What's the least stressful way to introduce a puppy to my cat?

Question

Tips on introducing a puppy to my cat? I want to do it in the least stressful way possible. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 9 months and 11 days old

Jeffrey Milner · Accepted Answer

Glad to hear you are planning ahead carefully! The first thing I would do is make sure that the puppy and kitten are kept somewhere separate. They should be able to smell each other through a closed door, but should not be able to see each other for the first 24 hours. I would place something of the cat's with the pup, and then vice versa with the kitty. Let them get a good feel for each other's scent. The following day, I would let the cat and pup see each other. If the pup can tolerate it without barking and going crazy, place it in a crate so that the cat can see, smell, and touch the dog but not the other way around. Any good behavior by both the dog and cat should be rewarded with praise and treats. You should definitely expect some hissing and swatting at first, and this is normal feline behavior to something new in general. If the puppy is not tolerating the crate well and is whining / barking, place it on your lap not allowing it to go near the kitten freely. If these interaction work out well for a few days. You can place the puppy on the floor on a leash and let it roam around a little bit. Don't force the cat near the dog or vice versa. Any behavior indicating that coexistence is possible should be rewarded. You should do this for at least a week prior to allowing the puppy off leash around the cat. If things are working out OK, you can try off leash after this to see how things work out. Basically, slow and steady wins the race! Hope this helps!

What's the least stressful way to introduce a puppy to my cat?

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