we have a lovely big dumb dog called loki, he's 10 months old, and a bit anxious, but he's getting better with training and help from the behaviourist at the dogs trust

last night we got a new kitten (called roxy, 6 weeks old, black and white, ball of fuzzy gorgeousness ) and gently introduced them through the cat carrier and dog cage. Roxy growled and hissed, and loki whined and barked, and every time she so much as squeeks now, the poor dog goes daft! we have a blanket that roxy was wrapped in to bring her home, and have left it within easy access for loki to let him sniff it whenever he likes. he's very interested in her scent, but terrified of her in person! even if he sees her, he starts to whine and bark and gets really jumpy!

am looking for a bit of guidance to help loki settle down and relax so he can become comfortable with roxy, and for roxy to relax a little so as not to terrify the poor dog lol! obviously if this doesnt work, roxy will have to be returned to the shelter, as loki comes first.

Six weeks is rather young for a kitten to leave it's mother. Roxy has missed out on six weeks socialisation.

Why don't you get one of those playpens for Roxy? This way you can keep the two seperated but they can still see each other. The more the house smells of Roxy, then the easier it gets.

Some behaviourists suggest you should keep Loki on a lead, give him some food first and then relax him. You should have rewards for both Loki and Roxy and not leave them together on their own.

thanks for replying

i agree that 6 weeks is very young. Roxy was rescued from a farm where she and her litter mates were going to be drowned. she has been living with 18 other kittens for the past 2 weeks, and has had vet attention prior to us adopting her. at the moment, as she is so young and im worried about her safety, she is using an old guinnea pig cage - which is very large, has an enclosed area with plenty of blankets, her litter tray and food and water, and some toys in it - as a safe place while we are out or in bed. its sitting next to lokis cage just now, to let them sniff each other in safety.

we have been treating him for good behaviour when around roxy - if he sits ir lies down, if he just sniffs without the dramatics (!) and if he ignores her. we had him on a lead last night and roxy was wrapped in her blanket, and he was very distressed. we had to put roxy to bed and take loki a big long walk to run off the nervous energy.

they are not left alone together, and wont be until they are completely comfortable in each others company!

lol, i hope they get along eventually, i love em both!

I personally would be worried that you're going to have a cat with slightly behavioural issues as she has left her mother far too early. Trust me, it does have a big impact on their personality as they grow. I have a feeling, given that she's being so unfriendly towards loki, that she will carry on behaving like that because she's still learning how to behave. It's a tricky one certainly. Was the mother of the kitten at the shelter at all?

she wasnt no. she's being a bit more friendly now - she's not growling or hissing anymore thankfully, and loki is starting to calm down a bit. lots of treats and cuddles seem to be helping, as does spending time alone with them individually, so they can smell each other from me. as i said, if loki doesnt calm down it a few days - we want to give them a fair chance - then we will have to take roxy back. will break my heart - and my daughters! - but its the fairest way. am also going to speak to our vet, when we go to register roxi.

update - loki jumped up to sniff at roxys bed! she was eating, and hissed a tiny bit (not like las night, had to towel her, i was fearing for the good health of my wrists!) then went back to her food. Loki whined a teeny bit then went to my daughter for a cuddle! progress! not much, but its a start!

Loki sounds gorgeous.

Keep at it. They'll settle down because you care so much.

he is he's a staffy x from the dogs trust, and he's as daft as a box of frogs lol! Roxy doing well. peed on my husbands pillow earlier on, which had my daughter and i falling about laughing!!!

They'll get used to each other. Cats prefer dogs to other cats, normally. Also, dogs are usually fairly accepting of other pets.