Introducing pup to Siamese

Question
Thanks for your answer Jessica! When can I tell that the cats are comfortable enough with the puppy to take him off the leash when around the cats?

Jill
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Followup To

Question -
Hi Jessica

I have 2 adult Siamese cats, and am introducing a puppy into the household. Wonder if you have any tips that can help me make it easier on my cats?

Answer -
The introduction of a new pet is often a stressful thing.  The key with puppies, though, is to make sure they are leashed or crated at all times around the cats.  Puppies mean no harm when they charge a kitty, anxious to make a new friend.  But the cats will likely see it as an attack.  So you need to make sure this doesn't happen.  My pups are always introduced to the cats on a leash, and if they run for the kitty, they're given the verbal command "leave it", with a quick leash pop.  

Equally important, the kitties need to have a safe haven where the puppy will not be able to get to them.  Make sure they have a perch easily accessible to them but not to the puppy in each room.  Cat trees work great.  And I'd put a baby gate up, if possible, to the room where the cats have their food and litter box, so they can eat and relieve themselves in peace.  I have seen too many litter box problems develop when a cat feels fearful to use it because an unfamiliar intruder is in the area.

Besides that, be sure to keep all the cats' routines and belongings in place so they won't feel neglected or out of sorts.  Fortunately, puppies are much easier to introduce to cats than adult dogs.  You can expect the kitties to give the pup some hisses and a warning tap on the nose when he gets too close or too excited.  This is actually a healthy part of the development of their relationship.  A cat needs to establish boundaries for the puppy while the pup is young, impressionable and small!  The cat can put the puppy in his place in a way that a human never could.

Answer
It's really more once the pup realizes the kitties aren't to be chased that is the big thing.  When he stops having the desire to charge them, he should be fine off of the leash.  The kitties may keep their distance or jump onto one of their perches or glare at him with every move they make, but this is another normal part of the process.  They won't learn how real life with the pup is going to be, or how to deal with it, until he's let off the leash.  It'll probably take a couple of weeks with consistently correcting the pup before he's ready to be off the leash with the cats.