Well, we did it, we got our dog. We brought Lucy, the puggle, home last night. Our cats hate her. I figured they would flip out, being this has been their castle for so long. And that's just how cats act. It took our older one about 2 weeks to get use to our younger one. They have been hiding ever since Lucy came home last night. Is there anything I can do to help them get use to each other? Lucy listens pretty well which is good. I tell her to stop or stay, and she refrains from chasing them. She is curious though, as all dogs are, and wants to find them. I tried holding the cats to let them sniff each other, but they get mad still. Someone please tell me my cats will eventually come around. I miss my morning wake up call from my Taz.
It may take a couple of weeks, but the cats will eventually come around. The best way to let them get introduced is to just let them do it on their own when they are ready. Leave the cat's food and water where it normally is same with the litter box. And just let the cats come around when they are ready. Also if you leave the house I recommend crating little Lucy just until she and the cats have gotten used to each other. This will help the transition go smoothly.
I have no suggestions. We had a cat for a long time. We watched by BIL's dog for about a year and half when he took a job where he was travelling a lot. Our cat moved to the upstairs of the house and would ONLY come down if I had the dog chained outside (which I didn't do often). We ended up having to relent and put the cat's food/water dish upstairs - even lack of food wasn't encouraging her to come down. Part of it might have been her breed. We think she was a Minx - and they only bond with one person/animal/etc.....so....it could have been her personality. Anyway...I'm sure that they will eventually all get along!
They will come around over time. I would allow the cats to cozy up on their own. If the dog gets too close to the cats, they will nail him, literally LOL; unless they are declawed.
Well, they finally came upstairs for awhile today. The older one sat on the dining room chair and hid. That is, until the dog found him, then he bolted again.
LOL Jen my dh always says you know what cats are good for, feeding the dogs. LOL just kidding. No tomatoes please. It's fall today. No really they will come around.
If the cats have a safe zone where they can get away from the dog, they will eventually come around. They may never accept the dog, but they will come back to the family and living areas.
I think after a while the cats will come around. We also had cats before we got a dog and it all worked out. They may never lay close together but being able to hang out in the same room is good! Have fun with your new dog, it looked just adorable!