Got a kitten... how do I introduce the dogs?
 

hi!
Ive been grumpy this week for no reason really... I apologize if my posts hurt anyone's feelings! :(

So we got a kitten last night. He is tiny and his name is peanut. He is fuzzy grey with white front paws and white back legs. He's cute as anything really!

We are keeping him in a crate while he is out with the dogs to keep him safe and let them sniff and see each other. He hisses and growls at the dogs. Dexter seems like he couldn't care less about him but Fletcher is glued to his crate. I think Fletcher is going to be ok with him but Dexter may not get used to him as easily.
How do I introduce them? I want this to go smoothly because my boyfriend has sooooo many misgivings and didn't REALLY want to get the kitten because the dogs rule the house for sure. I convinced him and now I don't want him to regret it.
Any advise would be soooooooo appreciated! :)

I fostered a kitten that was deathly afraid of dogs, she would turn into a furry ball of claws. Honestly, I just let her out after showing her where to potty and a place she could hide away from the other creatures. After about a week she would let Rizzo play with her :) Just don't let the two puppies gang up on her, it'll be too much. I'd say let her go mess with the one that doesn't seem to interested, then introduce her to the rambunctious one.

I introduced Jackson to my dads cats slowly. One was a kitten when they met, the other an adult (they rescued the cats together). Jackson is still a little obsessed with them, if he hears them jump off the counter or something on the floor, he goes running over to chase them, and then the cats go shooting up the stairs again.

The cats basically live upstairs and the dogs live downstairs, lol. We have a gate at the top of the stairs. But the cats come down in the middle of the night sometimes and Jackson is fine with them one on one and I've even caught them laying together and the cats grooming him. When all 3 dogs are out though, all bets are off. But the cats are smart and can jump into places the dogs can't reach and they know that so they use it to their advantage! The cats always get away. Just give the cat a secure place to hide where the dogs can't reach him.

I try to keep them really calm between any interactions with them. Once the cats make a run for it, it's done. Sometimes Ozzy. the male cat, will be sitting up on the counter, and Jackson will start barking at him. Instead of just separating them, I ask Jackson, "Do you want to see the kitty?" And I pick Jackson up and let him sit on the counter with Ozzy and they both get a smell of each other, and I give them both treats (I use the little kitty treats and give Jackson a few of them too). And I show Jackson how I'm nicely petting the cat and then they are fine.

I have 6 cats and 2 yorkies and all but 1 of my cats were kittens around the yorkies and Ive never crated one to keep it away from the dogs. I would let the kitten out he may hiss for a couple of days while it learns its way but then all will be okay

Did your Yorkies seem aggressive towards the kitten? Bark like maniacs or chase it? I am afraid how small this kitten is and how spoiled and ruling my yorkies are. My dogs are used to being the kind of the home and I do not see them accepting a kitten very easily.

I did get an outdoor bunny over the summer and on day 1 Fletcher was glued to it's side, by day 2 he couldn't have cared less and neither could the bunny. They totally left each other alone. NOW if they catch sight of her out of the corner of their eye they will chase her under the bush, but once she's under there they leave her alone and she can come out and be fine with them. She's a BIG bunny though at 12lbs. Right now this kitten seriously cannot even be 2lbs. I don't want 2 yorkies to gang up on it even if it's just to get a sniff.

Britster, you sound like you did a great job with the introductions. I will keep a bag of treats handy for those encounters for sure! :)

No they are accepting but there are a couple of situations where they will growl at them or chase them. One is if my Husband gives them some people food and the kittens try to get it and they wont let them get up in the bed at night. I have 3, 4 month old kittens right now. I think your kitten will be fine I would let him out and let him explore

REEAALLLYYYY????? eeeekkkkk It makes me soooo nervous! :eek: :) My boys are like tyrants really... I did a TERRIBLE job of being the 'Top Dog' if you know what I mean. I am wrapped around their little paws and they soooo know it. Plus my boys have both killed frogs in the pool and one of them got a lame chipmunk and killed it. I'm afraid this kitten is smaller than a chipmunk right now.

Maybe try a leash at first? Leash up the dogs and then let the cat go free around the house. See how the dogs react. I mean, the leash could potentially make it worse (some dogs have reactivity while on leash) but at least you know the kitten would be safe, just to start and introduce them more.

I was reading articles that said to do that. I think I'm going to do that tonight and see how it goes! keep you posted! :) Thanks so much for the advise!

We turned over a new leaf. We fed both the kitten and the dogs veggies and meat that we were using to make the pizza and now they are all getting along pretty well. I wouldn't leave them alone or anything but the peace between them is REALLY nice!!! Fletcher hoovers over the kitten and is almost a stalker, he does not let up for a minute really. Dexter could almost care less, he seems more nervous/scared of the the kitten and then he barks at it. I want him to at least acknowledge the kitten, which he seems to be doing for the first time this morning! YAY!

The dogs are doing GREAT with the kitten, its amazing! But.... I think we need to find it a new home. BF is allergic, I mean BAD too! :( I am so sad! :( Seems my lot in life to be with someone who is allergic to cats. Growing up my mom & brother were, then my fiance of 10 years was and now my BF is. :( I guess I am just not allowed to have a cat in my life.

Aww, I'm sorry about your cat. My stepdad has really bad allergies and when we visit my grandma's house with her Lab and really furry white cat, he can't breathe after about 2hrs over there. It's brutal for him.

That's awful! I will tell you that my BFF is horribly allergic to both dogs and cats, as well. As it happens, she married a huge animal lover and they have always had pets anyway. Now I'm sure this isn't the same for everyone, but she tells me that after about 6-8 weeks of living with a new pet, she kind of becomes immune to them and the allergic reactions all but go away.

I would feel soooo bad making him suffer for that long. He is taking meds every day so far this week and it's just not helping much. He is really allergic. I called a friend today to see if she really does want the kitten. She lives about 3 miles from us so we can see Raisin whenever we want just about. I am so sad but I can't let BF suffer like this. :( (Raisin is the kitten's name)

Actually, I have developed a cold. Now I'm wondering if I have allergies too. :( I guess it does not matter if I do or not because BF definitely does. I am so sad though. :(