Puppy test?

[NutKitty]

Sooo...  my mother told me she got a puppy. 

I plan on getting a puppy soon (after we move, I've decided), but my cats have never been around one.

Would borrowing her puppy for a day to see how my cats react be a bad idea?  Her puppy is eight weeks old, and is a small breed. 

Yes, I'll try to get some photos of it next weekend when I visit. 

[Ratwings]

That's a great idea! You can really use this to your advantage, since this will be your cats' first impression of a puppy.  I wouldn't just let the puppy loose without any warning, and just observe from the sidelines. Put the puppy in an ex-pen in a corner of the room, with a stuffed kong or something to keep it calm and quiet (and distracted) so the cats can have a chance to investigate without fear of being harassed.  Then let the puppy out but on a leash, then loose but behand a baby gate so the cats can come and go as they please but the pup is still somewhat confined.  Preferably use a room where there is a lot ofvertical space for your cats to retreat to is they want.  Always have treats for the pup to keep it distracted so it won't start barking or do something to freak out the cats. It'll be good practice for you and the cats, since you'll want to do this with your new pup too.

[tsk_n_such]

Also remember that cats don't always react the same to every dog.  Our three cats have lived with Ginger, Julian and Legend just fine (periodic spazzy moments aside ) but think the puppy is the worst thing ever put on the planet. He's not even a wild puppy!  But each time they see him you'd think a vampire was wandering in our midst.

We've always had an area where the cats can go that the dogs cannot. Currently we have two, as we have one room with lots of wires and until the pup decides these are not fun to play with, he's ousted from there (he's almost to that point, though)  We also have rules for the cats as well as the dogs..you know you have a room to go to, do not come out where the pup is playing and spit at him That earns a deposit into your area.

I never force introductions with the cats, I find they seem to do better if able to watch from a distance and form their own opinions

[star2]

Also remember that cats don't always react the same to every dog. 

That's what I was going to say.

Tell me more about this puppy of your mom's 

[NutKitty]

I'll have to wait til saturday til I can say any more about the pup, since I won't see it until then. 

The cats should be ok around it since they have plenty of places they could jump, like the couches, cat trees, and stairs that I'm sure the pup wouldn't be able to climb. 

I'm also guessing they'll be a great deal faster than it is, and much larger.