Ziay!

jammyman34

...where the dog is 4 years old.? I've had my dog since she was a puppy and it has only been her, no other animals (aside from my roommates). She's only 19lbs and is a rat terrier/poodle mix (so I'm told). I'm wondering what the best method is for introducing my dog to a new cat. I'm not sure if a kitten would be easier or a cat. What are your thoughts? Thanks

cleopatra

There is a saying that dogs will always accept "new blood" (i.e., a kitten, a puppy or a human baby) into the "pack" (its family). Adopting a kitten would probably be easiest.

But I even successfully introduced my 2 full grown cats to my mother's 7-year-old alpha-male German Shephard this way:

For the first few days, I kept the cats closed-off in their own room. Once a day, I'd take the cats out and let the dog go in and sniff the entire room so that he could learn to recognize their scents.

And then we got brave and stood an unattached (but well-fitting and well-barricaded) screen door in the door frame so that the dog could see the cats and vice-versa. This was status quo for 2-3 weeks. Both dog and cats seemed not to worry about the other.

Then one day, we just decided it was then-or-never and slowly introduced each one separately, having people on hand to hold the dog back, if necessary.

The dog accepted the cats as if they had always been there and the cats learned quickly to behave the dog's "rules"!

moore850

A kitten should be easier, because the dog may view it as a baby, and therefor as "her baby". Dogs can be territorial and possesive, especially poodle mix where they get jealous of who's getting "mommy's" attention.

fyrenimph

You definitely want to introduce them outside of the house, so that the dog doesn't feel like the cat is intruding on her teritory. Then bring them inside together.