Samoyed Meets New Kitten Sister For The First Time And It's Love At First Sight
When you bring a cat into a home with a dog, or vice versa, you never know how it's going to go. This TikTok video shows off how to do introductions the right way, featuring a Samoyed meeting his new kitten sister — and it couldn't go any better. Of course, it's a slow, controlled process, but the end result is so, so sweet.
@littlebearlumi Part 1: introducing my dog to our new kitten! 🐱 #kitten #dog #training
Simply titled, "Part 1: introducing my dog to our new kitten! 🐱" the video explains the process the pet owner has gone through to make sure her Samoyed will be calm around the new kitten. She says the kitten has been staying in the bathroom with the door closed so they can sniff each other through the cracks. The owner opens the door for them to look at each other, securing a pet gate across the entrance. Both pets seem pretty calm when it's opened, spending time in close but safe proximity to each other as the cat is given treats and food so that the cat will associate the Samoyed with good things. The dog is also given treats to reinforce his calm behavior. At the end, when the door closes, the dog keeps sitting by the door. "He wants to see her again," says the owner.
After the clip, the comments section lit up, with one person noting, "Oh that dog is obsessed already. The fact that he's always trying to be smaller and lower to the ground to not be intimidating. Soo cute." As another said, "I love to see responsible pet owners!! ❤❤❤" Meanwhile, we think we just watched a little bit of love at first sight unfold!
Introducing a dog to a cat
The TikTok video touches on how to best introduce a cat to a new home that already houses a dog. Rather than bringing the cat home, taking it out of the carry case, and just hoping for the best, it's essential to follow a slow, supervised process that gives the greatest chance of your dog and cat becoming best friends.
The biggest key to success is patience. Start by separating the dog from the cat by putting the cat in a bathroom or another room with a door, along with food, water, and a litter box. There, they can sniff each other through the door, or you can exchange scents by swapping each pet's bedding. Then, as seen in the TikTok video, open the door after a few days, with a pet gate in between, for a visual introduction that allows the cat to be able to stay safe. You can feed the pets on opposite sides of the door to create a positive association with each other's presence and scent.
If all goes well, eventually the dog and cat can be in the same room as long as the dog is supervised and leashed and the cat has a means to escape. Keep all introductory sessions short and allow the cat to retreat back into their safe room if necessary. Once they get used to each other by using the aforementioned steps, the dog and cat should be able to have supervised freedom around each other, making sure not to leave them alone until you are positive about their safety. Of course, if these methods are properly followed and the pets don't get along, you may want to talk to a veterinarian, qualified dog trainer, or behaviorist.