How To Introduce A Puppy To Your Cat

We’ve all heard the phrase, “First impressions are everything.” But did you know that this age-old adage applies to the animal kingdom, too? Many people ask our vet in East Kew how they should go about introducing their new puppy to a cat, so we decided to give you a guide in this blog.

 

Understanding puppies and cats

Before you consider introducing your puppy to your cat, you need to consider the intrinsic behaviours of both animals. Generally speaking, cats can be quite territorial and standoffish, whereas puppies are social and curious.

However your cat tends to react to dogs normally, it’s important to take introductions slowly. Remember to show both pets plenty of affection during the introduction process, as it’s a big change for your cat especially.

 

Step 1: Start with separation

It’s important to take things slowly. Keep both your pets in separate rooms at the start. Take small steps and introduce your puppy and cat through scent first. You can begin by placing blankets with your puppy’s scent in your cat’s room, and vice versa. This helps to familiarise both pets with one another. Once they are comfortable with scents, you can then switch their rooms.

 

Step 2: Introduce them slowly

After each pet seems confident with the other’s scent, you can introduce them both in the same room with a barrier. Remember to always keep your puppy on a leash so that you can closely monitor their behaviour. It is likely that your cat will keep his or her distance regardless.

 

Step 3: Always supervise

Keep a close eye on your puppy when he or she is interacting with your cat. Reward him or her when they are calm and collected around your cat to reinforce that this is good behaviour. You should also ensure your cat has a place he or she can go to if they want some alone time.

 

Get advice from a vet in East Kew

Looking for a vet in East Kew? Vets on Balwyn is a veterinary clinic dedicated to supporting our local community of pets and pet owners. Whether you need puppy pre-school services or personalised advice on introducing your puppy to your cat, it’s our mission to help you.

Get in touch with our friendly vets today on (03) 9857 8100.

How To Introduce A New Puppy to Your Cat

The age-old battle between the animal kingdom’s greatest ‘enemies’ has been exaggerated in pop culture but has never actually been scientifically proven . Nonetheless, introducing a new puppy to your household if you already have a cat can be a sticky diplomatic situation and a stressful time for both pets and owners. In this blog, we’ll be debunking the dog and cat rivalry myth and sharing some tips on the best way to introduce a new puppy into your household.

 

Do cats and dogs hate each other?

While their differing behaviours may lead to some conflict, cats and dogs are actually pretty similar in many ways. Because cats and dogs are carnivores, in the ‘wild’ they would compete for prey, or may feed on each other if there were no other food sources around. Whilst they might be competing predators, dogs don’t actively hunt or chase cats or vice versa. Problems can arise however, when cats and dogs cohabit in the confined territory of your household.

 

What’s the major cause of conflict between cats and dogs?

The answer to this question lies in their ancestry: cats are evolved from the lonesome Arabian wildcat, whilst dogs evolved from the wolf, a highly social animal that generally travels in packs. Cats like to hang back, assess the situation from a distance and treat others with suspicion until they’re comfortable. On the other hand, dogs often interact in a way that is highly dynamic, and will bounce right up to someone new. Cats may interpret this behaviour as a threat, and run away, prompting the dog to chase them, thinking it’s a game. In this situation, neither the cat nor the dog understands the other’s motivation behind the behaviour, which can cause problems.

 

What can I do to ease the transition of a new puppy?

It may not seem fair, but the new puppy essentially has to learn the cat’s language. In the initial introductory period, it’s a good idea to place the puppy and cat in different areas of the house so that they are close enough to smell and hear one another without direct interaction. Make sure you spend time with each pet individually, as this can help both relax and avoid jealousy. Once they’re familiar with the scent and sound of one another and you’ve given them lots of reassuring cuddles, it’s time to set up a face to face meeting. In the beginning, hold the puppy on a leash so that the cat has time to adjust and can retreat if it needs to. Over time, both animals will learn to share the space and your affection, and may even become friends.

 

Luckily, domesticated animals such as cats and dogs are highly adaptable to new situations and environments. As long as you supervise the interactions between your new puppy and cat in the beginning to ensure there’s no animosity between the two, they should be able to peacefully cohabit. If you find yourself struggling to introduce your puppy and cat, Vets On Balwyn is here to help with advice and even behavioural training if necessary. Get in touch with us today by calling (03) 9857 8100.

Festive foods that are bad for your pets

We all love a treat over Christmas, but making sure your pet has the right ones is important.

It’s normal to go a bit over the top with food over the festive period, but whist you’re being merry it’s important to make sure your pet doesn’t join in. The following items are bad for your pet and should be kept away.

Chocolate

Most people know that chocolate can be toxic for cats and dogs, but with the sweet stuff likely to be floating around over the season it’s important that it is out of their reach.

Raw or undercooked turkey

For many it’s a tradition to have turkey on Christmas day, but as you’re preparing the bird it’s important to make sure your pets don’t get near any raw or undercooked meat. Should they have any of your cooked turkey make sure it is boneless.

Alcohol

Those who will be celebrating the end of the year with a glass of champagne should be vigilant none gets near their pet as alcohol can lead to a lot of nasty symptoms, including vomiting and breathing difficulties.

Wrapping paper

Wrapping can lead to intestinal obstructions if a pet digests it. It is also important to keep any plastic bags or covers out of reach as pets can suffocate if they get stuck in them.

Via:: Dr Kevin Pet Advice