Rescue dog who runs the household has to adjust to new kitten at home, owner asks for advice to gently introduce them and internet stranger provides the purrfect solution

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Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Aug 11, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

Animals get territorial, it's up to us as their owners to set things straight and make them accept each other. 

Animal instincts aren't just random words put together. It's the innate and biological reactions to outside threats, or instincts of survival mode kicking in. In the story here, this owner has a 7 year old dog already, one that he's had since the dog was only 2 months old. They've really grown up together and they have built everything that constitutes a life together. Then one day, the owner decides to get a kitten. Suddenly, the dog isn't the main pet at home, and there's a new and shiny kitten for the owner to spend time with. Of course, that's when the animal instincts of territorial jealousy kick in. 

The cat is super cuddly and trusting, while the dog isn't so much like that. They're separated right now in two different rooms and have siding window doors. When they see each other, there's some tension that arises. The owner goes to the internet for advice on how to manage the situation. How does he mitigate the tension and ultimately have the two become friends and live in peace together? The comments are actually superb. There's a commenter who says to leave them separate for a few more weeks, and to not even let them see each other. Let their scents be around and swap sheets so that they can really become immersed in the smells. Then slowly introduce them again and hopefully it won't be as bad. Read the full story below, and hopefully you can learn a thing or two about pets, about connection, and about instincts. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10654757376
    via chendongshan / Canva

    Actor performance of story events.

  • 02
    Greetings, we recently rescued a kitten, who's now been transported to my house.
    via u/Greppim
  • 03
    My dog, is also a rescued, I've been with her since she was 2 months old, now she's 7 years. She's very
    via u/Greppim
  • 04
    territorial, very distrusting in her own home. She's been ok with cats and dogs in other houses, but she's
    via u/Greppim
  • 05
    very humanized, has only ever gotten used to human attention. She tends to be aggressive at first
    via u/Greppim
  • 06
    with human strangers, but a sweetheart after getting to smell them properly, usually when they
    via u/Greppim
  • 07
    come to home she'll constantly bark them until they sit, then she'll just get above them, blick them and she'll then ask to play.
    via u/Greppim
  • 08
    My cat is 1 year old, I brought him yesterday. He's very trustful and cudly, will purr constantly. He's a
    via u/Greppim
  • 09
    bit shy st first. He makes air biscuts constantly and doesn't mind being scratched in any part.
    via u/Greppim
  • 10
    My house has 2 rooms, separated by a door and connected by a balcony, there are sliding windows
    via u/Greppim
  • 11
    in each room leading to the balcony.
    via u/Greppim
  • 12
    My dog has seen the cat with the glass as a barrier. She does not mind him if I'm holding her up or
    via u/Greppim
  • 13
    him down, but with both In the floor, she responds with aggressiveness, he gets on the
    via u/Greppim
  • 14
    defensive side. She also ate his food on his face (cause I left his food in the wrong place)
    via u/Greppim
  • 15
    desperately. They are separated, they are able to relax, but I can notice some anxiety on both parts,
    via u/Greppim
  • 16
    but I don't see her scratching the door at all, she'll smell below the door sometimes yeah, but other than that, it seems fine.
    via u/Greppim
  • 17
    Cheezburger Image 10654757632
    via chendongshan / Canva

    Actor performance of story events.

  • 18
    Both pets have been neutered. How should I proceed?
    via u/Greppim

  • It's important that the pets have a smooth introduction, because if they don't then it can really affect their relationship forever. When I was growing up, my parents got a poodle, but they already had a senior cat. The cat did not take well to the poodle being there, and everyone gave the poodle more attention. My parents didn't know what to do or how to handle the situation, but as an adult now, I would do everything differently. It's important to learn from our mistakes, and also our parent's mistakes. 

  • 19
    SociableNeighbour dog's basically running the show right now and she
    via u/SociableNeighbour
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    knows it. the food thing is a power move, she's establishing that everything in
    via u/SociableNeighbour
  • 21
    this house is hers until proven otherwise. eating it right in front of him is her way of saying "i was here first, don't forget it"
    via u/SociableNeighbour
  • 22
    keep them fully separated for at least a week, no visual contact at all. let them get reeeal comfortable with each other's smell under the door
    via u/SociableNeighbour
  • 23
    first. swap their bedding every couple days so they marinate in each other's scent without the stress of seeing the threat
    via u/SociableNeighbour

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