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.
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.