Trying to introduce my cat to my new puppy!!?

[Ramsgate]

I have had my cat for 8 years and he has always been on his own. I have recently taken ownership (unplanned) of a staffordshire bull terrier puppy. My cat roams around freely and is pretty streetwise but he goes missing for days on end in the summer but is home always during winter! I have had the puppy now for 3 days and when my cat came home he saw the puppy and bolted out of the garden, and i haven't seen him since! He's a pretty self sufficient cat and can be stubborn! I want to keep my cat and hiim to be happy but I am in love with my new puppy and can't part with him! How can I make life easier for them both and get them to a place where they can live together happily? Any tips or suggestions would be great!!
Interesting answer Trey - are you 5? or are you lacking socialization that much you spend all daying giving silly answres on Yahoo questions, why don't you put your coat on and go and see if the swings and see-saw are free??
Thanks for your answers all good advice!! I have just joined so i can't vote as yet, but I will. Fingers crossed this works out!

 

[tartanlass]

I've been in the very same position . I've had my cat for 7 years and he too has been on his own, until 4 months ago when I introduced my new puppy. I was very nervous as my cat can be quite temperamental and he attacks every dog that goes past my house.

When your cat comes back, have the dog confined to a space or on a leash and let the cat approach the dog on it's own terms. I let my cat come in and out as he pleased but kept a watchful eye on my pup. At first "Simba" (my cat) was very wary and didn't come into the room that "Buddy" (my puppy) was in. When I started leaving Buddy to roam around a bit, Simba would hiss and spit at him and it kinda warned the dog off. The cat will make it known to the puppy that he is the boss! If your puppy steps out of line, a quick swipe of the paw at the dog will soon tell it to back off. Just keep an eye that the puppy does not get too hurt.

Another thing I done too was I would get a couple of bits of cold meat or something they both love and get them both to come up to me at the same time and feed them. Just gets them used to the other being there.

They will probably never be the best of friends but I can now leave both mine together and they are fine. Sometimes Buddy, being a puppy, takes a notion to chase the cat and I can't believe how much Simba takes from him before warning him off!

Maybe I'm completely wrong but I think in their own way they kinda get to know who is part of the family.