Introducing Kittens

I am hoping to get some advice on bringing home two kittens into a house with a resident whippet - SAFELY!!!

My whippet, Flora, is two years old, lovely natured and has been used to an older cat ever since arriving as a puppy. She has always had to respect the cat previously but he was big and mature enough to stand his ground and teach her a lesson if need be. She will however chase my neighbours cats if they venture into our garden and then run from her.

I sadly lost my 18 year old cat last month and would very much like to bring a pair of kittens into the house.

Does anyone have any experience of doing this? And how best should I go about it?

I do still have my crate from when Flora was a puppy, so could use this in the short term to familiarise everyone at a safe distance.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

i would use the crate for the kittens

so the dog can see/ sniff them

would think she be ok as shes used to a cat

i have friends that have cats and whippets

fine with there own cats but not strange ones

good :luck:

tinabow said:

i would use the crate for the kittens so the dog can see/ sniff them

would think she be ok as shes used to a cat

i have friends that have cats and whippets

fine with there own cats but not strange ones

good :luck:

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Thanks for this - and yes, I meant to use the crate for the kittens at first and not for Flora. Didn't make that clear!

I guess I'm just worried about them being so tiny and squeaky in the early days. I really don't want her to think they are some kind of toy.

Why not get another whippet instead of kittens :thumbsup:

TTT said:

Why not get another whippet instead of kittens :thumbsup:

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I would love to!

Only problem is then I'd need to get another husband....

In fairness to him, we do already have two dogs. My other one is a Bedlington Terrier and so laid back, he is usually horizontal which was why I didn't mention him previously. Chasing kittens would be far too much like hard work for him.

(whisper - one day, I do hope to give Flora a whippety friend.)

My kitten Elmo stuck to Pixie like a magnet from day one. I was very careful, never left them unattended together until Elmo had increased in size significantly and they were provong to get on fine. I was worried about Elmo attacking Pixie in my abscence and consequently getting hurt, but elmo is about 9 months old now and they all roam free (Pixie and 4 cats) in the house day and night. Never had a problem. Might just be lucky in that Pixie is a very tolerant and kind whippet I never get a lie in at the weekends now as the cats, Pixie and my daughter all pile onto my bed!!

Ive had experience of owning whippets and cats now for a long time, and inroduced puppies to cats and kittens to whippets

if you know what I mean.

:thumbsup: Agree with the crate....but Ive never personally had to use one for the kittens, just slowly introduced them to each

other...you will immediately see what the reaction will be from the whippets, usually they will get used to each other quickly if its going to happen.

Sometimes the dogs can get a bit rough with kittens or cats, and mine often still get scolded for it. A bit of perserverance and understanding

will usually end with the best results. They will have to be supervised until you are 100 per cent sure they are quite used to one another.