Why does my friendly dog sniff our new kitten until she gets mad?

There is no specific answer for this question because every dog responds differently to cats. If you truly think your dog is just interested in cats and does not want to hurt her, then allow them time to interact with each other (under supervision of course) as often as you can. The more Phoebe is around the kitten the more used to her she will become.

Your cats are still getting used to the smell of the new kitten, and they are still unsure of her, so they run away. It's fine that they do this, as it's normal behavior and much better than aggression. I would reinforce the friendly behavior. When you see them approach the kitten and act friendly towards her, praise them and give them treats. This will make them associate contact with the kitten as a positive experience, and it will encourage them to do it more.

If your dog is forcefully and aggressively sniffing at your cat I would recommend keeping them separated. It will only be a matter of time until the cat decides to lash out at the dog that is bothering her. This could lead to severe injury in both the cat and dog. As for your elderly cat that is having seizures, I would recommend that you take him in to be evaluated by a veterinarian. There are numerous causes of seizures in cats and by doing a physical exam and lab work, your vet may be able to determine the cause of the seizures and prescribe a medication to help them stop. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Your older dog is probably just curious about the new kitten. As long as he is not doing anything to harm or frighten the cat I would let them continue to get to know each other. Female kittens can go in to heat as early as 5 months of age. However, even if she is in heat it should not affect your dog or make him more interested in the cat.

Some dogs do get very excited about meeting cats, and don't realize how big they are in comparison - I can definitely sympathize! The best way to manage this is to keep Moose on a leash at all times around the kitten at first. Practice asking him to sit or lie down, and reward him with treats for being calm around her. It may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for him to be relaxed enough around the kitten to be allowed off-leash, so be patient! I would also definitely recommend keeping them separated for now unless someone is actively supervising their interactions.

Great question! I can give you a method for introducing them to each other: Introducing them should be done slowly. When you first bring your kitten 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 kitten has a litter box, food, and water in their room. You can also place a blanket with the dogs' smell in the kitten's room, and a blanket with the kitten's smell in the dogs' room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your kitten 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 kitten in the dogs' 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 kitten while he is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward the dogs for being calm and quiet near the kitten. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure your kitten has a cat tree where he can escape from the dogs as needed, and don't allow the dogs to chase the kitten. I hope this helps!

There are a few things you can do to help your dogs settle down and let your poor kitten rest some! First off, adding in some baby gates so that your dogs cannot access certain rooms, but the kitten can hop over and get into them is best to allow your kitten a place to rest and relax without being bothered. This will also let your dogs observe through the gate without being able to get to the kitten, giving them a chance to get used to each other without harassment. Placing food, water, and litter in these areas is also a good idea so your kitten can eat without being bothered. Adding in perching spots that your kitten can get onto (such as a cat tree) is also a good idea to allow your kitten to perch up high and observe without being bothered. If at any time the dogs become too excited, moving them to another room until they've calmed down, and then reintroducing them to the kitten again is best. Giving them something else distracting such as a chew or puzzle toy is also a good idea to redirect their attention.