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If you are thinking of bringing a new puppy into your home, it’s important you make sure any existing feline members of the household don’t feel threatened.
- Start out slowly. Bring a piece of the puppy’s bedding to the cat, and vice versa. Next, swap their rooms — if your pup sleeps in one room of the house and the cat in the other, allow them into each other’s space. This way, they have a chance to get used to the new scent. Make sure you treat them both when they remain calm to help them associate this change/new smell positively.
- Supervise all interaction between your new pup and your cat. Keep a close eye on your pets when they are together, and conduct first introductions with your pup on a lead so, again, your cat can come and go as it pleases.
- Make sure your cat has a safe space it can retreat to away from the puppy. That bundle of puppy energy may be too much for your cat that will need a safe space for some time out.
This extends not only to sleeping arrangements, but even food. Keep your quality cat food away from the new addition to minimise any territorial behaviour/food guarding from your feline friend. Introducing new pets to each other can take some time and if your meet and greet doesn’t go as smoothly as you’d hoped, you can always speak to an animal behavior expert for further guidance.
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