BehavioRx Case of the Month
for December 2007

Old Cat - New Puppy

The clients, both elderly, received a 12 week-old puppy to care for due to its owner's hospitalization. Their 13 year-old female spayed cat at first tried to ignore the puppy's natural advances and attempts to play.However, after a day, she stated spitting and slapping at the pup. When they telephoned for our consultation we discovered that they were unable to take the pup and cat off the property for a new introduction, this time off the cat's home territory. This remedy has been a lifesaver for hundreds of new pet relationships in the past. However, after some questioning, we founds there was one room in the house which neither pet had experienced. It wasn't bit, but it was an office for one of the owners and was uniquely furnished and not carpeted, which the rest of the house was fully carpeted.

We briefly summarized the technique for taking the puppy into the room first, then introducing the cat about ten minutes later, placing her down away from the puppy. They then sat down in separate chairs and allowed the pet investigate the room... and each other. "Cindy," the cat simply sat by one of her owners, while the pup sniffed out the room in typical canine fashion. They paid almost no attention to one another, other than to exchange glances a few times in a 30 minute period.

The puppy was then taken by one owner to the living room and Cindy was allowed in with the second owner. Both owners them settled in their usual places and observed the new pup and Cindy. The puppy and Cindy virtually ignored each other for a full hour, at which time they telephoned us with their report... SUCCESS!  Several days passed with no episodes between them, except for brief acknowledgment, by glances, at each other.

This preventive/remedial program is detailed in the BehavioRx Instructional Brochure, "Babies, New Pets, and Dogs - Introducing them".



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