I was reading a thread on another message board this morning before I left work and someone posted a picture of the cutest little kitten. Something in my brain just sort of snapped and I said to myself, “I need a kitten! TODAY!” So I went to Craigslist and what do you know? One of the most recent postings in the Free section was from someone trying to get rid of a litter! It was a forty minute drive each way, so I guess my free kitty cost at least $10 in gas and Turnpike tolls, but I think he’s worth it.
My family always had cats when I was growing up, but though I’m a week and a half shy of age 30 (ugh), this is the first pet I’ve ever actually been able to call my own. He’s a male, completely black except for a few barely noticeable white hairs on the underside of his neck, and just adorable as hell.
The only thing that really concerns me is that my roommate and his girlfriend each have a dog. He’s got a purebred Rottweiler, a girl, and she’s got a female Presecanario. For now, I’m keeping my kitty in an area of the house that the big, bad doggies aren’t allowed into, but if anyone has some advice on how to acclimate my tiny, tiny kitten to those gigantic dogs (if that’s even possible), I’d very much appreciate it.
In accordance with vigorously enforced SDMB regulations, I have taken the first of what are sure to be many, many pictures of my little guy. (The timestamp on my camera is off by about 13 hours - these were all taken a few minutes ago)
As I mentioned in the subject line, I’m kind of stumped when it comes to his name. So far, I’m thinking either “Doggie” (just to screw with people) or “Faux Paws,” but I’d like to hear some Doper suggestions before I settle on anything.
Based on the fact that one of the fuzzier photos reminded me of pictures of a certain lake beastie, I suggest the name “Ness”. As a bonus, whenever you catch him doing something magnificently stupid, you can call him “Idiot Ness”.
I have no advice on interspecies harmony, I’m afraid. We never had indoor pets, and the cats always seemed to work out their own understandings with the various golden retrievers and labs outside.
Congratulations! I’m sure he’s very cute, though I can’t see him well either. There are no ugly kittens.
About the dogs, I’m interested to hear other people’s answers as well. I recently got a Doberman puppy and she’s chasing my full-grown cats all over the place. If she’d been smaller when we got her, maybe the cats could have raised her better, but as is, she’s bigger than they are and seems to think a claw in the face is just part of playing. With grown dogs and a baby cat I’d be even more worried.
ETA: Forgot name suggestion…uh, quickly off the top of my head…Uno, because he’s the first one?
There was a fingerprint smudge on the lens. :smack: I didn’t figure it out until I’d already transfered the pictures to my computer. I tried to take more, but the batteries are dead now and there aren’t any more left in the house.
As for the dogs, I’d keep them separate until Kibble is big enough to escape from them, then introduce them under VERY controlled circumstances. One hint of agression from the doggies and they never see Kibble again.
This is going to sound like a very odd suggestion, but it has worked many times over the years for me both with same species introductions as well as interspecies introductions – before introducing them (and I suggest all 3 at one time), spray each animal’s butt (not the anus, just the area, ya perv!) with the same perfume. Animals recognise scent and if they all share the same scent, it makes the introduction go a little more smoothly. Best to do it sooner rather than later, so the kitten doesn’t figure out he’s supposed to be afraid of dogs.
As for a name? I’ve almost always allowed my cats to name themself – sure we name them for reference, but usually the name changes. Such as we had one cat named “Lace” (don’t look at me like that, I didn’t name her) who ended up “Suicide Bitch” because she had a bad habit of chewing on my toes while I slept. Reflex sent that cat right against the wall every time, and she continued the habit. Oh, at any rate, for a name suggestion, depending on how well-trained the dogs are, “Lunch” might be an option. How about “Yancy Toscerello” – you could shorten it to “YT”
Yep. Be very careful. One bite from a big dog can kill, quickly. I hate to say it, but it sounds like the kitty was an impulse acquisition, especially since you don’t know how the dogs will react to cats. It can work out, but you will need to be very vigilant and do not trust the dogs alone with the cat until you are absolutely sure they will not harm him. I’d hate to hear a sad ending to this, he’s a very cute kitten.
Very cute - makes me want another kitten. I like the name Jonsey - don’t know why but he looks like a Jonsey to me.
And I don’t have any advice on introducing your kitty to the dogs - I haven’t had to do that yet since we only have a cat.
For introducing foreign animals, we usually use vanilla on the butt.
I’d be pretty concerned about both dogs. (I’d actually be less concerned about a male Rottie, but you have what you have.) You might find a place in the house where each can leave scents that the others will find and be curious about without letting them be together, for a while. Then do the scent masking and introduce them very carefully, being ready to whisk the kitten out of the way fretty quickly.
I think you are doing the right thing. Give him ‘his’ room where he can feel safe. He can venture out (under supervision) when he feels like it. The dogs will have a chance to notice his scent for a while before they meet. In my experience, dogs seem less terrirotial towards cats than another cat would.
absolutely supervised contact only - and be VERY careful. the divemaster had a husky that managed to break the neck of a pet ferret in a nanosecond. and they were both being directly supervised at the time.
i’d recommend begging borrowing or stealing kiddie gates and setting them up between junior and the dog population in a bedroom doorway or a hallway whatever works - also under strict supervision.
that way they can smell and sniff to their hearts’ content and junior stays safely out of reach behind the gate. i’ve used that method in the past to introduce various pets to one another with great success.
good luck and take good care of the little guy.
