Anyone with experience introducing kitties to other animals?

[apete89]

Lemon is my 6 month old baby girl. In two weeks my boyfriend, my family, and I are going on a cruise. While I'm gone my parents are hiring someone to live at their house and watch their dogs, so Lemon will be staying at my parents' house in their guest bedroom, since I don't want to kennel her. She will be around my parents' airedale terriers and two cats (all animals are up to date on shots and healthy so no worries there), so I've brought her over to my parents' house several times to get used to the house and the animals. She will be safe and seperated from the dogs in the guest bedroom.

Obviously she wasn't too thrilled with my parents' dogs, but once the dogs are used to her and she is used to the dogs I'm wondering if they could be buddies?

She has met both of my parents' cats several times. The first three times she met them she LOVED them, climbed all over them and tried to play. Today I brought her over again and it's a completely different story! She kept hissing at them, even though both cats just laid in their beds and showed no aggression towards her. Is it possible that today Lemon was just all riled up and on the defense from being around my parents' dogs?

I assume that in time she will get used to the animals and realize that they are no threat, but does anyone have any experience with this? How long could it go on for? I'd hate for her to be completely stressed out the entire time I am gone.

Anyone with experience who would like to share and relate, I'd appreciate the reassurance! :Laugh:

 

[ElGatoLoco]

I have introduced Butterball to a few animals and he hasn't had much of a problem. Actually, they were all dogs. He took to the dogs just fine. I've never put him with another cat though. His behavior with the dogs was strange. He would go sniff the dogs and if the dogs got too close he would get into swat mode. It looked liked he was wanting to cuddle up next to the dogs for their warmth. He swatted the dogs only a few times but didn't hurt the dogs. Didn't really phase the dogs at all. They ended up coexisting quite peacefully.

It might be good that your kitty is only 6 months old. Kitty might take to animals better at a younger age.

 

[marlene]

If your parents dogs and cats don't live with your cat, then they will never be "buddies." Sorry but that's the way animals work. They may learn to tolerate each other if they're frequently exposed to each other (by frequent I mean once a week or more often and for hours at a time). But they'll never be buddies - and you should never trust them being alone togather in a room even for a few minutes. I recommend that Lemon be kept in a room away from all other animals for her own safety during your cruise.

From what you wrote I'm guessing that Lemon has seen your parents pets approx. once a month since you got her? If that's true then what you're seeing now is that Lemon is 6 months old and is turning into an adult rather than being a kitten that accepts any critter that crosses its path. She's growing up.

 

[apete89]

Yes, as I said Lemon will be in the guest room alone during the day while the sitter is gone. I'm at my parents' house now, and in the few minutes since I posted lemon has gone from hostile to curious. She's following Nala (my parents' cat) around and cautiously smelling her. I think she was just in defense mode earlier from the dogs when she was hissing at Nala.

 

[Candys]

My 7 month old Sphynx girl slapped a rooster silly and slapped a friends dog around so bad that the friend would keep his dog in the truck when he visited. But the baby I have now is different. I agree with Marlene. Keep it safe.

 

[FaceForRadio]

I don't have the greatest experience in this but I know ours need to have a good sniff around their new environment before they're happy to entertain new friends.

I hope Lemon starts to relax and they all get on soon. At least they aren't fighting and howling!

 

[ilovemysphynx]

Keeping her in her own room is a great idea seems like she will deal with the othe cats but the dogs put her on edge. It take a while for a cat the love a dog we had Sidney before the cats so they do not mind her at all. We have had Delilah for just abut 1 year and they just warmed up to her and stopped hissing.
I think Lemon is going to be fine while you are away.
ENJOY THE CRUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:Laugh:

 

[MissMySphynxBoys]

Lemon is going to do just fine in the share room at your folks' house. Don't fret. Enjoy that cruise!

 

[susi794]

Cats live in the here and now. Like Marlene told you, they won't bond with animals they don't live with. They don't remember each other after they've been apart--I've had people bring the kits they have bought from me back for a visit, thinking my cats will like them and the mama cat will recognize this kit as hers--but not so. Kitty needs to be in the room of her own that you have planned for her. Enjoy the cruise--I love cruising and am extremely jealous here.....LOL

 

[Bella07]

Wow, a cruise!!! How fun, and boy am I jealous!

As to your question if once Lemon and the dogs are used to eachother, could they be buddies....Yes, and No

When I foster kittens for the shelter, if I put them around my Golden Retriever, some of the kittens will love her right off the bat. They will follow my dog everywhere, sleep cuddled up against her belly, jump on her back. One kitten in particular was so in love with my girl, she never wanted to leave her side.

With my current pets, I had all of my cats first, and then gradually brought three dogs into my home. Sadly, none of my kitties have ever become buddies with the dogs, much to my dissapointment....

Since Lemon is still a kitten, and is a Sphynx, I'm pretty sure that she'll become friends with the dogs My cats aren't Sphynxes, and prefer to sleep all day than have to tolerate silly playful dogs.

So all should be good. Enjoy your trip!

 

[ckutkuhn7]

No doubt,,I wanna go on a cruise!!!! lol I feel under priviledged.

Anyhow, I think your kitty will be just fine, especially if she has her own room. Kitties are very finicky and will like someone one second , then not the next.

I take Snuffie to my boyfriends Grandma's every so often for visits and she has a little terrier of some sort. They get along great,,but once they didn't. Snuffie was tired of "Tiny" sniffing her butt so she let Tiny know about it! Other times they chased each other around in a playful way. Just depends on their moods really, of both parties.
Snuffie sits with grandma mostly, as if she is protecting her from Tiny,,,Tiny doesn't like that! lol

Enjoy your cruise!!!!!!!!!