introducing dog to cat (UPDATE 10/27)

[derby]

Yup.  German Shephard/Great Dane mix puppy (bigger than all the cats at 4 months) got put on the run by a 6lb cat.  Just keep an eye on them.  You may have to help train the dog that backing the cats in a corner results in an owie.

won't the cat just train the dog itself? 

[the_Journeyman]

Unless the growing dog decides the cat is a snack.

JM

[Speedbag]

please tell me you named the cat IZ_ or IZ_

Another vote for IZ_....

[Monsterlover]

Or "Nails"

[IZ]

Cat already came with the name Natasha. She's 8y/o. Very furry..not IZ_. Declawed so she's nail~less".   

Attempted meeting last night. Cat hissed a lot. Dog acted like a rabid scavenger.  Stressed cat too much. Try again this weekend.

[Monsterlover]

Don't discount the ML method of acclimating your pets in the bathroom

[Randimus Maximus]

Did you ever get this sorted out?

[IZ]

I have the gate up still to seperate the two.  Nat is on the 3rd floor (hall & bathroom) and Emma is on the second.  I've attempted to bring Nat down but she doesn't understand that the gate is a barrier so the dog won't get her.  Still taking time.


While we're on the subject.  We took Nat to the Vet yesterday and found out some information to help us we understand her better.

Not sure if I mentioned this previously but she nipped at the s/o a few times the first day.  We figured she was scared since she cornered her first and then attempted to pick her up.     Obviously, that wasn't/is NEVER a good idea.  She also nipped at her when she tried to pet under her chin.  We discovered that was due to her having sore gums.  After reviewing the notes from the previous owner..our vet discovered that the cat had recently had a tooth extracted and was fully aware when they did it.  She wasn't put under.    That infuriated our vet.  I don't know what the situation was though with previous owner/vet?  Maybe they couldn't afford to anesthetize her since they did give her up afterall.  BUT..the tooth they SAID they pulled out was still partially there and it looks as though they pulled out a different one too.  The cat has also been over-vaccinated her whole life.  The shots she had should've been administered every other year.   

Anyway, Nat has been put on meds for her gums for two months.  If the situation doesn't improve, she will need a full extraction.     The vet said this isn't uncommon but I don't want her to go through anymore stress.  She's in pain now though.  We can tell.  We're weaning her off the dry food since it hurts to chew.  On top of the teeth & gums..she has dry eye so we have to clean them often.  She's a sweet cat and is very relaxing..for me especially.  We have a little routine in the mornings when I brush her.  I just hope she is able to remain strong though this transition and she can keep her teeth.   

[Ahks]

After reviewing the notes from the previous owner..our vet discovered that the cat had recently had a tooth extracted and was fully aware when they did it.  She wasn't put under.    That infuriated our vet.  I don't know what the situation was though with previous owner/vet?  Maybe they couldn't afford to anesthetize her since they did give her up afterall.  BUT..the tooth they SAID they pulled out was still partially there and it looks as though they pulled out a different one too. 

I love my boys (yeah I'm anthropomorphizing my cats a bit, so what... ), I can't imagine either going thru something like that. Thats tantamount to abuse tbh.

[IZ]

Where to begin? 

Well, it's been a month.  Things aren't working out with Natasha.  I don't think they ever will.   Unfortunately, it looks like the s/o and I are going to have to give her up.   We don't want to because Nat has become part of our family and has brought us a lot of joy.  This has to be done though. 

There are a few reasons.  Mostly due to the dog.  She's allergic.  I already give Emma special food, shots and pills to help with her other allergies but the hair is making things worse.  We're currently in small living quarters so it's doing no good for either one of them.  I think my wife is allergic to her as well.  Plus, we've been doing research and learned a lot about cats and babies.  I didn't know kitty litter was a bad thing during pregnancy.  No, we're not expecting anything yet but..

Anyway, most of the day Nat sleeps on the counter upstairs in the bathroom.  She stays in there even though the door is open and the gate is up so the dog can't get to her.  When I leave though, I have to shut her in.  At night, Nat is VERY playful.  That's when I shut the dog in the bedroom.  I know cats are more alert at night.  I wasn't expecting them to play together but that's no life for a cat or any creature.  She needs to feel safe and have the opportunity to roam when and where she wants. 

That's all I can say right now.  I don't want to give Natasha back to Cactus Cats because I don't know where she'll end up.  They are already filled due to another facility closing.  Like I mentioned before..I have to give her meds for her teeth or she'll have to get them all extracted. 

This is very upsetting.         

[Stella]

    really sorry to hear IZ.  You did and are doing everything you can and could. 

Time to page BP to this thread?   

Good luck with the impending transition â€" it will no doubt be a toughie.     

[IZ]

No, its not going to be easy. We're laying in the sun right now. There's a window seat in the bdrm. Her eyes look like ice!  She loves it in here.

[Howie]

Sorry things aren't working out. 

[IZ]

Sorry things aren't working out. 

Thanks Howie. 

It is tough to think about having to give her up.  At times though, it seems hard to really bond with her..specially when she's 8 years old and already set in her ways.  Some days she's really cool and the next day, I'll do exactly what I thought she liked the day before and she'll swat or nip at me.  I've been married for 16 years so I should be used to this, eh?!    That type of behavior keeps me on my guard always so I'm sure she senses it. 

It was funny though last night.  I absolutely hate it when cats get on the counter/kitchen table.  When she jumped up there, I immediately took her off, told her no and then I walked to the fridge.  I looked back at her and she was staring at me like.."f*ck you..this is my house!!"     About 2 minutes later, I walked back by her and she swatted my leg!  WTF?!  I looked at her and she looked away like she didn't do it!  Little B*tch!!     

She does make me laugh a lot!! 

[Heath]

My wife and I adopted a 6 year old cat almost a year ago now.  That first two months were very hard.  She would bite if you pet her too much.  She would bite if you didn't pet her enough.  She would attack your hand if you reached for something near her.  She was pretty stuck on wet food only too.  She hated to be held and would never go in our bed room. We live in a 1 bedroom apartment by the way.  She would get on top of everything.  We are the same way, counter/kitchen table are off limits.  Everything else is fair game.

Weaning her off of wet food actually wasn't that hard.  We just found a dry food she liked and stuck with it.  The biting slowly stopped when she learned it was not ok.  A slight pat to the head and she eventually stopped biting.  As for the attacking us she kind of stopped that on her own.  Still does it now but it is more playful then anything.  Kicking her off the counter tops stopped her from getting up there.

At one point we had thought about returning her because it wasn't going to work out.  We just gave it another month.  We let her know "we will never give you up" and she had paid us back for sure.  She greets us at the door when we get home.  Goes to bed with us until we fall asleep.  Comes back in the morning when we get up.  If we are sad she knows, if we are happy she knows She is awesome.

So if you can stick it out! It already sounds like you're in love with her.