Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Ruchie, introducing animals.....

Hi Ruchie,
If possible when you select your pet see if you can pick it up a couple of days later. Get a blanket or something the kitty has been sleeping on so it will have her smell, take it home and introduce Shana to the blanket. Do this for a few days, leave it on the lounge etc, anywhere Kitty might be likely to sit, also maybe if you have a basket/box where she will sleep put another blanket there.
On the big day, bring Kitty home and put her in a room separate to Shana but not in Shana's room (eg if Shana's bedroom is the loungroom put kitty in an ajoining room) and shut the door, let Shana sniff kitty through the door for a couple of days if you can and vice versa so they know there is another animal in the house. After a couple of days you should be ready to put Shana on a lead (it can be helpful to also put kitty on one) and open the door so kitty can come in and see Shana but if possible it's better to take Shana into kitty so Shana doesn't feel her space is being invaded, and hang on to her tightly. Expect hissing and barking and panic, and only introduce them briefly before putting in separate rooms again, then just slowly increase the introduction times a few times a day over a few days. Hopefully they will get along, it might also be helpful to choose a kitty that is used to dogs if you're not getting a kitten. Hope this helps and good luck

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Amy

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