How to introduce dogs to cats?

PaulStat · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:03

Hi All,

We're thinking of getting some kittens in a couple of months time, now my sister has a jack Russell who chases anything that moves, I've never seen him hurt a cat, in fact it's the complete opposite he normally runs after them get's close does a sort of whiney bark and then runs away again like he's afraid of them.

So is there a way you can introduce dogs to cats so that they get used to them and eventually leave them be?

Thanks,
Paul

The Dread Pirate · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:03

Put the cat in his food bowl!

mac1st3 · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:05

Throw a party, bring them to each other, get them to shake hands, a fewdrinks later they'l be best friends

or just keep them very much supervised for the first week or so

Tripnologist · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:05

I imagine it may be similar to how you get cats used to other cats. Have them seperated for a while so they get used to each others scent.

Other than that, if the dog is playful, not a lot you can do unless you train him to leave the cats alone.

Dark_Angel · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:07

Capn' $qu!ff said:
Put the cat in his food bowl!

This. Also make sure not to feed the dog for a day or two to maximize the chances the two will "bond".

bledd · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:07

It'll be a lot harder to stop a yappy dog like a jack Russell from chasing a cat than a bigger more obedient dog imo..

we have a sheep dog and her pup who are totally fine with the cats (so is my lab), but the other sheep dog 'Carlos the Jackal' thinks cats are the scum of the earth

Bill101 · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:25

Jack Russell's are natural Ratters, that will go after anything small.

Get plenty of kittens

Hitman_Leon · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:30

My staffy Axel wanted to play with a couple of cats and they pwned his useless wimpy butt, he had no clue what to do, he will play with anything that moves and not harm anything but the cats handed his butt back to him on a platter for just going near them.

Kazz · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:32

Cinema followed by drinks

rsatd · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:35

Play some romantic music in the background.

Ace Modder · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:38

I have 2 cats and a jack russell.

Our jack russell is a lively bugger, he does try to "play" with the cats.
One cat just runs off, the other cat just lets the dog run up to it, and they sniff each others nose then the dog usually runs away.

I think it depends on the age of the dog etc, is the dog young, training a dog or cat is easier at a young age, the older they get the harder it is to train.

Pookie Bear · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:39

My ex (who works in a vets and continually takes animals home - cats, dogs, rats, ferrets, anything) reckons that leaving a dog's food on the cat's sleeping blanket and vice versa is a good tool for preparing them to meet. So you may want to plan it out beforehand. My current girlfriend's sister just got a kitten and her dog completely ignores it - in fact, the kitten even tried feeding on her and she just lay there. She is a particularly lively hound (but a labrador, so very gentle).

When I was a young lad, our King Charles Spaniel puppy thought kittens were great fun, but he killed one by mistake whilst playing with them

PaulStat · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:42

Ace Modder said:
I think it depends on the age of the dog etc, is the dog young, training a dog or cat is easier at a young age, the older they get the harder it is to train.

He's quite a young dog, 2 at the most I think

4T5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:44

PaulStat said:
So is there a way you can introduce dogs to cats
Thanks,
Paul

With a nice Chianti ?

Stretch · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:47

Wait until the kittens are big enough, i.e they can walk, play etc. Then just put them together and let them get on with it. Most dogs are all talk, especially the small ones.

Le_Petit_Lapin · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:48

Just chuck em in the same room together and yell "fight!".

I wouldn't worry about it tbh, I own a jack russell / fox terrier / Something mongrel and he usually loves ripping apart small moving things, but any of my mums cats that he's came into contact with have beat him into submission and shown him who's boss. The last time I looked after one of hers for a week at the start the cat was hiding on top of cupboards, behind chairs and being generally grumpy, and scratching the dog on the nose whenever he was in reach, but by the end of the week I was finding them cuddled up in bed together.

Its pretty damn funny watching the dog run up to the cat, then pausing as he wonder what to do, getting a slap on the nose from the kitty and running away yelping. They really get confused with cats at times.

The Dread Pirate · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:49

malc30 said:
With a nice Chianti ?

Candlelight dinner would also help!

Participant · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:50

Have a dinner party and sit them next to each other.

mac1st3 · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:53

1)Tie one to the back of the other
2)Record it on camcorder
3)post on youtube
4)??????
5)Profit

KaHn · 25 Sep 2009 at 12:11

Let the dog eat them and you won't have this kitten problem any more.

KaHn