Help - rehoming a cat with dogs

[jd]

Hi all new here and would appreciate any advice you can give please!

My son and his girlfriend are moving in soon and we have two dogs and she has a cat. I have no idea how to integrate a cat into a household with dogs???? I really want to make this work as the only other option is to house cooper in a cattery and it will be a long stay there for him which none of us want.

Bit more info our dogs are a 2 yr old lab x and a llasha apso pup. They show interest in cats when going for a walk but don't pull the lead, bark or snarl at them. They both have a lovely temperament but can get excitable.

I believe that you have to keep a cat indoors for 6 weeks when moving house?

Soooooooo any suggestions or advice welcome. Searches in the net have come up with nothing so far.

Thanks in advance,

JD

[loubie]

Hi I just want to say good look introducing your sons cat to your dogs. Im not an expert but I have had the experiences of introducing dogs and cats together first time when I went to live with a friend and her cats and had to introduce my lab cross to cats who at that time had never met a cat before and they hadnt met a dog before. My dogs basic training came in very handy as getting him to sit calmy and to look at me when he was worried helped him and made him associate cats with yummy food. A house line for the dogs may also be an option to help train the dogs with the cat. Ive recued a lurcher puppy from the dogs trust and they advised a house line for general training in house and has came in handy in training him not to play to rough with my cats without having to grab at him. Also do you have a room the cat could stay in for first couple of days just to get used to new sounds and a new environment ? Maybe also cat trees or somewhere up a height so the cat can get iut the way of your dogs if he/ she wants to as he/ she would probably rather get away then fight . Hope this helps

[Kay]

the cat will definitely need its own space, as everything will be strange to it - the house, you and the dogs

the bedroom your son and girlfriend will be using could be the best bet, as the cat will be used to them

it won't be easy though, and will require patience all round - cats are traumatized enough when a dog is brought into their own territory, but to have to encounter them on their patch will be doubly difficult - but it can be done if care is taken with doors, and the cat's owner, if no one else, always puts the cat first