Is my 2 yr old Cat going to hurt my puppy?

Help, if anyone has ANY advice here....
If anyone can help I'm really upset about this....we got a new puppy
yesterday, a little black toy female weighing in at 4 lbs - 11 weeks old and
loves to play. My 2 year old neutered cat Max is very bold with her,
nuzzling her under her neck and underbelly. Does he see her as prey? I'm
worried sick he will hurt her!!

IMO if Max's tail isn't all fluffed out and he isn't growling or spitting
he's probably pleased as punch with the little puppy.

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.

Okay....so how does one suggest to the cat that the puppy is "his"????
I did the introduction thing carefully, but she is so happy and affectionate
and rambunctious (all 4 lbs of her!)
....really HOW would he thinks the pup is HIS?

PawsForThought wrote:
Help, if anyone has ANY advice here....
If anyone can help I'm really upset about this....we got a new puppy
yesterday, a little black toy female weighing in at 4 lbs - 11 weeks old and
loves to play. My 2 year old neutered cat Max is very bold with her,
nuzzling her under her neck and underbelly. Does he see her as prey? I'm
worried sick he will hurt her!!

I highly recommend researching into the proper way to introduce the
puppy to your cat. Remember, in your cat's mind, the puppy is an
outsider. Try to introduce them in such a way that the cat sees the
puppy as his. I don't think the cat will hurt him, but they should
absolutely be supervised when they're together. Please try to give Max
plenty of love and attention while he gets used to the puppy.

Ahhhh...what a relief to hear that!
I'm just concerned that he's putting his open mouth around the back of pup's
neck and then reaching down and around to get the front of his neck...?
Also the underbelly...would that be grooming or disembowelling behaviour ?
Worried mom!


Barb wrote:
IMO if Max's tail isn't all fluffed out and he isn't growling or spitting
he's probably pleased as punch with the little puppy.

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.

Check out this link on the best way to introduce your cat and puppy:

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/petmeet.html

Stay in the same room with them until your sure their getting along. If the
cat is bothered by the dog, normally the cat will just jump on something or
hide where the puppy can't get to him.

It really sounds like Max just wants to play with the puppy. They can
become good friends if you read and apply the suggestions above.


Now this is my experience with cats and new dogs:

You need to keep an eye on them the first week or so - if Max is cornered by
the puppy or feels threatened he may scratch the puppy's nose. Now this
isn't a big problem, the scratch is painful but usually just a minor cut -
doesn't even bleed - Max is just teaching the puppy some manners.

But if the puppy doesn't stop and leave the cat alone, Max could scratch at
his eyes.
This is one of a cats last lines of defense against an attacking dog, and it
is instinctive.

But if they've been together for several days with no problems, its probably
safe to leave them on their own.

My cats never attacked the dogs. One dog did get his nose scratched once -
but he learned to leave the cats alone if they didn't want to be bothered.
Eventually they would let my toy poodle join in their chase games. One cat
would even sleep on the same chair as the poodle.

By the way - its easier to introduce a puppy or kitten to established
animals than to bring in a full grown animal.

-- maryjane


"Carolyn Dee" u20427@uwe wrote in message news:5e396e4f45a3e@uwe...
Help, if anyone has ANY advice here....
If anyone can help I'm really upset about this....we got a new puppy
yesterday, a little black toy female weighing in at 4 lbs - 11 weeks old
and
loves to play. My 2 year old neutered cat Max is very bold with her,
nuzzling her under her neck and underbelly. Does he see her as prey? I'm
worried sick he will hurt her!!

Thanks much, I will read on with that website suggestion.
One other thing. Poor little Max (cat)was found by us when he was only a few
days old, almost dead after abandonment by his mother....he's never had
siblings or another other playful pets.
Is there still hope?


wrote:
Check out this link on the best way to introduce your cat and puppy:

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/petmeet.html

Stay in the same room with them until your sure their getting along. If the
cat is bothered by the dog, normally the cat will just jump on something or
hide where the puppy can't get to him.

It really sounds like Max just wants to play with the puppy. They can
become good friends if you read and apply the suggestions above.

Now this is my experience with cats and new dogs:

You need to keep an eye on them the first week or so - if Max is cornered by
the puppy or feels threatened he may scratch the puppy's nose. Now this
isn't a big problem, the scratch is painful but usually just a minor cut -
doesn't even bleed - Max is just teaching the puppy some manners.

But if the puppy doesn't stop and leave the cat alone, Max could scratch at
his eyes.
This is one of a cats last lines of defense against an attacking dog, and it
is instinctive.

But if they've been together for several days with no problems, its probably
safe to leave them on their own.

My cats never attacked the dogs. One dog did get his nose scratched once -
but he learned to leave the cats alone if they didn't want to be bothered.
Eventually they would let my toy poodle join in their chase games. One cat
would even sleep on the same chair as the poodle.

By the way - its easier to introduce a puppy or kitten to established
animals than to bring in a full grown animal.

-- maryjane

Help, if anyone has ANY advice here....
If anyone can help I'm really upset about this....we got a new puppy
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
nuzzling her under her neck and underbelly. Does he see her as prey? I'm
worried sick he will hurt her!!

Of course, just be patient and give them both time to get used to each
other.
Remember, Max has 'ruled the roost' in your house for a while -- so be sure
to give him lots of extra loving now that he's having to adjust to a
sibling.

My dogs and cats were behaving well together in 2-3 weeks (I could leave
them alone together earlier, but they were still pretending the other
animals didn't exist.)
It took a few months for playing together, sharing the chair etc.

Max will 'train' your puppy how to behave around him. Its always easier to
introduce a puppy/kitten to an older pet. But it sounds like Max's really
interested in having a new friend.

--- maryjane

"Carolyn Dee" u20427@uwe wrote in message news:5e3c596d03079@uwe...
Thanks much, I will read on with that website suggestion.
One other thing. Poor little Max (cat)was found by us when he was only a
few
days old, almost dead after abandonment by his mother....he's never had
siblings or another other playful pets.
Is there still hope?


wrote:
Check out this link on the best way to introduce your cat and puppy:

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/petmeet.html

Stay in the same room with them until your sure their getting along. If
the
cat is bothered by the dog, normally the cat will just jump on something
or
hide where the puppy can't get to him.

It really sounds like Max just wants to play with the puppy. They can
become good friends if you read and apply the suggestions above.

Now this is my experience with cats and new dogs:

You need to keep an eye on them the first week or so - if Max is cornered
by
the puppy or feels threatened he may scratch the puppy's nose. Now this
isn't a big problem, the scratch is painful but usually just a minor
cut -
doesn't even bleed - Max is just teaching the puppy some manners.

But if the puppy doesn't stop and leave the cat alone, Max could scratch
at
his eyes.
This is one of a cats last lines of defense against an attacking dog, and
it
is instinctive.

But if they've been together for several days with no problems, its
probably
safe to leave them on their own.

My cats never attacked the dogs. One dog did get his nose scratched
once -
but he learned to leave the cats alone if they didn't want to be bothered.
Eventually they would let my toy poodle join in their chase games. One
cat
would even sleep on the same chair as the poodle.

By the way - its easier to introduce a puppy or kitten to established
animals than to bring in a full grown animal.

-- maryjane

Help, if anyone has ANY advice here....
If anyone can help I'm really upset about this....we got a new puppy
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
nuzzling her under her neck and underbelly. Does he see her as prey?
I'm
worried sick he will hurt her!!

What a difference a day makes...I'm so proud of my cat Max, I always knew he
was a good boy and a great cat but he's so patient and good with her I'm
amazed. She hasn't tested him too much, her little teeth are very sharp and
when she uses them on him he will let her know he doesn't like it. He has
been bored and I actually got this little dog for him, so it's working out
well it seems, he's figured out now that he can constantly watch her from up
high and she can't get there. Lots of time though he can't resist getting
right in there. She's going non-stop and that could wear a cat out!
Thanks!

wrote:
Of course, just be patient and give them both time to get used to each
other.
Remember, Max has 'ruled the roost' in your house for a while -- so be sure
to give him lots of extra loving now that he's having to adjust to a
sibling.

My dogs and cats were behaving well together in 2-3 weeks (I could leave
them alone together earlier, but they were still pretending the other
animals didn't exist.)
It took a few months for playing together, sharing the chair etc.

Max will 'train' your puppy how to behave around him. Its always easier to
introduce a puppy/kitten to an older pet. But it sounds like Max's really
interested in having a new friend.

--- maryjane

Thanks much, I will read on with that website suggestion.
One other thing. Poor little Max (cat)was found by us when he was only a
[quoted text clipped - 55 lines]
I'm
worried sick he will hurt her!!

--
Message posted via CatKB.com
http://www.catkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...ealth/200604/1

Carolyn Dee via CatKB.com wrote:
What a difference a day makes...I'm so proud of my cat Max, I always knew he
was a good boy and a great cat but he's so patient and good with her I'm
amazed. She hasn't tested him too much, her little teeth are very sharp and
when she uses them on him he will let her know he doesn't like it. He has
been bored and I actually got this little dog for him, so it's working out
well it seems, he's figured out now that he can constantly watch her from up
high and she can't get there. Lots of time though he can't resist getting
right in there. She's going non-stop and that could wear a cat out!
Thanks!

Re the "going non-stop"... and older cat could lose patience and strike
out when they get annoyed which could happen very quickly.

Be cautious, this isn't over yet.


wrote:
Of course, just be patient and give them both time to get used to each
other.
Remember, Max has 'ruled the roost' in your house for a while -- so be sure
to give him lots of extra loving now that he's having to adjust to a
sibling.

My dogs and cats were behaving well together in 2-3 weeks (I could leave
them alone together earlier, but they were still pretending the other
animals didn't exist.)
It took a few months for playing together, sharing the chair etc.

Max will 'train' your puppy how to behave around him. Its always easier to
introduce a puppy/kitten to an older pet. But it sounds like Max's really
interested in having a new friend.

--- maryjane

Thanks much, I will read on with that website suggestion.
One other thing. Poor little Max (cat)was found by us when he was only a
[quoted text clipped - 55 lines]
I'm
worried sick he will hurt her!!

Yup...my daughter reports that they are rolling around on the floor now.
The cat has his arms around it and is doing the donkey kick thing...(gently
as usual).
I wonder when he'll lose patience...he's having too much fun for now!


Joe Canuck wrote:
What a difference a day makes...I'm so proud of my cat Max, I always knew he
was a good boy and a great cat but he's so patient and good with her I'm
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
right in there. She's going non-stop and that could wear a cat out!
Thanks!

Re the "going non-stop"... and older cat could lose patience and strike
out when they get annoyed which could happen very quickly.

Be cautious, this isn't over yet.

Of course, just be patient and give them both time to get used to each
other.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
I'm
worried sick he will hurt her!!

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com