I have two cats who now live pretty much in harmony
with Charlie. Before making the decision to bring Charlie home, I
searched and searched for information specific to how Pugs relate to
cats, and found very, very little. So here is what I have learned:
Be Honest
Know your cat! Does your cat relate well to
company, or does he hide? How about kids? Has your cat ever
met any other animals, how did he deal with that? How quickly does your
cat adapt to change? Does he hide for days when you get a new
piece of furniture? If your cat is extra sensitive to change you
may not want to get a new animal. Most cats will learn at least
how to avoid the dog, however, and may eventually learn to be friends.
Introduction
Introduce your new puppy slowly. When
allowing your cats to sniff the dog hold the dog not the cat!
Pug's have this need to play with everyone and everything even
though they may not like it, so I suggest for the first month or two do
not let your Pug and your cat to be together unsupervised. The
cat can do more damage to your Pug than your Pug can do to the cat.
Make sure to watch their claws and Pug's eyes. Don't get
upset if your cat spends most of it's time in the basement for awhile,
this is a big adjustment!
Safe Place
Give your cats a place to be without the dog.
My cats sometimes need a break from being slobbered on! I
reserve the basement just for them. A baby gate is a wonderful tool,
and all puppy owners should have one or two.
Spend Time With Everyone
Don't forget your cat! She still loves you,
even if she is somewhat mad at you. Sometimes a "time
out" is in order. Put your pug in it's crate and spend time
with just your cat. If you don't neglect your cat she is less
likely to cause trouble by getting back at you in unwanted ways.
Success
I am happy to report that my pug and my cats now
play with each other and even sleep together on my lap. It took a
while and I was afraid at first they might never get along. Now
the cats will approach Charlie and initiate play time! Amazing!
