Source
r/cats•
DefNotUnderrated

Need advice on moving with my cats to a new place with a dog

Advice

Long-ish post ahead, I just want to give all the pertinent info. I have two nine year old cats that have lived in the same apartment with me for their entire lives save for the first couple weeks after they were born. I live in San Francisco and am moving into a two bedroom apartment in Oakland with a friend who owns a four year old Siberian Husky. I'm really anxious about my cats living with a dog (they've never lived with one before) particularly a breed as hyper as Siberians. But this is also the Bay Area and finding housing you can afford is really difficult, so we are getting this spot with my friend. My friend said that her dog became accustomed to the cat of a guy she was dating for a while. They trained the dog to not bother the cat and after a while he just ignored it. So I have hope but I was wondering if anyone could give me advice - any at all would be helpful - about A) how to make the move to a new location as easy on my kitties as possible, and B) how I can get them accustomed to living with a husky.

Also there is access to a backyard that I would like the cats to enjoy but I'm uncertain if I should let them outside in the beginning or not.

Posted Mar 25, 2016, 2:23 AM UTC

15
Cannot_Believe_It•

Best to introduce them/feed them over a few days on either side of a door.

Check "My cat From Hell" on the web. he's got some great ideas.

1
oldcat007•

Make one of the bedrooms the cat safe zone and keep the dog out - maybe even a dog gate - and let them adjust with no contact until they are very relaxed in the room with you. Slow introductions until you know the dog is not going to harrass them.

Outside could be done with a harness/lead, or even they have mesh "patio catio" enclosures you could try. It should wait until they are more confident.

1
mayonakahoshi•

I adopted a dog with a high prey instinct. The way I introduce them is let the cats watch the dog for a few days. then put the dog on a leash and let the cats out. let the dog observe the cats. He needs to see they are part of the pack. If he tries to chase or pull on his lead. Correct him. do this for a few hours every day. Finally let them meet. have someone hold the dog and let him watch you interact with the cats, eventually bring the cat near the dog so he can sniff her. Correct him if he tries to nip or whatever. Introducing them upclose is optional, I found the most important thing to make make sure the dog can watch the cats interact with the house and other humans so he knows they are pack members.

My dog loves my cats now, they sleep together they play together. The lady at the pound told us we were crazy to adopt the dog when we knew she was bad with small animals, but we proved her wrong. It is possible!

My dogs are pit bull and a german sheperherd. The put bull is hyper like a husky and sometimes will try to play with the cats. Normally she's really gentle, but sometimes we have to correct her as she will try to pounce to play. If the dog learns to play with the cat, just watch out for that.

1
DefNotUnderratedOP•

Thanks that was super helpful. I was thinking about buying a dog gate or two as a barrier. How did you correct the dog if he got too frisky wit the cats? My boyfriend who's moving with me is pretty familiar with dogs and how to discipline them but I haven't had one for years so I'm pretty ignorant.

1
mayonakahoshi•

I usually tell her no and remove the cat from her. Getting a dog gate would be good as when the dog messes up he can go in "timeout" away from kitty

1