Introducing 3 Labradors to a cat?.....

[Hettieboo]

Hi! I have 3 Labradors and my other half has a British blue cat....we are all about to start living together......thing is, the cat is 2 and has never met a dog and my younger labs are 3 and have never met a cat (apart from chasing them in the garden). I'm a firm believer that this can and will work, but I am interested to hear how to do it......anyone else ever had to do this?

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

We introduced a puppy to our two middle-aged cats- different situation to yours but any response is better than none in my mind! Our Cats tend to stay upstairs now and puppy seems to see them as playmates who should be chased. Our vet did annual check on the cats and was pleased they had not lost weight as a result of the stress. the vet said she knew of cats who just left the house/ family as a result of introduction of dogs so the fact they hadnt left us was a good sign.

[oreocrumbs]

We had 2 dogs when we got the cat, they stayed well away from each other. Well dogs wanted to eat investigate the cat, cat stayed well away.

We have 4 dogs now. It works in that the dogs have now been trained to ignore the cat. The cat has chilled out a bit now he has realised he won't get eaten.

They both need areas away from each other. So the litter tray and cat food has to be probably upstairs where the dogs can't go. Cat needs access to high spaces, so on the bench, tables wardrobes etc to get higher than the dogs.

Next you need constant vigilance. If you are out and all animals are in the house, they must be locked apart. Get a dog gate for the stairs (taller than baby gate).

How well trained are your dogs? Will they stop and sit on command? Can you make them stay - and I mean properly, not for a bit then they wander off.

If not you need to work on this before you move. Mine were (they are working gun dogs so pretty well trained), and all I did was give the stop and sit command if the cat came near. I would then make them stay while I fussed the cat. They got the message quite quickly. Then I started to leave them to it. If they moved too quickly they were stoped and made to lie down. If they slowly approached without a hungry look in the eye, then I left them to it.

Now they just accept the cat as part of the scenery and largely ignore him. The cat rules the roost and will occasionally throw his weight around, will sit on the stairs and stop the dogs going up etc.

Be aware that as much as the dogs pose a threat to the cat, often unless the dog properly attacks a cat, the cat will do more damage to the dog, particuarly their eyes.

It won't be easy and a lot of it comes down to the nature of the animals. Keeping them apart will be the main thing.

[Purplehonesty]

I think I remember reading that whichever pet is being introduced to the house should come in a basket and let the others have a good sniff of it while it is in there so they can get it's scent without having to chase it and the pet in the basket is safe.
This may not work if you are taking the labs to the cats house lol you'd need a pretty big basket!!

[batteryhen]

We introduced our pup to our middle aged cat. She hated him on sight and would attack him. However, he is now 7 months and is fascinated by her. He is desperate to be her friend and wants to play with her. We are training the dog to ignore the cat - she is happy is he just leaves her alone. Also she goes upstairs to sleep, and the dog is not allowed up there.Its important to have an area where the cat can go for a retreat from the dog.

It takes time, don't leave them alone together, and good luck!!