[JungleKitty]

Hello...I just joined this site and wanted to see if I could maybe get a little advice. Luxy is Queen of the house right now and is loving every bit of it...but next Saturday I will be bringing home Moxy...my eight week old Boston Terrier puppy. I know that Luxy will be less than thrilled at her arrival. We had my father's dog spend the weekend with us about half a year ago and Luxy freaked out. She attacked the dog when ever she approached her and hid upstairs even after the dog had been gone for a whole day. It got so bad that we had to move her food and water upstairs as well. Finally she rerturned to her normal self...I'm just afraid that this whole episode will repeat it's self when Moxy comes home, only this time she'll never come back downstairs.
Any advice on how to help poor Luxy deal with her new puppy sibling?

 

[drjean]

Helping Luxy

There are a lot of good resources out there on how to properly and safely introduce new animals. Try http://www.willasark.com/Dogaddition.cfm, http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/catintro.htm, or www.catcaresociety.org.

Fortunately a puppy will be much easier to introduce than your father's dog, especially if you plan to crate-train him. Luxy will be less threatened because he's small and young. She also will feel safer if she sees that he can't get at her. Keep him on a leash at first when he's out, and let her make the approach.

Personally I like to use flower essences for situations where there is potentially (or actually) a conflict between animals, such as jealousy, or for introducing animals to new situations--especially for such a sensitive cat as Luxy. See www.critterchat.net/bach.htm for a free, do-it-yourself primer on using flower essences, or consider a pre-made combination essence (I designed all the formulas for www.spiritessence.com so I'm a bit prejudiced, but I believe www.anaflora.com and www.greenhopefarm.com also have a variety of essences for animals.)

Cheers,
Dr. Jean