It didn’t take long before we moved the gate to the bottom of the stairs and let Thor the kitten come see the rest of the fuzzy family. The gate means he has a safe space to go when the dogs are too much, and keeps the dogs out of his food and litter upstairs.

The stairs were a non-issue, which is a big difference between cats and dogs. As a puppy, it took Missy longer to learn to navigate stairs. Thor had no issues.

While Thor is exploring, we have the dogs lay down and wait, so they don’t overwhelm the kitten. We’ve also been letting the the old dog, Griffin, go lay in his bed in the other room with the door closed, which doesn’t bother him at all.

Our older female cats are on a temporary truce while they assess the new situation. Missy the dog sniffing noses with Sophie the cat is not unusual, but that Izzy is in close proximity without hissing is an occasion to mark. Mostly they go where the kitten can’t find them.

Missy the dog has had the most interaction with the kitten, and it is amusing to watch them try to figure out play signals between species. Here is a video of Thor watching Missy play ball. Missy has learned to back off when Thor hisses, which makes Thor quite bold.

We made a fuzzy blanket bed on the top of a couch, which is an spot neither older cat has claimed. Thor feels safe up there, enough to nap. All this meet and greet is exhausting.