dog keeps trying to play with the new kitten

We have a very gentle 8-year-old dog who loves playing with a tennis ball, and we just adopted a 3-month-old tabby. How do I keep the dog from chasing the cat during their first few days together?

The dog is usually calm, but the kitten moves fast and it triggers the chase instinct. I don't want to hurt the kitten's confidence.

@slong This is tough. My Rex is a 10-year-old mainecoon and he has weight gain issues, so he moves slower, but I still worry about interactions. I think you need to keep them in separate rooms initially. See separating dog and cat for how I did it last time. It took a week before they could sniff through a door.

Oh my gosh, please be careful! My Pumpkin is 5 and has weight issues too, so she is not agile. If the dog chases, the kitten could get hurt. I would use kitten hiding spots to make sure the tabby has a high place the dog cannot reach. A cat tree with a top perch is good.

@MarkInDenver and @liz_y79 thanks. The dog is 8, so I worry about his joints too. senior dog energy levels says he should wind down, but the kitten is exciting. I am thinking of using a baby gate. Is that enough?

A baby gate is a start, but ensure it is tall. For order and cleanliness, I recommend keeping the litter area separate. My Whiskers is 11 and deaf, so I am very particular about where the litter box placement is. If the dog can get into the kitten's food or water, that is a hygiene risk. Use a gate that locks.

My Mochi is 2 dsh and still teething, so she chews everything. I think the dog chasing is just play to the dog. You might try training dog to ignore cat with treats. But honestly, if the dog is 8, maybe just keep them apart for a few days. See dog and kitten safety for more debate on this.

I agree with @mcruz. My Milo is 2 and has alopecia patches, so stress makes his skin worse. The kitten will be stressed if the dog chases it. I would not risk it. Keep them separated until the kitten is calm in the house alone. Then introduce slowly.