got her in my bedroom; she's been eating and drinking and using the litterbox with no problems. However, when I clipped her nails, she was patient for nine and tried to kill me over the last one. And when I left her alone in here for a little while, she was HOWLING when I came back. Just the most pitiful noise. So. I'm hiding out in the bedroom here with her for the rest of the night, so she's not panicked. She's loving the access to the window sills and is right by my side for the most part. Hopefully once she settles in, she'll be less hostile towards Tyler. And he's been sniffing for her under the door. Hopefully she'll start getting curious and go sniff back. When that starts happening, then I'll know maybe it's time to let them see each other.

Maybe I don't need advice, maybe I just need commiseration... heh.

[Tina B and crew]

It sounds like things should be fine then. I can understand Izzy feeling threatened, I would too with a larger creature looming and wanting to play. I think they will probably just work out their differences on their own terms. Tyler may want to play with Izzy but if Izzy doesn't want to I'm sure if she doesn't want to and swats at Tyler then Tyler will eventually get the message. Hopefully they will eventually come to friendly terms...

[Tambrey]

WOW...lots of sudden change for all of you....{{{huggs}}} and best wishes that everything will work out for the best...whatever that is in the end...

Even though Tyler is good around little critters...what might happen if Izzy swats him across the nose....how will he react to that?...I would suggest that when you first introduce them to each other...even in the house...have Tyler on a leash and under your control...let them meet each other face to face this way...and take it from there...

That is what we have done with any dog we have introduced into the house with cats...they are on leash full time around the cats for basically a week or more, until we are confident that they all know their place....
when Izzy is on your lap. Tyler can be at your feet, or rest his head on your leg, if Izzy will let him!!!...

Tyler might not be too happy with this...but for his and Izzy's safety, I would say leash him when Izzy is out roaming...but give Tyler plenty of attention while he is on the leash at your side...

Again...best of luck to you....

[slvrwhispr]

I don't think leashing Tyler will be a problem, because I can't envision Izzy getting anywhere near him of her own free will. She runs for cover any time he starts sniffing at the door, except for the one time when she was eating (food dish right next to the door) when she hissed at him. It's going to be interesting. It's going to be a while before I let her out into the house. Which is bad news because she kept me up allllllllllllll night long. There's lots of furniture and high window sills in my bedroom, which she's not used to. She's been doing track laps and high jumps.

But, I've got a leash for both of 'em. So maybe if I've got Izzy and my parents have Tyler, we can have them in the same room where they can see each other but neither one can make a stealth attack or anything.

Oh geez, Tyler's barking at a pedestrian and the cat is FLIPPING OUT. He's three rooms away and she's clawing and hissing. This is gonna take a while...

I am not as gung ho about this as I was yesterday. I kinda just want to crawl back into bed and pretend it's not happening...

[Tambrey]

{{{slvrwhispr}}}
Well honey...you have had ALOT of sudden stress and changes in your life...maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing to hide under the covers for the day and sort things out in your head and heart...
I am sure that events have led up to this decision...that it is not just sudden...but still...a shock to your system all the same...and now that you have had a chance to sleep...all of the doubts and worries will creep in...

so it is not just Tyler and Izzy...it is all the things that you need to get sorted out...take it easy....one day at a time and all that fun stuff....

[slvrwhispr]

((((Tambrey))))

Thanks so much. And you're right, it's settling in now, and it's not fun. It's the right decision, but that doesn't make it easy.

I'll have to take pictures of Izzy in my bedroom later. She's never had a sunny windowsill she can lay in. She's one happy kitten. So long as she forgets about the dog in the rest of the house.

[slvrwhispr]

I took Izzy out into the living room wrapped up in her blanket. She didn't protest this like she normally would, which leads me to believe that she feels safe there. And that's okay with me.

When she first saw Tyler, she made the angry hissy growly noise. I soothed her, then I pet Tyler, then pet her with the same hand, and she sniffed at it, but she let me.

I sat down on one chair, Dad sat on the chair next to mine. He held Tyler's leash while I held Izzy in the blanket. They were within a foot of each other, and nothing more than sniffing happened. We stayed like that the whole time, alternately petting one animal, then the other.

A pleasant experience achieved, I took Izzy back to her safe place in the bedroom. She's seeming calmer now. I may take the blanket and wrap Tyler in it tomorrow to let her get even more used to his scent. She's happily laying in the window, watching the birds in the trees.

Me, I've got about 20 boxes of stuff to sift through... and it's still not everything... this bites.

[Tambrey]

a great first day together....

yeah...unpacking is not fun...one day at a time...one box at a time...