How to introduce cats to new puppy?

Hello,
   
we have two cats that we adore (Jack 2, Neo 1). They are both very cuddly and very needy. We've already reserved a fox red labrador puppy that will arrive at home in January.
   
How do we introduce the new puppy to our older cats? How do we make sure it does not chase them? What can we do to make the transition easier?
   
thank you!

Hi.
   
First, Labs are a very good choice to put with cats, as they're pretty easy-going & prone to be friendly.
   
The puppy will not be in "chase" mode when you bring him/her home, as it'll only be a baby/toddler, so to speak, but will probably try to make friends with the cats almost immediately. The pup will be rather exuberant, but that's puppies. The cats are perfectly capable of getting out of the way & avoiding the puppy if they want to - after all, they can get up on high things & the puppy can't.
   
The cats may actually be a bigger issue. Since they're needy, as you say, they'll probably be really mad at you for bringing the pup home & upsetting their nice home arrangement. They may hiss & spit at the put & whack it when it gets in their way. They may also give YOU the cold shoulder, to punish you for allowing That Animal into their world.
   
Hissing, spitting & whacking without actually physically engaging in close battle is normal for cats meeting strange animals on their turf. If the cats aren't attacking the puppy with claws bared & close-contact battling, you'll probably be successful in the end.
   
Introductions should be gradual. You may want to invest in a puppy-pen or a large dog crate (sized for when the puppy becomes the 90-lb Labrador it's going to be, so you won't have to replace it) (also useful when the pup needs to be kept from wandering without supervision). If the pen has a roof, then you can be sure the cats won't be jumping in when you aren't looking.
   
Outfit the pen with a comfy bed (with a heat-reflective pad) in a little house to hide in, a puppy pad (if that's the way you're planning on potty-training the dog), some toys, & dishes.
   
You might also want to buy a HeartBeat pillow: it beats like a heart to comfort an animal. They're called, variously, Comfort Pal, Doggles, Pet Stages, & Snuggle Pals. It'll be good when the puppy is alone.
   
Part way down the page link I've given you is a paragraph headed "Introducing your puppy to a cat". Start with that. There's another site at (fooling the program here) "w w w. paw-rescue. org/ PAW/ PETTIPS/ DogTip_Cat.html" (sort out what applies to you). You can also Google "introducing a puppy to cats" or "to a cat" for more information.
   
Contact the breeder & ask them to mail you (if possible) a towel or cloth that your dog of choice (or at least the litter of pups) has been sleeping on, about 2 weeks before the pup comes home. Put this cloth in a place that the cats simply can't ignore, so they become accustomed to the odor of the puppy.
   
When the pup comes home, put him in the puppy pen. The cats will likely come right over to investigate. There may be immediate hissing, or there may just be interested sniffing. Give it a couple of hours & see how the cats act; they're calling the shots.
   
Do they stand or sit in front of the pen & growl? This may mean it'll take awhile to establish peaceful relations.
   
Do they just sit in front of the pen & look at the puppy, with no attendant grumbling? This is good; they may be open to having a dog around.
   
Do they walk by & hiss as sort of an afterthought? They may just be on automatic & making a point.
   
If the cats aren't flinging themselves at the cage door, trying to get through to do damage, or hissing & swearing up a storm, you can let the pup out & supervise the first nose-to-nose meeting.
   
After that, follow the various advice from the websites. And use common sense & everything you know about your cats.
   
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