Introducing Your Pets to Your New Kitten

When you bring home a Ragdoll kitten, you need to take care when introducing it to a resident dog. Dogs can be dangerous to small kittens, especially ones as docile as a Ragdoll.

Here are some points to keep in mind:

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1. Never assume that because you’ve never had problems before, that you never will. Even a dog living with a resident cat can become excited over a new kitten. A kitten raised with our dogs brings to your house the smell of those dogs, and your dog may take that as a threat.  If your dog is used to playing with fluffy stuffed toys or loves to chase, this can be very dangerous to a small, fluffy, docile kitten.
2. Introduce the kitten to the dog with the dog on a leash or in its crate, or the kitten in a carrier.  Let them get used to each other’s scent. Praise the dog a lot when it stays calm.
3. Do not leave the dog and kitten alone together for the first few weeks.  Keep the kitten in a safe room apart from the dog when you are not there.  They will still be able to smell each other under the door and will get used to the sounds of each other.
4. When you are there and decide to give the kitten free run of the house, make sure the dog is easily controlled.  Praise him/her for sniffing gently. Correct the dog immediately for any chase or aggressive behavior. Make sure the room you are in has some place for the kitten to run to (under chair or couch etc) in case the dog gets excited and starts to bounce around.
5. It is always the human’s fault if something happens between the dog and the kitten.  Just remember that a dog can kill a small kitten, even if just in play. Keep your kitten safe. Some breeds (like Greyhounds and some others) may never be able to be left alone with a cat.

Introducing One Kitty To Another.

When your baby goes home please keep them in one room while your kitten becomes acclimated. Remember, this is a BABY. Your baby will not know what’s going on. Everything they know has changed and this can be quite scary to your new baby .  Everything is different, your kitten's mum is gone, friends are gone, and we are also not there. So, extra cuddles are in order. It is not unusual for a young kitten to eat little or nothing first 24 hours home. This is just stress and is temporary. You can place a little bit of food on spoon, or on your kitten's paws .  Remember this is temporary and will pass.  Keep your kitten in one room while introducing to the human family at first. Your kitten should not leave this room for the first 24 to 48 hours, depending on the kitten. Remember, all kittens are individuals just like you and me. Some kittens acclimate quickly while others take a few days longer. Feed treats to your older kitties outside your kittens door during the first couple of days home. You can also take some used kitty litter out of your kittens box and place it into the older kitties litter box. Cats go by smell before sight. On day three for the kitten, take the kitten out of the room, but in a cat carrier. Play with your other kitties while ignoring the new kitten who is still in the carrier, all while playing with and praising the older siblings. Make sure that you give treats to the older siblings. No treats are given to your kitten. It’s all about the big kids today. The following day, play with all your kitties at once using a fishing pole toy while only giving treats to your older kitty.  We know that you want to be one happy family but please go slow. We do not want any hurt feelings, introductions should always be as slow as ketchup!!!  The key to proper introduction is slow slow slow. You do not want any jealous kitties, so please do not rush this. If you have any problems, pick up the phone and call us between 2pm-8pm. We are available for parents on emergency 24 hours 365 days a year.