1st May 2006

How should I go about introducing my new puppy to my four established cats, one of whom has a tendency to be dominant and aggressive towards the others?

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Question:

I will be collecting my puppy, Solo, in two weeks’ time, when she will be eight weeks old. I have four cats, one of whom has a tendency to be dominant and aggressive towards the others. How should I go about introducing Solo, so that she and my cats are all happy?

Answer:

Cats’ primary sense is that of smell, so if you can introduce some cloths with the scent of your new puppy on them, before she gets there, they will already be familiar with her smell. This will give the process a head start. The most important thing is that your new puppy should not be allowed to frighten or harass your cats at any time. Cats are usually quite sensible and keep out of the way at first, unless they have enough confidence to make a puppy back off. Make sure yours have shelves or high surfaces to jump on to, or hiding places where the puppy cannot follow. Keep a close eye on all meetings and restrain your puppy if she tries to approach the cats too fast or too closely. The use of a playpen when you are not there to supervise can prevent unwanted encounters, and the use of gates around the house will allow your cats an escape route, while preventing your puppy from giving chase. Make sure that she has plenty of games with toys, and put a little line on her collar when she is in the same room as the cats, so that you can prevent her giving chase and thinking of the cats as play things.