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New cat doesn't like dogs..HELP!

sassy4529
March 2nd, 2006, 09:55 PM
We got a new cat today and it looks like she is about 3-4 years old. I introduced her and our dog cookie today who by the way is a big baby and just wants to play and the cat attacked cookie. How can I slowly introduce these two and get them to be comfortable with each other?
Thanks!

Lucky Rescue
March 2nd, 2006, 10:17 PM
This is an adult cat who has been abandoned by her family, coming into a strange home with people she doesn't know and then she is confronted with a dog. I'm not surprised she attacked. She had no way of knowing the dog just wanted to play and felt she had to defend herself. Most adult cats do not want to play with strange dogs.

After this bad introduction, you need to start from scratch.

You need to put the cat in a room by itself with all it's stuff, and let her settle down and become comfortable in that one room. She needs to feel safe and secure before you do anything else. Go in the room, pet her, play with her and talk softly to her.

When she seems happy and content, then you can put a gate in the doorway, and let her look out and the dog look in. Do not let the dog in the room. The cat will come out when she feels there is no danger.