Rescue/Fostering advice please

Hey everyone,

It's been a while since I posted here, Both my cats Duke and Sibohan have passed and I now share my home with Jasper a Orange Tabby and Kyra a Lab/Malimute mix.

This weekend I am coming to the rescue for a friend of mine. We have been searching for a new home for her cat Audrey (a brown tabby) for about 2 years. He husband has become more and more alergic over the years and he is at the point where he was hospitalized for Asthma and alergies over the long weekend. Right now he is on high dose antihistamines but the cat has to go.

They were going to take her to the shelter but I know that shelter euthinizes cats if they are not taken home after about 3 months. So I couldn't in good consience allow that to happen. I agreed to take in Audrey until we can find a home for her.

Audrey is such a sweetheart, she is snuggley and loves being brushed. Since her owner husband is alergic she has been somewhat neglected and is crying out for attention.

I am concerned though. Audrey has been in a house with another cat before but has never lived with a dog before. I have introduced cats to eachother before but never a dog to a cat. Does antone have any ideas for me? Kyra (the dog) is normally quite dosile but she has her exuberant times.

If Audrey just avoids the dog all together that dosn't bother me but if she is hissing and growling that will be a problem. That is the situation I hope to avoid.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Sibohan2005

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I am concerned though. Audrey has been in a house with another cat before but has never lived with a dog before. I have introduced cats to eachother before but never a dog to a cat. Does antone have any ideas for me? Kyra (the dog) is normally quite dosile but she has her exuberant times.

If Audrey just avoids the dog all together that dosn't bother me but if she is hissing and growling that will be a problem. That is the situation I hope to avoid.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Well first of all when a cat is not familiar with a dog, the cat will hiss and or growl. If the dog does not back down then often times the cat will swat the dog in the face. Now if the cat just hisses and growls and then runs the dog will give chase. Okay so I think that covers the basics of "inter-species meeting" .

Okay how well trained is your dog honestly? In my experience it is the dog that you can "control" so work with it ? I would always make sure your dog is on a leash when meeting the cat . Try and have the dog sit/stay when around the cat. Praise and treat the dog when it is calm around the cat.

Now rub a towel all over the dog and then place it under the cats food dish. This will make the cat feel "safe and happy" when it smells the dog. Plus if the dog is "controlled" like above that will make the cat feel safe (not act like prey) and not elicit the dogs prey drive.

Hope that helps and I if you need any clarification please let me know.

Here is a TCS article on introducing cats to dogs: http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/5...s-to-Dogs.html

As Audrey ought to be separated for the introduction to Jaspar anyway, that should give you some time to introduce Kyra.

Such a wonderful thing you're doing! I'm so sorry for your friend.

Thanks those are awsome suggestions.

I am hoping to keep Audrey but my father has ALS and another pet isn't really in the books for us but I am searching for a job and a place to move out to so Audrey would come with me. If not finding her a safe and happy home will be the top of my list.

My friend Jenn is devistated that she is loosing her kitty but her husband's health has to take priority and right now she will be able to visit Audrey at my place whenever she would like to.

I am hoping the introduction to Kyra and Jassper will go well. She will be segrigated in my room durring the introduction phase.

The idea about the towel that smells like Kyra is a great idea, and I am going to sprinkle both Jasper and Audrey with Vanilla so that they will smell simmilar so that the new cat won't spook Kyra.

Kyra is very dosile and well behaved so I am thinking that this might go well. You guys eleviated my fears.