2 year old dog/new kitten

Question
We have a two year old female puggle who is the light of our lives. Two days
ago our daughter found a VERY young kitten (maybe 5-6wks old) under her
car. We have taken the kitten in but have NOT introduced her to Zoey our
dog. We have not yet decided whether to keep the cat or not and biggest
factor being will the dog ever get along with the cat? They cat is also female.
Thank you in advance for any help it is appreciated.  

Answer

Hi Lucille,

Dogs and cat are not natural mortal enemies.  Most of the time, it's easier to introduce a kitten to a dog household than a dog or puppy to a cat household. A lot of how well a dog and cat get along has to do with the introduction.

Start off slow. Take the towel that was in the kitten's carrier or the empty carrier and allow Zoey to sniff it. Then with the kitten secure on your lap, allow a family member to come over with your dog. While the grip on Zoey's collar or leash should be secure, it should not be a chokehold or in any way painful to her.

Next, in an happy voice, talk to both the kitten and Zoey. Allow them to sniff and touch each other.  Praise them both for their tolerance with comforting strokes, and offer your dog plenty of treats. Make the introduction a positive experience for Zoey, let her know that good times, and the kitten go hand in hand!  Then you might want to allow the kitten on the floor with your dog; first holding Zoey firmly then letting up as situation dictates. Give an immediate and sharp "No!" if Zoey is unfriendly toward the kitten, but avoid shouting if the dog behaves inappropriately.

Keep Zoey and kitten separated, with the kitten in its own room, for the first few days when you aren't able to supervise them. The Beagle part of Zoey might be all about chasing the kitten. Keeping her on her leash, so you can quickly step on the leash to stop a chase can be very helpful.

Some dogs are wonderful with cats, while some can be a threat. Monitor Zoey and the kitten closely and do not leave them alone together until you are certain they will get along well. Allow the kitten to swat at Zoey  (within reason!) when they finally meet nose to nose. This is a kitten's way of establishing space boundaries. It's a good thing.

Make sure there are safe retreats in the house where the kitten can get away from your dog. A baby gate across the doorway of one room works well. Position the gate 4 to 5 inches above the floor because the kitten isn't big enough yet to be able to jump over it. Make sure the litter box is out of Zoey's reach, also, to prevent her from eating feces and/or litter, or preventing a frightened kitten from using the litter box. Again, a baby gate works well for this.

Pay attention to both animals as often as possible. Often the attitude and attention of the owner is enough to prevent serious rivalries or hostilities from developing.

Anytime you add a new pet (no matter what species) to a home there is going to be a period of adjustment. This can be anywhere from a couple of weeks, to a couple of months. There's no way to guess, or to rush the process.
The fact you'd be introducing a young kitten, and not an adult cat might also make the transition smoother. Being a young dog herself, Zoey might really enjoy the company of a playful kitten, after the period of adjustment is over!

Best of luck,

Patti