Hi everyone I want a new lab puppy but I have a rescue cat who is queen of the house. How do I integrate them without upsetting the cat too much. She has only 3 paws and stays inside a lot so she cannot escape the puppy by going out. She does go out but only in the garden as she cannot jump to well but she is very mobile otherwise. Also I don't seem to be able to find a lab breeder who has any pups. Where do I go?
Hi and welcome. You will have to provide your cat with puppy proof areas in the house by using stair gates etc., and never allow a puppy to chase the cat. It's also best not to expect them to be best buddies and sleep together some do but many don't. As to getting a puppy, best advice is to do your research into both Labradors as a breed and breeders and ensure that all health tests have been done, that is hip and elbow x-rays together with eye tests as a minimum and that you understand the results. The Kennel Club run an assured breeders scheme where the breeders have to meet specific standards to appear on the website. This is a good place to start your each for a puppy. There is also the Champdog website, where again many KC assured breeders advertise. If looking at Champdog's site make sure that the breeder has performed all the tests mentioned as a minimum. When contacting a breeder expect to be cross-examined on your knowledge of puppies, together with how a puppy will fit with your lifestyle, size of garden etc.etc. Ensure that you see copies of the health tests before agreeing to buy a puppy and see puppies with mum and their litter mates, and if possible dad as well, or other close relatives. I would avoid small ads in papers or many of the websites where puppies are advertised for sale.
High Tesb. Can't add anything to Rosemary's comment above. Just wanted to say hello and welcome to the forum. You might like to look at this article on the main site if you haven't already 8 Steps To Buying A Healthy Labrador Puppy jac
RE. the cat, ditto @MaccieD . Just to give you an example, I bought a hooligan puppy home to three cats, all rescues, one feral, who were used to a well behaved older dog. My feral was especially a concern, the only reason we kept her as a pet was because she bonded so tightly with the dog before. I was worried about her. When Oban came she hid for a year. The other two would face him when they had to and give a well deserved whack once in a while. They did all become friends with the dog, not bosom buddies, but content to spend time together. WE had gates on the kitchen and at two sets of stairs, all with cat sized holes for easy escaping if they wanted. Two were too old to jump the 42 inch high gates quickly. I did cut all their hooks short (normally they keep them trimmed themselves) just in case one wanted to have a real go at the puppy but they seemed to know he was just a baby and tempered their swats at him. ONe thing I do is I talk to, feed, pet, play with first the one who was here first. All three cats came first. If this impresses any of them at all it is probably the puppy, dogs tend to be good at hierarchy. At the very least it made me feel better for imposing a puppy his Grandma called a Holy Terror on three bereft and shocked cats.
Have to say my cats weren't allowed to whack the puppy, just as puppy wasn't allowed to chase after them. Lots of Feliway sprayed around liberally also seemed to help.
