Hi All,

I have posted on here about getting a Bichon to join our family this was supposed to happen next September BUT, my friend got in touch with me to say that she was looking at rehoming her 1 year old female Bichon as she is now working 3 days a week and can't give her the attention that she deserves & needs. She asked whether I would be interested in giving her a home as she had heard that we wanted a Bichon. I spoke to my hubby in great detail about this and we have decided to go for it, she has been brought up around young children so with my two will fit in well lol!

We are picking her up this afternoon, my only concern is how to introduce her to our cats, does anyone have any advice about this and also how to make her feel at home and relaxed. I know tonight I am in for a restless night!!

Lisa xx

Wow congratulation....I'm really pleased for you and I love Bichons...Penny is part bichon part king charles spaniel (cavachon for the snobs lol) anyway...they are adorable, easy, playfull and so loving As for the cats, I can only tell you what I did with mine not sure it works every time but it did for me, with Penny I walked in, put her on the floor, the cat sniffed, penny sniffed, they chased a little, penny decided it was fun to play, they rolled around the floor, had a few moments where one or the other got a little rough, penny had a couple of swipes, tilly had a couple of air snaps but on the whole I didn't make fuss so neither did they, this is the way I've always introduced pets in my house and it's always worked, the very first introduction I put one in a cage so the other could get used to it and it just added to the temptation to get to each other....obviously you have to stay with them and watch/correct but on the whole i just dump together and watch many disagree with me but it works for us, if it didn't I'd change strategies

__________________
Staffy x Lab almost 10...Fizz
Ginger Tom 2 1/2...Tilly
Bichon x King charles spanel 1 yr 10 months
Latest addition Tex the black shep 11 1/2 years foster pooch
How can I forget my fish..i have 13 tropical fish too...err...2 cats 2 neon and one lemon tetra...2 err...will have to go look and get back on that one i can't remember the names lol
My Dogs are the centre of my world
RIP Dolly Sadly Passed away 7pm 6/3.2011

I rescued a cat in March and introduced her to my dogs. This is what I did. I put both my dogs on lead (1 is a giant breed, the other medium), asked them to get on their bed and let the cat come in. The dogs took great interest in Mika (my cat) and tried to get up. When they did this I said "leave it" and if they did they would get a treat. I did this for a couple of days, and then allowed Mika to approach the boys whilst still on their leads. Within a week, I let the boys off their lead and let them interact with Mika, supervised. After about three weeks they were all fine together and now I can leave Mika in a room with the dogs unsupervised and everything is okay.

HTH

No experience with cats but just wanted to say I hope you enjoy your Bichon as much as we do our litttle Tessa. As for a restless night I would suggest you try to settle her in the same way as your friend has, in fact try to keep as much to the lifestyle she has been use to...............if it dosen't suit you it can be gradually changed, same with her food.

Have fun.