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Expert: - 11/17/2009


Question
We have 3 cats; two that are 1/2 siamese and half tabby (same father) and one that is just a tabby cat.  We recently tried to add a Ragdoll to our home, and the older Siamese mix would not accept her. We tried slow introductions, etc. . . but they just stared at her and wouldn't stop stalking her.  We eventually gave up after a couple months and gave the Ragdoll to a friend.

We're considering getting a little dog, but I'm not sure if we can trust the older cat. We had a small dog visit recently and they were fine, just sort of staring at her. ..

Is it generally easier to introduce an adult or a puppy to adult cats?  

Answer
Chris,

Adults tend to be much more tolerant of younger rather than older additions to the household, si I would think they would be more accepting of a puppy.  The cats are old enough to get out of the way of the puppy, if need be.

Remember, some dogs think cat poo is candy and can get very intrusive when cats are using the litter pan, so it would be best to have the litter pan somewhere the dog could not get to.

Also, it can be difficult, sometimes if the cats cannot keep the dog from eating their food, so you may have to feed the cats somewhere, the dog cannot get to.

As long as the cats will not run from the dog in a panic, the dog will learn to have a healthy respect for the cats.

Good luck and best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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