We are adopting a 2.5 year old dog and need to introduce him to a 9yr old house cat?

Leave the cat in a room for a couple of days and let them smell each other through the door...I have always used a crate to intro dogs and cats as they can see each other and you can see how they will react in a safe environment. It may take a week to let them be together, it may take a month, it really depends on them. Once you can let them out together have a baby gate or something that the cat can escape to without the dog being able to catch her so she can get away if she needs and I wouldnt leave them alone together while you are out for a quite a while. It will take some patience and time but if you are patient they get used to each other eventually with possible a spat or two along the way.

You can also leave your dog leash during non seperated interactions, let it hang but have it so you can grab it. I wouldnt intro treats to the mix as it can cause a tif between them.

My cats accept new dogs but will kill a cat, go figure.

The cat was first so... Bring the dog in to your house in a cage. Set the cage down and leave the cat to explore in her own time. Do be patient, it could take hours or all day, but the cat needs to see that although it has to now share the house with another, at the moment it can feel safe that the dog can't get to it.

Slowly, once you feel the cat seems happier, let the dog out but give the cat LOTS of fuss.. don't be tempted to give all to the new dog.

certainly no i does not. i do no longer think of emotionally i'd desire to undertake a dogs knowning it is possibly very on the verge of crumple of dying (14 is particularly previous for a lab sized dogs) the utmost age might rely lots on the breed/blend. i'm a super dogs person so usually i might say 7-8 may be my shrink. If it became a small breed/blend i will bypass to 10. There are some particular people who can and do undertake previous and/or termainally unwell dogs to grant them a happy residing house for what ever time they have left. i'm only no longer between the those that may try this

This really shouldn't be a problem, Bugz, unless the two of them cannot work out who is The Boss. Sometimes the long-time resident will remain the leader but sometimes the new kid on the block will be more aggressive. Once they work out on their own who is in charge, everything will fall into place naturally.

To make this happen, be sure to introduce them to each other while you are in the room. Then, unless they become overly aggressive with each other, just let them get to know each other on their own. Don't interfere and don't, under any circumstances, get uptight or upset. Just be relaxed and happy. They'll pick up on that -- and will probably be relaxed and happy themselves.

I'd love to know too. I have never had any luck introducing ANY dog or cat to an established adult cat's house.

I've gotten away with birds, but any mammal and the cat goes ballistic.

Let them be together only while you are with them until they get accustomed to each other. There will be some curiosity between them at first and they might try to establish dominance over each other but that's ok. This is normal between animals. While together make sure you play with each of them and give them a couple of treats. This will reinforce to them that good things happen when they are together. Good luck!

Serve the cat with Alpo. The Dog should find it appetizing enough to eat him.