When will my cat be used to my new doggy?

[Mutt Lover]

My cats were here before we got our new dog (5 months ago) and every time they are near each other they hiss....Lucy (the dog) used to jump at them but she has gotten so much better and just looks at them now but the cats are just still so scared....any tips as to how to get them to like Lucy and understand she wont hurt them?

thanks!!

[wishbone]

You got to be patience with some sort of process, one is introducing them with each other slowly. Let the cat walk in a room then transfer him to other room, then let your dog walk throughout the room so he will familiar much with the cat's scent. You also got to train command to Lucy whenever she jump much and scare the cats. Sorry for being not so helpful, let's hear from others.

[Renee750il]

They're probably more used to Lucy than you know . . . they just aren't letting you see the times they play with her, or snuggle up next to her.

As long as Lucy isn't trying to chase them, the best thing you can do is not make a big deal out of it. If the cats think you WANT them to be friends with Lucy, they'll do their utmost to make sure you never know they already have, lol . . . You know how cats are

[Mutt Lover]

yeah i guess they are getting better i just hope soon they will stop hissing...lucy is always a mischevious little girl, we never know when shes going to chase them! its actually entertaining but we miss our kitties and theyre aways in the basement now... they are getting much better than in the summer i have to say! thanks for your comments!

[Renee750il]

When the cats figure out that you aren't going to make a big fuss and beg and plead with them to come and grace you with their presence they'll spend more time upstairs with you, lol.

It wouldn't hurt to give them some Lucy-free time upstairs, too.

[Spirit2010]

In some cases, like my cat Lucky. never. But if your cat is like Hershey, and Hunter. Then maybe. Hershey and Hunter practically could be married. lol I don't know, good luck!

[Mutt Lover]

haha yeah we give them lucy free time...it doesnt last long because my mom babies lucy too much...i feel bad for our old dog too...i try and sit with her once in a while to make sure she knows we still love her.

[Renee750il]

Oh, it's very important to take plenty of special time with the old dog . . . not just for the dog, but for you. So you won't have terrible regrets when she's gone.

What's her name, by the way?

[noludoru]

Depends on the cat and the dog. I've had my dog for 4ish months now and my cat, Chili, is just to the point where she will walk by a door he is babygated in without trouble and will sit ten feet away from him while he's in his crate chewing a bone. When she can see him outside she hisses and spits and attacks the glass. She is terrified of him, but she hates him, too. So if you have a cat like her it's going to be an uphill battle.

With the other kitties, you can keep your pup on a 6 foot leash and make sure she doesn't chase them. That has helped mine bunches.... Tom and Chili KNOW when he's on a leash they can flounce right past him and he won't be following them with his nose glued to their butts. But he's gotten a lot better, I can have both kitties on the ground with him in an enclosed room and there isn't any chasing or nose-whacking if I'm careful to defuse situations when they arise.

Just make it safe for your cats. I doubt she'd really hurt them, but they don't know that. Help them become more comfortable around her.

[Georgygirl]

It took a year for one of my cats to allow my dog to lay next to him. Probably about 8 months for him to let the dog walk by him without growling. He's a very timid cat however. Just give it time. Cats seem to have their own schedules.