New Dog and Cat joining our home soon. Advice on a smooth transition?

In My Humble Opinion
1

My husband and I recently bought our own home, with a large fenced in backyard that demanded to be filled with a dog. We’d always intended to go to the humane society once we we settled, to bring somebody home to join us and our cat.

Since we’ve both got a couple of weeks of time off right now, we decided now was the best time for a new addition. We went to the shelter, and we met Nate. Nate’s a mutt with what looks like alot of Golden Lab in the mix. He’s smaller than a Lab, but he might have some growing left in him (big feet). He was found as a stray, so no one’s sure how old he is. He’s a bit shy, but warmed up to us quickly when we brought him into the Getting-To-Know-You room and played with a chew rope for a bit. He chewed on my hair a bit and licked my nose. No one at the shelter has ever heard him bark. He seems to be a calm, slow sort of dog. He’s not neutered yet, but will be not long after we adopt him
We only wanted one new pet, but while we were at the shelter we also wandered into the cat room, and Doc decided he’d like to have us. Doc was surrounded by adorable yowling kittens climbing the walls to get our attention, but he started winning us over immediately when we realized he was trying just as hard to be heard, and didn’t have a voice. Doc’s another stray of indeterminate age, a bit on the skinny and scruffy side, and will be winning no beauty contests. He drooled on us with bliss when we took him for his own visit in the meeting room. There’s no describing the noise he makes when he ‘purrs’. He was neutered last week. He convinced us that he really should move in with us.

Nate’s coming home with us tomorrow, and Doc is almost surely joining us once we can arrange to have a vet check him over before bring him home (because he’s got some lumpiness under his neck we want to be sure about, and we really want to be certain that he’s healthy and not carrying anything our other cat could catch), probably two or three days afterwards.
Why am I telling the SDMB all of this? Nate and Doc will be the first pets we’ve brought home from the Humane Society on our own. Our other cat was a shelter adoptee ten years ago and there couldn’t be a better kitty, but there were no other pets around when he came home, and he wasn’t a former stray. Neither my husband or I have been the sole one responsible for bringing a stray home and taking care of them before, and we want to do right by them.

I’d love any advice (and/or success stories) you’ve got on bringing new animals into a home, especially a home with an animal already in residence. Current Kitty has lived with dogs and other cats around for most of his life, so we’re fairly confident he’ll be okay with the newcomers, but we’re very concerned with making sure the newcomers are okay with him. He’s got seniority, after all. They’ve also to to be okay with eachother. Neither Nate nor Doc has a history so their ability to interact with other pets is unknown, although neither seems to be at all aggressive.

Help us add Doc and Nate to our home with as few bruised feline egos or tufts of flying fur as possible?

2

I think my main concern would be the two cats. (Dog I’m fairly certain you don’t have to worry about) As far as the cats go just make sure the each have there own eating area. Hell I had two cats that lived together for a LONG time and I could NEVER get them to eat together with out them tearing each other apart. (I kept trying to train them to eat together because I got tired of seeing one cats food bowl in my bathroom. Which is where I fed him)

I can also remember I had a dog and decided to bring a kitty into our home. MY dog was pissed, super pissed. When I brought kitty through the door the first thing he did was go lay in the corner and sulk. That damn kitty though, she kept going over to the dog, to play with him, and dog would keep snaping at her every time she did. Untill one day, dog was asleep on the floor, kitty went over to sleep with him. She layed her head on his stomach. Finaly the dog lfted his head to see what it was, saw that it was kitty, let out a half-assed grunt then begruginly went back to sleep with the kitty still in place.

From that day forward they were the best of friends. This is the premise of why I say you shouldn’t have to worry about the dog. So take that for what it’s worth.

3

My way of introducing a new cat to a resident cat was to keep a door between them for a day or two - they can smell each other but can’t get to each other to fight. This gives them time to get used to the idea of another cat before they actually see the other cat. When you decide the time is right for a face to face meeting, be watchful! Listen for that low in-th-chest rumbling that indicates a pissed off cat. Don’t leave them together unsupervised at all until you are sure they are getting along. Sometimes the resident cat can be very upset by what they percieve as an intruder, and other times they are so happy to have a playmate! I would also have separate litter boxes and feeding areas, at least at first. Make sure you give a little bit of extra attention to the resident cat - you don’t want him to feel as if he’s being replaced in your affections!

I currently have 8 indoor cats - I enclosed a double garage and converted it into a “cat suite” with carpeted ramps, shelves at about 18 inches below the ceiling, their own couch and recliner, my husband’s crib - and the small “shop” is now my office where I am currently typing this. In the shop is my computer, way too many stuffed animals, my hockey pics, pucks, sticks, etc. and most of my books. The cats can’t get in here unless I’m here, so they don’t go online to those “pussy” sites or start ordering stuff off of e-bay.

Most of mine were introduced as kittens, so it didn’t take long for the older ones to get used to them.

Good luck. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for adoping from a shelter. Not only do you have 2 wonderful new family members, but you have made the people who do that hard, sometimes sad work very, very happy.

4

Just make sure the dog isn’t a cat killer.

I’ve known people who get dogs from shelters that are sweet and docile, but go crazy around cats.

Now I’ve had cats and dogs all my life and never had any real problem introducing them to each other. Usually, the cat will hide from the dogs and slowly creep out. As soon as they get used to each other, everything should be fine.

5

We introduced Ardred’s dog (10) and my cat (10). The dog chased the cat once, but the cat wouldn’t back down, so she lost interest. Never had an issue even once, since.

Then we got a kitten (1). The dog chases the kitten when the kitten eggs her on (walking up and patting her nose or standing on his back legs in front of her to get her to play). The dog has learned that play biting and rolling the cat is fun and the cat loves it too, but biting or pain is a big no no. They play with each other like puppies do.

The kitten wants nothing more than to curl up and sleep next to our first cat. The cat wants nothing to do with this little bastard intruder and does the low growl and hiss. The kitten then attacks her, trying to establish some kind of dominance. Then she runs away, being chased by the kitten.

We’ve had him for two years, and still this behavior continues. No one is hurt and no one stays mad, we just can’t figure out how to get the kitten to realize she doesn’t want to play.

6

Nothing useful to contribute except to say that I’m glad you posted the OP because my wife and I will be buying a house in the next year and are planning on getting both a cat and a dog at that time, so I will be reading everyones stories with great interest and taking notes on what to do to make sure they get along. So thanks everyone!

WaryEri be sure to let us know how it turns out.

7

When you are ready to get your new pets, try to make sure you choose a breed (or mix) of dog that isn’t bred for chasing small furry animals. A lot of the terrier breeds are difficult to restrain from chasing anything that moves. I don’t know a lot about dogs, but a little research can save a lot of heartache.

8

Already planning on doing lots of research, but thanks for mentioning it. :slight_smile:
I was thinking of hanging out at a shelter/rescue center and talking to the staff as well as seeing what can be found online about various breeds. There’s no way I’d take on a (potentially) 20 year commitment without checking it out first. It wouldn’t be fair to my new pets/family members.

9

Should have know I was preaching to the choir when I mentioned doing research to Dopers. Sorry about that!!

10

Well, both new pets are now in residence. We’d planned to wait on bringing Doc home, but instead went with the advice of the shelter employees to get the trauma for Current Cat over with all at once. We’re just keeping Doc in the basement (finished basement, so it’s not like he’s been banished to the dungeon or anything) and the other cat upstairs, until we take Doc to the vet on Friday to get a clean bill of health. He seems to have trouble breathing through his nose, and sneezes occasionally.

They’re both settling in well. Doc had most of the day to himself downstairs, with occasional checks to see how he was doing. At first it was several games of “Where’s the cat hiding now?” (which he is highly skilled at), but after a few hours he started hanging out in my husband’s computer chair, and that’s where he was when we joined him downstairs for our computer time. He’s been switching back and forth between laps, providing nuzzling and wet wrists.

Nate’s no catkiller. Right now, Doc’s in my lap ( that could change at any minute, he’s very concerned with giving equal time) and Nate is passed out behind me. He found the other cat quite facinating and got depressed that it wouldn’t play, but he’s more or less ignored Doc, who returned the favor after a couple of sniffs. We figured after Doc’s various games of Xtreme Hide’n’Seek this afternoon, he’d vanish when we brought the dog downstairs, but they surprised us.

As for Nate and the senior kitty, kitty’s not pleased and has been keeping mostly to his more out-of-the-way favorite sleeping spots, but there’s been no fighting and since kitty’s lived with dogs Nate’s size all his life, we’re hoping he’ll get used to things and return to napping on the couch and bed, instead of behind or under them. Nate doesn’t chase him, but he does follow him around, which the cat isn’t very cool with yet.

My husband and I are both going through quite a bit of guilt over the senior kitty. While he did spend most of his 11 years with dogs who sometimes chased him, and another cat who liked to beat him up weekly, he’s had us all to himself for the past 4 months, and we feel bad about taking that situation away from him. He was, and remains, our baby. The newbies are wonderful, but I’ll feel alot better once our senior kitty has gotten used to the dog and returns to his usual routine, and we find out for sure if he can get along with Doc.

But overall, it’s going well.

11

Where does Nate sleep? Does he have a crate where he can feel hidden and secure? Same for the cat-- is there a place where she can perch and be out of reach of the other animals?

The ability to retreat seems to be a major factor in preventing problems and it also makes them feel like they have territory of their own.

I always let new dogs sleep in the bedroom for the first few nights in their crates, It’s bonding, and if the dog cries during the night, you’re there to comfort them. (Even adult dogs can wake up scared and confused.) Cats don’t seem to care, but I admit I don’t have much experience with them.

Let Nate get used to his new home for a while before you neuter him. When you take him in, take his bed cushion, or a couple of unlaundered t-shirts, so he can smell you and home while he’s at the vet’s.

Is Nate trained?

12

Nate’s not trained that we know of. We’re assuming no. He went for us outside a few times today, but when we got back from a walk this evening, he had an accident on the carpet not long after coming inside. I’ve been taking him out to one corner of the yard that’s he’s peed in a couple of times, and while he hasn’t gone since his accident, he’ll get a cheese cube and alot of praise when/if he goes in the proper place before bed.

He’s got a crate, which is in our bedroom right now. We intend to try some crate training with him to help get him housetrained. So far he’s been more inclined to just flop over on the carpet to sleep (sleeping being one of his favorite activities), but we haven’t really gotten started on the crate training, so I’m hoping he’ll be just as content to take a few of his many naps inside his ‘den’ while training, and sleep there at night.

The cats both have many options for getting away from Nate, though Doc hasn’t bothered. He and Nate ignore eachtoher. Kitty the Elder has always simply selected several spots around the house to nap in, rather than having a particular den. When Nate’s around upstrairs, Kitty the Elder seems to stick with napping spots that are off limits to the dog- under the bed or couch.

If Nate would just ignore Kitty the Elder the way he ignores Doc, everyone would probably be much happier with things. We’re not sure what it is about Kitty the Elder that makes him so facinating, but he becomes the center of Nate’s focus when he walks into the room, while poor Doc isn’t even on Nate’s radar. I suppose I should just be happy Nate’s so good with at least one of the cats, but I feel bad for Kitty the Elder.

13

It may be that Doc smells like the shelter, so he’s nothing new. Kitty the Senior smells new and different. Just a guess here! Glad to hear things are going well.

WaryEri, where are you from? In Georgia, shelter animals must be spayed/neutered before the adoptive owners take them home.

14

The way I housetrained my puppy was annoying and hard work, but effective. When I first got her, I took her out almost every hour, and three times during the night. (You shouldn’t have to do the night thing with Nate-- he should be old enough to hold his bladder.)

If you never give them a chance to pee on the rug, then you never have to correct them for it.

Gradually, I reduced the time, and put her out times on a schedule. She goes out at certain times, and seems to understand that you hold it until then.

It’s also good to train them to go on command. While he’s outside, keep repeating your command. Mine is “Hurry up”, but you could say, “Use the potty,” or even “elephant,” if you want-- just be consistant with the command word. As soon as the dog goes, praise him and say, “Good hurry up!” or whatever your command word is.

15

Our word is “pickaspot”. :slight_smile:

The sneezing is probably the ubiqitous respiratory infections that flourish in shelters. Jakey took about 4 months to completely get over his. Doc said he was just fine.

Congrats!!!

16

Doc’s sicker today, so we’ve bumped up his vet visit to this afternoon. He hadn’t moved from the couch all day, he hasn’t used his litter pan, and he’s feverish and more congested. I am hoping it’s just a shelter bug, but I’d like to know for sure, and know what steps to take to keep Kitty the Elder healthy.

Nate and Kitty the Elder are doing better. Most of the novelty seems to have worn off for Nate. Kitty the Elder hisses and swipes at him half heartedly when he gets to close, but is no longer hiding out all the time. He make not like Nate, but Nate’s not shaking up his world quite so much now.

Nate’s doing well with housetraining so far. No more accidents since yesterday evening, and I think he’s figuring out that peeing when I take him out back to the special corner on the leash means cheese. His phrase is “do your pee”, same as the other dogs I’ve lived with in the past. He also did his other business in his yard corner this morning, though that may have just been the call of nature.

We’re in Iowa, where we’re required to get adults pets spayed or neutered within 30 days of adoption (or whenever they’re old enough, for babies), but not before they leave the shelter. Doc’s snip was volunteered by a local vet to make him more adoptable, so it’s just Nate who needs a little something taken off the back.