How to have a happy household when you bring a dog into a 2 cat family.

Jan. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- When Dapper Dog and Classy Cat was formed back in August 2010 and our website was finally ready to go online, we started a Twitter page "Dapper and Classy" and also a facebook page Dapper Dog and Classy Cat. Everything technical had been handled and thought thru the prior four months. We had our new venture ready to go public and show everyone how we were going to save animals, donate to shelters and speak for the animals that have no voice. How we have eco-friendly items, unique items and all at great prices. Wonderful!! Then it happened, boy did it happen 9-28-2010 the exact date "he" changed our lives.
While tweeting one night on my laptop up flashed this adorable yellow lab with large words, will be euthanized tomorrow if not rescued today. I had looked at many such articles  before but this dog really got to us.  Fast forward 10-10-10 he was transported from GA to CT to his new forever home with us and we brought him through the front door of our home. Oh yes there watching was Maurice and Cassandra our two great,adoring,loveable cats! Now what?
Since the cats first reaction is to hiss and /or run, this was accepted and did occur. We didnt see much of them for a few days. We moved their food up high since Beau thought the automatic feeder of dry food was for him! Their wet food was also moved after their morning meal was completed and Beau stayed crated till they finished eating.
Beau was crated at night, first in the dining room for about 2 weeks and then to our bedroom, where he still resides and sleeps in his large crate with 3 crate blankets oh yes all from www.dapperdogandclassycat.com. He has integrated smoothly and follows me around, I should have called him Shadow. Maurice and Cassie are another story. When they want to hiss and swat (without using their claws) they do. When they want to sniff his feet while he sleeps in the den with us around, they do. Sometimes they even go nose to nose without any hissing or smacking on the top of his head. We are going into our 5th transitional month, everything I have read makes sense except that Beau was a rescue, so when we brought him home we did not know how much training he had prior to being "discarded" at the shelter. We had no family history, did he like cats? Was he housebroken? Nothing!
I guess what I am trying to say and also what I am learning is that integrating a dog into a cat household or vice versa is tricky. There are certain dogs and cats which they do not suggest mixing them together, fortunatley my all american cats and yellow lab (mixed with something else) did not fall into that category.
My expectation of them cuddling by the fireplace has waned, i hope now that by the Spring they will be friendly and let each other pass without a hiss or swat when crossing paths in the house.  I have purchased many great chew toys from my site www.dapperdogandclassycat.com to keep Beau from eating Maurice and Cassie's toys. I have bought many articles, beds, crate blankets, cat toys and new cat high rise houses, you name it we have it. Still we are missing the euphoric co-existence between cat and dog that I thought would be immediate.  But heck what did I know? Not much about this though I keep reading articles and they keep staring at eachother.
So what am I trying to say? I guess that when you bring a cat into a dog household or like us a dog into a two cats household, read about the do's and don'ts. If the cat/or dog is a rescue, take it slow do not expect a happy ending by the end of the week. I know they will end up being great friends, I guess it will just take a little bit longer! But I love them all and the cats get their cuddle time when Beau goes to sleep for his naps during the day on the floor by my side and also at night when they sleep on the bed and he happily runs into his crate for a night time treat and to go to sleep.
Animals are great, enjoy them, take care of them, love them. They give back unconditional love 100% and ask for nothing. Buy them a little extra winter treat. Check out our winter slashed prices at www.dapperdogandclassycat.com. "Like" our facebook site Dapper Dog and Classy Cat and if you tweet join our twitter page Dapper and Classy. Be patient bringing in a rescue pet, read up on it and ask your Vet if you have questions. Do not rescue if you are not going to give the animal a forever home, they have already been moved around at least once too many times.
Finally just love and enjoy them. They are precious beings that give much love and joy just to be loved and warm and fed.
Thank You!

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Website that sells unique and eco-friendly dog and cat items. Dapper Dog and Classy Cat believes in the health and welfare of our animals. We give a portion of each months profits to a sanctuary or foundation of our choice. We believe in animal rights.