Help! Introducing first Basenji to adult cat.

[Ana]

Hi,

I am about to get my first puppy basenji and introduce him to my cat. I have been reading up on the relationship between cats and basenjis and I am getting a little worried. I would be quite happy if they play together or ignore each other, but I don't want my B to hurt my cat.
Do you have any suggestions as to how I am to introduce my new basenji to my cat?

Thank you!

[stash]

Hi,

Glad you have asked for help as I have 2 cats at home and plan on getting a puppy as well, sure you will get lot's of advice from this forum and I will be very interested in how you go. Lucky for me my previous dog was very good with cats and both my cats were introduced to dogs through their breeder when kittens and were confident when introduced to our dog. Good luck.

[eeeefarm]

I think starting with a puppy and adult cat should be a lot easier than introducing an adult Basenji. Probably more chance of the cat harming the pup at the start than vice versa. Hopefully the pup learns respect and that continues as he gets older. My adult Basenjis learned that our cats were to be left alone, but I would not have trusted them without supervision.

[Ana]

@eeeefarm:

… but I would not have trusted them without supervision.

When you say you wouldn't have trusted them, is that when they were young or even when they became adults?
I have always believe it is easier to introduce a young pup to cats since the cats show who is boss! All the dogs I have had previously have been pretty good with cats, basically leaving them alone. But this is my first Basenji… I will update once I get him to let you know how it goes.

[eeeefarm]

My Basenjis were adults when we moved to the farm and acquired cats. Had they been raised with cats from puppyhood, I might well have found them trustworthy. As it was, the cats were outdoor cats, so I didn't need to worry about contact without supervision. In my experience some Basenjis are naturally more "live and let live" than others.

[Kipawa]

I think regardless of how old the cat is, how old the basenji is…. you ALWAYS have to keep an eye on the two. Make sure your cat has a safe place to run to in case your basenji pup doesn't understand that he is not to think of the cat as prey. Basenjis are hunters, and that is a natural instinct for them. We have a very tall (8 foot) cat tree that has various sitting levels that Kipawa cannot reach.

Also, your basenji might try digging in the cat litter box - many of them love to dig. So you might want to try to find a place your pup can't get to it, and hopefully your cat will accept the change in location. Or if your cat doesn't mind it, one of the covered litter boxes might be a suggestion.

[eeeefarm]

@Kipawa:

Also, your basenji might try digging in the cat litter box - many of them love to dig. So you might want to try to find a place your pup can't get to it, and hopefully your cat will accept the change in location. Or if your cat doesn't mind it, one of the covered litter boxes might be a suggestion.

For sure the pup will get into the cat litter, and likely not just to dig. Keep it where he can't get at it!

[tanza]

For sure on the kitty litter….. they (dogs) will eat the poop.... and there is no way that I have ever heard anyone that has been able to stop that.... even in covered boxes.... Sure needs to be someplace where they can not get to it...

[Ana]

Well I got my Basenji, Ritz, yesterday. And so far so good. I put my cat's litter box and bowl on the washer and dryer so the dog doesn't have access to them. I watch them all the time, my cat basically avoids him and stays on my bed until she can avoid him enough to walk around.
He is really adorable and I am sure eventually they will learn to either ignore each other or hopefully get along.

[krunzer]

Oh welcome to you and your B baby! Where in Canada are you? If you have a puppy and a Cat I am hoping that with the puppy growing up with the kitty that all will be well. Would love to see pics of your B if you can post some!

[dcmclcm4]

It really depends if the cat runs. If it runs the dog will usually want to chase it. If the cat stays put or challenges the dog, the dog usually does not mess with it. My Bs are used to the cat at the vets office and the dogs are interested in it but it rarely runs and will sometimes hiss at them.

My Arnie was used to the stray/outdoor cats in Houston-the only cats he had ever seen and they would run and he would want to chase them when I had him on leash. He saw a cat once in a window sill and he was so confused. He looked at me, looked at the cat and looked at me again like what is that cat doing inside! I told him that was a good kitty. The owners of the outdoor cats did want to pay the pet deposit for them so most days they were loose outside and some were killed by cars!

Jennifer

[Ana]

@krunzer:

Oh welcome to you and your B baby! Where in Canada are you? If you have a puppy and a Cat I am hoping that with the puppy growing up with the kitty that all will be well. Would love to see pics of your B if you can post some!

To answer your question, I am from Montreal!
To update on my basenji baby and my cat, all is actually going better than expected!!! I am so happy! My cat sometimes even runs after him and they play fight. And when he bites just a little too hard, she smacks him. But I don't think she takes out her claws, because he doesn't yelp or cry when she does it. All in all, after all the fear I had about them not getting along is working out!!! I am really happy!!! But he has so much energy!! haha

I tried attaching a picture of him!! Hope it worked!!