Should I crate my new dog for home & cat adjustment, and for how long?

These links may help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/bringing-your-new-puppy-home/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-puppy-or-older-dog/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/new-puppies-sleep-tips-for-bedtime/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi. It's great you have her in a crate so that the cats can explore her safely. If you feel she is ready, you can have her on a leash and have the cats exposed to her. Small periods of time at first until you feel comfortable. Congrats on the new addition

Great question! Introducing them should be done slowly. When you first bring Mousewhisker (I love his name!) home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure your cat has a litter box, food, and water in their room. You can also place a blanket with the dogs's smell in the cat's room, and a blanket with the cat's smell in the dogs's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your cat and a DAP for your dogs. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once all the pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the cat in the dogs's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are all comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce the dogs on a leash to the cat while he is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward the puppy for being calm and quiet near the cat. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure your cat has a cat tree where he can escape from the dogs as needed, and don't allow the dogs to chase the cat. I hope this helps!

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It can take quite awhile for cats to get used to new pets in the family. I would continue to let them see and smell each other through the door but would wait at least a week before they are in the same room. Make sure Luna has plenty of escape routes - safe spaces that are up high are ideal. You could also try using a pheromone spray or diffuser like Feliway wherever Luna can see the dog to help her relax.

Hi there Adjusting to a new animal in the home can sometimes take months. There are a few things that can help, but honestly time is the best remedy. I would make sure all the pets have enough space, and a safe place to eat and drink that is away from the new cat. I would also use the Adaptil spray and Feliway spray diffusers in your home. This helps animals calm down and can make their enviornment more neutral while they adjust. Finally, just be sure to keep things routine. Pets love routine and while a new cat isn't routine, keeping everything else this way will help. Best wishes and thanks for using Pet Coach!

I would plan on taking things very slowly when introducing the cats to your new puppy. Since the puppy is so young he should adjust very well and learn easily how to live with cats. The cats will most likely avoid him a lot and that’s OK. Just let them come around to him in their own time. It is important in these early days to make sure that they are not left alone together until you know how they will act with each other. Congratulations on your new puppy. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.