Thread: Kitten and Puppy Help

My wife and I have a 12 week old kitten and a 8 week old GSP pup. Both lived in barns with livestock and other animal around when we got them. We got the kitten first about a month ago, followed by the puppy on 10/2/2018. I wanted to see if you have any advice on helping us ensure happy critters in the house.

Chief (our pup) is so small and wobbly, he cant really chase the kitten, so we have not experienced/allowed for any chasing. He really does not seem have a huge amount of interest in her. Nona (our kitten) is very curious of him and will approach but usually gives a quiet hiss and keeps her distance. She does not run and hide, which I think is a good sign. I do get a little worried again though because if she smells him on us, she will hiss initially, but will snuggle in time. She got used to my parents dog (beagle/coonhound mix) in the course of a weekend, and they even played together by Sunday afternoon.

I keep the pup in his crate or in a fenced off mudroom at all times, and only bring him in the rest of the house if supervised. She has our room to herself (where her food is), the basement (where her litter box is), and upstairs. I am just concerned for her comfort, she is so sweet. Any advice or reassurance would be appreciated. I just want the kitten to live a happy comfortable life.

Originally Posted by arensnt

My wife and I have a 12 week old kitten and a 8 week old GSP pup. Both lived in barns with livestock and other animal around when we got them. We got the kitten first about a month ago, followed by the puppy on 10/2/2018. I wanted to see if you have any advice on helping us ensure happy critters in the house.

Chief (our pup) is so small and wobbly, he cant really chase the kitten, so we have not experienced/allowed for any chasing. He really does not seem have a huge amount of interest in her. Nona (our kitten) is very curious of him and will approach but usually gives a quiet hiss and keeps her distance. She does not run and hide, which I think is a good sign. I do get a little worried again though because if she smells him on us, she will hiss initially, but will snuggle in time. She got used to my parents dog (beagle/coonhound mix) in the course of a weekend, and they even played together by Sunday afternoon.

I keep the pup in his crate or in a fenced off mudroom at all times, and only bring him in the rest of the house if supervised. She has our room to herself (where her food is), the basement (where her litter box is), and upstairs. I am just concerned for her comfort, she is so sweet. Any advice or reassurance would be appreciated. I just want the kitten to live a happy comfortable life.

Glad the dog is a puppy. Having a German Shephard as a puppy is the best. The Shephard needs to interact and grow with the kitten. I have had animals all my life. My German Shephard sorta grew up with my cat, though he was very good natured to the kitten. Many German Shephard dogs are very protective of their food. I would suggest feeding them together. Let them both know food is plentiful. After my Max passed at 12 yrs old. I mistakenly adopted a adult Shephard, bad mistake!!! He killed my cat. I would suggest if your not home ALWAYS keep the food bowls put away. I think that my cat must have gone near the dogs food dish and the dog attacked and killed my cat. It was very heartbreaking, when I got home it appeared that my cat tried to run into my room for safety and didn't make it... My cat was 8 years old and declawed. Don't make the mistake and declaw your kitten...
Best wishes to you and your new fur babies..

Linda

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

@[replacer_a] The more you have the two of them together, the more they will get used to each other. German Shepherds need socialization, and keeping your pup in a crate most of the time, or in a mudroom with no company is not going to train him. The more they are separated, the less they will learn to be friends. You say you want the kitten to have a happy comfortable life-what about the poor pup? Dogs need a lot of attention so that they become social animals.

@[replacer_a] The more you have the two of them together, the more they will get used to each other. German Shepherds need socialization, and keeping your pup in a crate most of the time, or in a mudroom with no company is not going to train him. The more they are separated, the less they will learn to be friends. You say you want the kitten to have a happy comfortable life-what about the poor pup? Dogs need a lot of attention so that they become social animals.

Originally Posted by manydogs

@[replacer_a] The more you have the two of them together, the more they will get used to each other. German Shepherds need socialization, and keeping your pup in a crate most of the time, or in a mudroom with no company is not going to train him. The more they are separated, the less they will learn to be friends. You say you want the kitten to have a happy comfortable life-what about the poor pup? Dogs need a lot of attention so that they become social animals.

That's very true..my Shephard was always around my other small dog and cat and they were all pals!

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

By GSP I mean German Shorthaired Pointer. I will try to have follow me around the house more when I am home. My wife is home while Im at work, and she gives him plenty of exercise and love, as do I when I get home. I will see if she is willing to interact with him, I just dont want to force an interaction, but worry she will always stay in the basement if he is awake or in the house.

When you are there to supervise, have them both in the same room, but do not "force" them to get together. As Jaxon says "catify" the house, so the kitten can escape (up) from the dog, if she want to. If the kit is trapped, and has no where to get up and feel safe, then it will hiss and be fearful. You have to let them work it out. If the dog tries to chase the cat, you must teach him (in a nice way) that is not acceptable. It can work, many dogs and cats are best friends.

At first she hissed at the smell of him, now she is not. If we hold her when calm and approach the pup she still hisses. We than back away and set her down. Im not sure if they are ready to be placed in the same room. Odd thing is the day we brought him home she came up and sniffed his head when he was eathing. When he looked up she hissed. Im thinking the pup crying as we kennel train him has made her more stand-offish (kinda like some cats with crying babies). I think she just feels her territory is being infringed on. As I let him explore more, Im going to just let her do what she wants to do, and see if she approaches on her own. She ended up playing with my parents 8 year old hound after a weekend at their house, so I think this might be more difficult because its her home territory. Thank you for those with encouraging comments, Im an anxious person, and this just has me hurting a bit.

She is beginning to loosen up a bit! As I play or snuggle with him she has been peaking over the gate to get a better look, still a quiet hiss every once in a while, but no running away. She does not just hide in the basement any more, which makes me very happy. I took him out to walk around the house and she walked up to him. She still hissed, but she made the move to follow him, not the other way around. Just keeping him on a short lead around the house so he does not chase or lunge.

Nona, being born in the barn, may have had a bad, or no experience with a dog. Her hissing is just a way of warning. If the dog does not chase, or hurt her, eventually they will either ignore each other, or become friends. You may be impatient, but don't try to force a friendship. As long as the dog does not chase the cat, they will work it out on the on time.

There has been no chase, and she is getting more brave. Last nigh while playing with Chief, she jumped over the divider and walked around in his area, even coming close enough to sniff his tail! He walked up to smell her, but she was not ready for that. I know I am being impatient, but my anxiety has been very high with the new change, so please understand Im trying my best. Thank you for the reminder to be patient.

If you have patience and let them work it out,on their own time, they will become friends. Cats are cautious. Sounds like progress is going very well so far!