Romeo has a problem

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Registered: 01-03-2004
Romeo has a problem
12
Sun, 12-26-2004 - 12:39pm
Romeo shares our home with an iguana, ball python and fish and he does great with all of them, however we have added 2 new members to our home, puppies. The playful pups (Rosco and Daisy)just want to play with Romeo but he looks at them like they have lost their minds. Romeo is a loving and accepting cat and has always done well with everything but now he is afraid of the pups and I really want them to get along. When I was growing up we had 2 cats and a dog and they got along very well, they slept together and everything and I would like to get these 3 as close as possible. What can I do to help Romeo learn to accept the newest members of our home.

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Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 12-26-2004 - 2:15pm

Hi Romeos_mom.


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Registered: 12-01-2003
Sun, 12-26-2004 - 2:32pm
Just take it slow and be sure that he has some place to get away from them

^Dusty^,^Tiger^,^Ellie^and Scooby’s Mom,
Rachael and Jordan‘s Mom
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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Mon, 12-27-2004 - 1:12pm
Block the doorway (gate it)so the cat has a room or portion of the house to go to where the dogs can't. A tall cat tree also gives the cat a safe spot. Do not allow the pups to bark or chase the kitty. Reward the pups for being nice and gentle with the cat. Let your cat be the boss (rule the home over the dogs). This is for your cats safety as one dog bite can kill your cat. My cats and even kittens have put my aust shep and my husky dogs in their place pretty quickly. Good luck. It can work out, it just takes a little time. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2004
Wed, 12-29-2004 - 11:02am
Thanks for the advice. Romeo has been very clingy to me since we brought home Roscoe and Daisy. I try to resure him and give him more attention. Romeo was running from the pups but yesterday the pups got out of their room and were trying to play with Romeo and finally Romeo swatted and Daisy to let her know who the boss is now Daisy keeps her distant, Thanks goodness neither one were hurt. I have informed the rest of the family members about your advice and now that we are all on the same page it seems to be going much better for Romeo. As you can tell with the type and the amount of animals that we have that we open our home and hearts to all kinds of animals. We are always looking for the best advice we can get and we do a good amount of research for each pet that we have. This has been the best site that I have found to give such great, friendly advice. Thanks again. Bless it be, Christy, Romeo's mom
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2004
Wed, 12-29-2004 - 11:08am
Thanks for the great advice. We were trying to get all the parties to get along until I read all the great advice that I got here. Roscoe and Daisy now have their own place that we pin them up in and Romoe also has his own room. Romeo has been clingy to me since we brought home the pups and I give him more attention and try to resure him that he was here before they were and that he will always be the King of the Jungle, he is the boss. Romeo finally put Daisy in her place and now she keeps her distant and takes it slow when trying to approach Romeo. This has been the best site that I have found that gives such great adivce and everyone has always been to friendly. Thanks again, Bless it be, Christy, Romeo's mom.
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Registered: 01-03-2004
Wed, 12-29-2004 - 11:18am
Donna, thanks for the great advice, everyone that has responded have been so friendly and has given advice that we can actually use. My husband has started to make Romeo the cat tree you spoke of. Romeo put Daisy in her place yesterday, instead of running from them. No one was hurt but it did the job. We love all of our animals and would like to see them all get along. Its unbelieveable that Romeo gets along better with Manuel our iguana then he does with the pups. Romeo also sits and watches the fish, its so cute when he does that, but he has never tried to get to the fish. With our snake, Slider he sits and watches him as well and loves to watch him eat his live mice. Romeo has been such a God send to this family, he was a stray kitten that showed up on our doorstep the day we came back from my mother's funeral. He has comforted me on many occassions when I was crying and was down and coping with the death of my mother. So now I am resuring him and giving him the attention that he needs while he is getting used to the newest members of our family. I keep telling him that he is the King of the Jungle and that he was he first and to let the pups know that Romeo is the boss. I hope the additional attention helps Romeo I would hate to think that he is and may remain upset with Roscoe and Daisy and me for them being here. Thanks again for your great advice I will keep everyone posted on the progress. Bless it be, Christy, Romeo's mom
Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 12-29-2004 - 11:24am

Thanks for the update Christy and the kind words.


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Registered: 05-06-2004
Wed, 12-29-2004 - 1:08pm
I believe Romeo will come out on top. It just takes some adjusting. You do have a house full of different pets. Romeo may get to like the dogs later on. He will then have two others to watch and amuse him! Its great that your husband is building a cat tree. He must also be a special person to deal with all the pets. I have cats that hate the dogs, will actually chase the dogs and whip them, cats that love the dogs, play bite and groom the dogs. You just never know. I feel very confident things will be fine as long as you keep an eye on things and train the pups to love and respect Romeo. Donna
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Registered: 01-03-2004
Wed, 01-26-2005 - 1:52pm
Sorry it has taken me so long to reply to everyone's great advise. Our pets have been keeping me really busy. Thank goodness my children are older and don't need the constant care that the pets do. :) I wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful advise. Romeo is getting a little better with Daisy and Roscoe but I do have to watch the pups because of course all they want to do is play with Romeo and Romeo just looks at them like they have lost their minds. He has swatted at them a few times but puppies are very stubborn when it comes to playtime. They have curled up just once together so it is getting there. I keep telling Romeo that he is the boss and that he was here first and he will have to keep the pups in line. :) Romeo did become a little upset when I had to move his food dish but he like it much better now because his dish is on top of Manuel's cage (the iguana) and they like to play with one another. Thanks again everyone, ya'll have been great and right on with the advice.
Bless it Be, Christy
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Registered: 05-06-2004
Wed, 01-26-2005 - 3:31pm
You are one busy person! I think when our kids do get older, mine are 19 and 23 yrs. old, boys, you do still want to take care of a "baby" and so you go get a pet, a helpless kitten or puppy, something that needs you and loves you. Better that than having 15 kids!!! I hope things cont. to go well at your house. I told my vet, I'm so busy with the cats and dogs I can barely work, but I need to work to pay the vet bills and grocery store bill. Donna

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