How to introduce a new cat to a resident dog?

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KevinA

Member
I just got a new Tabby kitten thats 6 weeks old, Buddy is my golden retriever who is 7 years old and has been with us for all of his life. As soon as i got home with the new kitten in the kennel, i let my dog in and he started sniffing the kitten while it was in the kennel then after a minute of my dog sniffing the cat hissed and my dog started barking. I know this may have been a dumb thing to do but how do i introduce them to each other so they can start being like friendly with on another?
 
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Kellie

Member
This is very normal. I got a kitten that wasn;t used to dogs just let out of the cage they'll get to be pals after a few months.
 
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deborah

Member
Try holding the kitten's back end to the dog so he can sniff without risking his eyes! He's gonna be curious but the kitten's gonna be scared so will naturally lash out and make an enemy of the dog...
 
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kLf1

New member
You need to go back to square one and start over. Put the kitten in a quiet room where it can feel secure, do not allow the dog in this room. The kitten needs to get used to it's new home before it can start making friends with the dog. You can take a few items that have the dogs scent on them and place them in the room with the kitten. This will enable the kitten to get used to the dogs scent and it will be calmer when it actually sees the dog because when it was exposed to that scent before, nothing bad happened. Allow them to check each other out through the door for a couple of days. Then slowly, let them see each other for short periods of time until they have it worked out. Some cats and dogs just never buddy up, you can't force them to be friends, but they will work out a way to live in the same house. My brother has 2 dogs and 4 cats. All 4 cats are from the same litter and one of them has never made friends with the dogs - even after 6 years of living in the same house. Best of luck to you.
 
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