We got a 3 month old lab puppy yesterday,and our kitty isn't happy at ALL. Sofi (kitty) and Zephyr (older lab) are great buddies but they arrived here about the same time so they grew up together, and there wasn't a *lot* of fuss getting used to each other. Sofi wasn't thrilled about Zephyr but it wasn't very long before they got along fine.

We got the puppy mostly because the owners were going to have to send her to the pound if they couldnt' find a home in day or two, so ol' softy husband brought her home. she's an enormously smart puppy, and very friendly and nice and fears nothing. Sofi hides either upstairs or in my room and when I physically carry her into the living room where puppy is currently beng crated most of the time for the first week or so, she hisses and growls, and so far I haven't dared try and carry her over to the puppy for a face to face sniff...
I dont think Sofi has eaten at all for a day or so, and I'm starting to get worried about her. Should I move her food and litter box into my room where she seems to feel safe hiding, or should I let it be - there are enough changes for Sofi to deal with?

I'm just so worried Sofi won't come around, and she's my little baby, and I would never forgive myslef if she was miserable from now on....

What, if anything should I do? ANY advice is most welcome! Looking forward to all teh good advice on the forums!!

TY!

Kim

I would move the food and litter box to where she feels safe at. Above all do not try to force them to get along. She will eventually come around when she is ready and will adjust to the new pup. It depends on the individual animal how long it will take.

We have a 5 month old puppy -- and a slightly disgruntled 9 year old cat. Puppy still doesn't have the run of the house, and perhaps never will, depending on how behavior with the cat goes.

Make sure the cat can get to a place where the puppy cannot. Make sure that the cat box / food and water are in the puppy-free zone for now. Let her establish her rank above the puppy, BEFORE the puppy gets any bigger/older/wiser. You'll probably need to step out of this and let her whack him a few times.

Good luck.