Cross Breeds

Dogs/cats: bf and I are going moving into his house. He=2 cats, I=2 dogs. What's the easiest way to mix them?

The 2 cats are very ant-social. Not too many people/animals have been around them. My dogs are overly social and love everyone-thing. So, I can see them sniffing out the cats, and trying to play and the cats just going frantic. They stress easily and we want to make it an easy transition. Also, the cats go on the counters - I hate that! How can we train them to stay off the counters, especially when we're at work?

Public Comments

1. good luck!!!!
2. In regards to the counter thing: they make a "scat cat" it is a device that shoots a little puff of air when a motion sensor is triggered. That will keep them off the counters. In regards to the dog thing: Make sure the cats have plenty of hiding places that the dogs cannot reach where the cats feel safe. Slowly introduce them by holding the dog and letting the cat sniff and get to know the dog. If they are big dogs make sure that they are not left alone until you are sure that they will be ok together. When you leave put them in different rooms or in kennels.
3. You know those "yellow stickies"?? Just put little notes "PLEASE GET OFF NOW!!!" on the kitchen counters and you are done.
4. Thats hard! if it was you, I would tell you to send the cats away to a family who only wants cats.Since it's really the cats who have the problem & cats don't take to new animals very well if there're adults & never really been socialized. & if the dogs are big they will probably attack the cats no matter how nice they are.
5. OK, here's two red flags things in this post: 1) BF and I are moving into HIS house 2) Cats on counters-I hate that Sweet pea, I've got a couple of things to say that you are probably not going to want to hear: 1) "His" house, "his" cats, "his" counters 2) You and the dogs are about to be interlopers into the cats' territory Now for the good stuff: over time, the dogs and cats will come to an understanding. Actually, the cats will rule (including the counters so you might just as well accept that) and the dogs will learn what the cats will put up with and what they won't. In the beginning, try to ignore as much of the negative interaction as possible. Allow the cats and the dogs to solve their own problem (with you keeping a watchful eye of course). And one additional tidbit: the dogs will "clean" the kitty litter box unless you elevate it about where the dogs can reach.
6. Introduction - the few days or so keep the cats and dogs in separate parts of the house. they will get the scents of one an-other then you can let the dogs roam around the house. Then let the cats roam around the house a little each day, then switch off with the dogs. Make sure the cats have a special place that they can get to if scared and it sometime takes a little longer. As far as the kitchen counters are concerned you can either spray with Cat- away type stuff which means you'll have to wipe the counters when you get back for work. However, perhaps a more creative thing would be to cover the counters with some type of crackle paper which would startle them off the counters. then, on the weekends you would have to do the serious training getting them to stay off the counters. You can't train them if you're not there. BTW, Cats are trainable. I've done it for years. But it does take patience which apparently most people don't have. So much for instant gratification!