We have three cats. I would really love a little dog but know it would be a complete change of lifestyle for us. We always had dogs before I left home and got married, so I am very used to them. Would it be difficult to introduce a dog to three cats (who have had the run of the house for 13 years!) who are not at all used to dogs?

Some nice success stories would be great if anyone has any.

Wheezy, I would love to tell you it'll all be grand, however, from my own experience, my cats spend their life upstairs and my dogs downstairs. We got a puppy and she never threatened the cats in anyway but they were about 7 or 8 at the time and had never been used to dogs and I couldn't, for love nor money get them to get along. :(

They don't fight, they just stay out of eachothers way, it's a shame for the cats though as they used to come down to the lounge to be fussed and won't anymore. One gradually got used to being close to Takara but when we introduced our rescue dog (who was much better with cats than Takara) she reverted back to hating them again.

Remember though, there are many people who's cats get on well with their dogs, but I'm afraid it just didn't happen in my situation. (I tried introducing them properly and I tried letting them get on with it, neither worked but the cats are generally happy, we just don't see as much of them until the dogs go to bed!)
I would think it'd be much easier to bring a kitten into a dog household than a puppy into a cat household.

Sorry for being so honest.

I live in a house shared by three dogs and two cats and they do get along fine and all are allowed free run of the house. I make sure my cats have some "high up" beds if they need some quiet time.

I introduced three dogs on seperate occasions (the dogs didnt all arrive together) to my first cat, who had lived as an only cat with me for 4 yrs and she had never had any encounters with dogs before. There was lots of hissing and the cat swiped each dog individually and things worked out well. I do make sure that the cats are seperate from the dogs when I am not at home. It can be done as long as you respect each animal's needs, there is bound to be a few weeks of upset, but it is about you judging your cats are not too stressed by it all.

We introduced two dogs to an elderly cat and it went well. He smacked them on the nose a few times and then he was so much in charge that they would not even come in the door if he was sitting there!
Our last cat (Cirrus, avatar) was brought into a house with the same dogs as a kitten and ruled the roost over successive dogs (including a VERY cat-focused collie!) until he was PTS last month.
We always make sure the dogs are restricted to certain areas of the house, and gave the cat priority over them all the time. They soon learned he was boss and ignored him. I would say go for it and good luck, but give them plenty of space and time!

My parents Dog and Cat get on great - no problems what-so-ever.

I assume it all comes down to their individual temperaments.

Used to have a cat and a dog. They didn't get on as such, more stayed out of each others way.

Dog knew she'd get told off if she had a go at the cat so left him alone. Something the cat took full advantage off with an occasional swipe at dogs nose to keep her in check!

Though the cat was a proper tom, who enojyed nothing more than a night out with the lady cats, eating mice.

You'll never really know for sure until you try it. Our old moggies all but one hated the new intruder (doberman) pup, but every kitten we have introduced after the dog was already a part of the family, has had no probs. Check out Alfie's blog to see my lot - 6 cats and one daft doberman.

It all depends on the dog(s) and the cat(s).

my fifteen year old cat was 18 months old when we got the dog, (who turns 14 next month.)

the cat's nose was a bit "out-of-joint" at first, and seemed to consider the dog a bit of an interloper, but they didn't take very long at all, before they got on really well.

The cat insists in doing that "head-nudge-purr" thing that cats do, at the dog, and each loves to nick the other one's food! (which I try to discourage, as eating cat food sends the dog a bit Hyper) the cat also loves to curl up and go to sleep, on the dog's beds (Dogster has one in the kitchen, one in the living room and one in the bedroom)

I have a greyhound a lab cross and a collie cross who all live happily with cats. It does depend on both the cat and the dog though....... but cats in my experience rule the roost and dogs will soon learn that - even greyhounds!!!

You know your cats better than anyone else and rescue centres will always give advice on dogs they feel would live with cats... just bear in mind that they may never be the best of friends but as long as they live peacefully together then does that matter?

Good luck :thumbsup:

Well, Molly and my current foster kitten are curled up in a basket together, so I guess that my answer is that they can. I'm fostering this little one because she's frightened of other cats- but she purrs her little head off whilst being washed by a GSD!

EDIT- I'm a month into the introduction process for Molly, and my own cats (14, 13 and a 3 year old hand reared feral monster) are choosing to stay out of her way but without major panic at the moment. There are little improvements every day, but I was prepared that it was going to take longer than a month for them to get more comfortable around her.

Well, Molly and my current foster kitten are curled up in a basket together, so I guess that my answer is that they can. I'm fostering this little one because she's frightened of other cats- but she purrs her little head off whilst being washed by a GSD!



Little kitten in question was dumped on my doorstep, terrified. She hated my cats but adored the two pups. No idea what her history was to make her like this but the kitten we are currently looking after for a friend has two best friends - one is Syddie, my beautiful big soppy Ragdoll cat who Mothers everyone and the second is Petie, my ever so clumsy Shih-tzu puppy.

We have nine cats currently and only one of them genuinely dislikes the pups and to be honest I think it is more that she likes winding them up than she dislikes them.

So YES dogs really do get on with cats, although I would have rephrased that "Do Cats really get on with Dogs?" as any owner of both will tell you its the cats that are boss.

We always make sure the dogs are restricted to certain areas of the house, and gave the cat priority over them all the time. They soon learned he was boss and ignored him. I would say go for it and good luck, but give them plenty of space and time!

We have always made sure that there are at least two rooms that the pups can't get into but the cats can; we use baby gates for this.

baby/ dog gates are a godsend- Ailsa is currently getting used to the arrival of Charlie cat and the dog gates mean Charlie can make a swift exit if giddy dobermutt is too heavy handed and excited when she sees him. They also prevent greedy dobermutt from helping herself to the cats' food.

This link http://www.thepainteddog.co.uk/canine_gallery/buddies.shtml
is to a painting of our daft dobe Ailsa and her best buddie Alfie the barmy bengal, if you;re in any doubt whether cats n dogs get on...

With ours its depends on what mood Parka (the dog) is in. If hes been out for a walk they get on fine, if hes not, then they are in trouble.

Ive caught him a few timesw with indi's head in his mouth, I dont think he means any harm and she doesnt seem that bothered about it, but he gets a severe ticking off when I find them like that.

When Indi lets him Parka will lick her silly!

Depends on the dog, depends on the cats. They all have different personalities. Some cats like other cats, others can't stand other cats, let alone dogs.

Ooh - I do have a success story! I forgot about it because I was too young to remember!

When I was just a wee thing, my parents got a puppy and introduced it to the cat (she must have been about 2 or 3 years old). They got on great and when the cat had a kitten (yes, just one) she dumped the kitten on the dog's back and off she went leaving Harry the dog to babysit!

So there you go - I do have a success story - I agree with everyone else it's individual temperaments the cats we have now aren't as confident as old Adolf (our previous female cat) was.

Thank you to everyone who has replied, you have all been a great help. I have started looking (on line) at local dog shelters/homes/RSPCA etc, but haven't got very far with that line. I think I would like a small dog (don't know how small small is, but before I left the family home, we always had German Shepherd's and I know our house now, isn't big enough for one, even though I'd love one!), a dog from a home or shelter, a young dog (doesn't have to be a pup) and a dog that is willing to try and get on with three elderly cats. By the way, the above is 4 dogs rolled into one, not 4 individual dogs.

Some dogs and cats get on well. I have 3 cats (which we had first) and 2 dogs and they get on really well. The dogs never chase them which helps. They always lay together and eat together and even play together (normally the cats playing with my dogs tail lol) also my dogs and cats lick eachother. So you might be lucky enough :)

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/danianddan/1.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/danianddan/DSC00249.jpg

:)

Some dogs and cats get on well. I have 3 cats (which we had first) and 2 dogs and they get on really well. The dogs never chase them which helps. They always lay together and eat together and even play together (normally the cats playing with my dogs tail lol) also my dogs and cats lick eachother. So you might be lucky enough :)

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/danianddan/1.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/danianddan/DSC00249.jpg

:)

They just look so comfy together don't they? Ideally that is what I would like, but Harry who is about 13 can be a bit nasty from time to time, Sooty, about 11 or 12 - we never see her. She was a rescue cat and we've had her about 10 years and she is still as scatty as when we got her. Ellie is the softest nature and she is about 9. She would probably be the one to pall up with the dog, but I'm still not sure.

Some dogs and cats get on well. I have 3 cats (which we had first) and 2 dogs and they get on really well. The dogs never chase them which helps. They always lay together and eat together and even play together (normally the cats playing with my dogs tail lol) also my dogs and cats lick eachother. So you might be lucky enough :)

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/danianddan/1.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/danianddan/DSC00249.jpg

:)


OMG have you nabbed my Daisy...your dog looks soooooo like mine :)

Anyway, yep dogs can get on with cats.....will post pics when I 'finalise' my disc!!

Jayne

My parents have had dogs and cats at the same time, I think it really depends on the individuals and the ages at which they're introduced.

One of their dogs was so sweet natured that she was safely introduced to a pair of eight week old kittens, without anyone needing to even hold her collar.

The current dog, a collie lurcher cross (as far as we can make out) would not be safe with any other cats as the hunter in her would take over.

Just try to get the most detailed history of any rescue dog that you can, especially if you have small children. The centre should be really good at this, after all, in the nicest possible way, they don't want the dog to come back.

It sounds like a daft question, but does anyone know of a good dog's home?

rainrescue,
thornberry animal rescue,
sheffield dogs home,
sheffield rspca,
chesterfield rspca
plus if you have a specific breed in mind, do a search on breed and rescue (eg doberman rescue UK) and you should find a suitable site, tell them what you are looking for, a bit about your circumstances and they will try to match you to a suitable dog.

Hi.... We have had a cat for 10yrs and recently introduced a small Jack Russell similar to the Cartoon Character picture in my members photo.
We got her as a puppy and they have got on very well.... I think the cat just thought it was some kind of harmless ball at first and has been fairly unaffected by her as she has grown.
The dog is new nearly 2yrs and they get on fabulously.
I would suggest a puppy every time.
Hope it helps.

My Dog When she was a puppy she got on great with our cat Rosy but she soon after died:(

All of my dogs have lived quite happily with my cats. We used to have a beautiful black Newfoundland She really was like Nana (peter pans nursemaid) and used to help look after the kittens we had brought into the rescue, Keeping them warm and letting them nestle on her thick fur, even cleaning them, she was a dog in a million, not only kittens but she used to let my pet rat play in her fur, she was a friend to everyone and everything. This is her a couple of years before she sadly passed away making a nice pillow for my cat Mione.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/Peak-District/Raynekitt.jpg

A year or so after she died we got a little Shih tzu who also gets on great with my 8 cats, As a pup she even used to copy the cats and poo in the litter tray! As you can see it wasn't long before my cats took her under their wing and she became a member of their pride

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/Peak-District/DarcCharlie.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/Peak-District/OliverDarcyd.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/Peak-District/Oliverdarcy.jpg

Im having quite a bit of bother with my four month old Jack, Millie and my two 9 year old cats. The cats prefer to stay upstairs now. As they are not liking her jumping up and trying to play with them. My black cat suki has scratched her twice and wont entertain her at all. But my big furball sassy, tried to get on with her and once drank some milk from the same dish as millie, but in the end millie jumped up too much and sassy tried to scratch her.
So its dog downstairs and cats up now.
The other dogs ive had in the past have always got on with cats.

Labyrinth youre making me really jellous, i wish mine got on like that. what beautiful pics.

Some dogs and cats get on well. I have 3 cats (which we had first) and 2 dogs and they get on really well. The dogs never chase them which helps. They always lay together and eat together and even play together (normally the cats playing with my dogs tail lol) also my dogs and cats lick eachother. So you might be lucky enough :)

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/danianddan/1.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/danianddan/DSC00249.jpg

:)


Great pics :clap: