Hey guys I have an issue in three weeks I am bringing my kitten home from the breeder and I am a little worried about my dog getting along with her. I have a rescue dog that gets along with the dogs at my inlaws house but gets a little crazy around dogs it doesn't know. I want to ensure a smooth introduction and plan to separate the two unsupervised not to mention taking extreme care in the introduction to prevent any mishaps. We are moving into a new home 3 weeks before we pickup the kitten as well and the little princess will be getting her own room as a safe haven upstairs that the dog will not have access too blocked by a door and two baby gates on the stairs. Any tips or suggestions ? Has anyone else gone through this before?

Welcome to the forum. You didn't say what type of dog you have. A little tiny one or a mini horse! What type of breed? I've seen many photos of a little bitty kitty sleeping next to a gigantic dog! The key is going to be in the introduction of the two. The fact that you will be moving ... may stress out the dog a little bit and then in comes a new friend. You will be stressed from the move as well. All of this happening at once. Whew!

Does the breeder have a dog in the family? Many do and try to get the kittens socialized to be around dogs. If not, then it is going to be up to you to try and get them to get along. Both will be curious about the other and the kitten will probably hiss and growl. Keeping the kitten in a "safe" room to start with is a good thing. Swap out scents. Rub a towel over the dog and put the towel in the cat's room. Make sure the cat's scent is on something that you give to the dog. The most important thing is to be patient and not expect things to go perfectly in the beginning. Your dog can be taught commands easier than your kitty.

Most of all ... good luck.

Thanks guys it is a female pit bull that my wife adopted years ago. Wonderful dog just very aggressive towards other dogs. However it does get along with a handful of dogs at my mother in laws house so I think she will come around over time. I thank you guys for the replies and I will keep you all posted!

Well, pit bulls and bengals CAN get along, but any dog can be aggressive and you absolutely do not want a dog killing or injuring your kitty. I might suggest having your dog trained by a professional before you get the cat.

I am glad to hear that you are taking precautions in introducing the two animals.

The American Humane Society has a very helpful rundown on this topic, including red flags to look for:

https://www.americanhumane.org/fact-she ... s-to-cats/