Question about new kitten and puppy

si0uxi

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I got a new kitten this week.  I brought him home on Monday.  So far, he has not had the run of the house because he had a back leg removed last Friday and he is in recovery.  I thought I should not let him loose in the house with 3 other cats and 2 dogs until he is fully recovered.  He is being housed, at present, in a very large playpen.  It is 40x40 inches big and sits in the middle of the family room and therefore has been in the middle of all the family activity.  He has seen and smelled everyone.

My 3 older cats seem to be back to normal since yesterday.  They have come out of hiding and are acting themselves.

My 5 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is low energy and I do not expect any issues out of her.

My Dachshund puppy is 10 months old and I am not sure how this is going to work when the kitten is free.  My puppy is very lively and she wants to play, play, play.  I do not want her to harm Hobbes, the new kitty.  I do not think she would deliberately harm him.  She just wants to play.  Her best friend, right now, is Jacob, my 6 year old cat.  They play a lot.  Piper does not harm him, but he is bigger than she is.  They play tag, sometimes she chases and sometimes he chases.

Hobbes and Piper (the pup) have licked noses and they have been together on my lap in the evenings this week.  Hobbes gets his stitches out on Tuesday and after that it is time to let him loose in the house.

Do you all have any suggestions?  I have thought perhaps at the very beginning I could put Piper on a lead so that I can reel her back in if she acts like she will be rough with him.  Perhaps I should crate her at first and let him look around without her helping him.  That way he can find the hiding places alone, first.  Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you.
 

Anne

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I think I would put safety first and like you said, make sure she is on a leash during the first few encounters, just in case you need to pull her away from Hobbes. We have an article about introducing cats to dog which might help -

Introducing Cats to Dogs

Let us know how it's going. I'd love to see some pictures of your crew too, they all sound really sweet 
 
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si0uxi

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Thank you!  I will read that thread and I will also post pictures this evening.  I haven't found the picture guidelines yet to know if my pictures are too big.
 
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si0uxi

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I read the thread about introducing cats to dogs and I think we are all set.  I made a long lightweight lead for Piper so that she has length to play, but I can reel her in if she gets rough the first time.

Piper and Hobbes stand at the playpen with their noses pressed to each other, so I think they know each other pretty well through the bars.

My other kitties are back to normal and have been looking in the playpen.  I have the big boy litter box, in this room, set up so that Hobbes can get in it.  I needed to make a hole in the fencing that is kitty sized, but not Dachshund sized.  There are other litter boxes in the house that the dogs can not get near.

Tomorrow is the day I am going to let Hobbes loose in the house.  He got his stitches out today and his first shots.

I haven't forgotten about posting pictures.  I have just lacked time.
 
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