Question for dog owners with cats.

I've got two dogs and a cat. Unfortunately none of them were adopted or fostered, we got the dogs from breeders and the cat from an animal hospital. Our first dog got a long fine with my cat, they pretty much just ignored each other. Now that we have a new puppy, a Rottie, the first dog and our cat have teamed up and are great friends now. My puppy chases the cat around the house and tries to mount him, lol. The cat is fine with it though as he can just jump to higher places. My cat isn't de-clawed and will swat at my puppy, not enough to scratch just enough to tell him to back off.

Basically, it's all dependant on how the new dog plays with the cat, but generally cats will just walk away or swat at them and the dog will get the hint.

It really depends.

My male dog usually can't care less about the cat, and the cat feels the same.
When we first got my female dog, she was very (playfully) aggressive toward the cat. We knew ahead of time, so we placed the cat in a large wire crate and let the dog loose.
Every time the dog went after the cat, we corrected her.
It took about a week, and then we eventually introduced them face to face.
The female dog will play a little with the cat, or chase up and down the hallway, but generally leaves the cat alone and doesn't really bother kitty when he is irritated or seriously trying to get away.



Generally, as long as you are the pack-leader in your house, you can convey to your dog that "This cat is part of the pack" or "This cat is off-limit"

But yes - some breeds are better with cats. Smaller breeds, obviously. Anything with a high prey drive you want to avoid - such as Greyhounds.

Honestly, once the dog learns to respect the claw you shouldn't have any further problems. We had three kitties when we rescued our Corgi from a puppy mill. They hid for a few days and then he started trying to herd them. It became a huge game between the four.

Two of our kitties had to find new homes after they bit my six month old daughter. (They're doing well and are loved- we placed them with friends)

Our Corgi passed over Christmas.

So, now we have one kitty, Fuzzbutt, a husky shepherd mix named Molly, and a little mop thing named Max. The two puppies are rescues from a friend whose house was foreclosed on and was told 'no pets' by the apartment they had to move to. It took several weeks, but now the three will even go so far as to curl up together.

It's a matter of time.

Check with your shelter. Most do behaviour tests to see if the dog will get along with children, other dogs, cats, etc. The staff should be able to tell you if the puppy is cat friendly or not. I'd keep them separated for a few days when you bring the puppy home- either lock up the kitties or give the puppy his own room at first. That will give them time to adjust to each other's smells and make the introductions a bit easier. The shelter should have other tips for you as well.

Best of luck!

I had a dog and cat growing up. Sneakers (the cat) came first and although she wasn't too impressed when we brought Dutchess (the dog) home, she warmed up to her after a while. Each animal has their own personality so there's no guarantees of how it'll go in your household but they usually find a way to cohabitate without too much fighting.

Some of the shelters in this area will test the dogs ahead of time to see if they're cat friendly and will also let you bring your current pets in with you to see how the potential new pet will get along with them. Shelters are usually willing to work with you because they don't like to see animals coming back.

We have 3 pups (corgie mix, rottie mix and a full blood St. Bernard) and 2 cats (a big tom and a Norwegian forest cat). The cats are indoor only and the pups are pretty much outside all the time. When they are together the Saint is still intrigued with the cats, but he's still technically a puppy. The other two just ignore them unless the cats go racing through the house.
We usually put the cats in their room when we bring the dogs in and don't really have an issue with them that way. The corgi will sometimes play with the cats and groom them.

I have a friend who fosters animals, but also has "furrever" friends who live with her permanently. Any time she introduces a new animal, she crates it and places it in a common room, like the living room. The permanent residents can walk around the cage and get used to the smell of the new visitor. Then, when the permanent residents are outside, or closed in another room, let the new visitor out to smell things. Do this for about 3 weeks. Then, let them meet face to face, one at a time. Works like a charm every time.

*Edited for grammar.

I have a friend who fosters animals, but also has "furrever" friends who live with her permanently. Any time she introduces a new animal, she crates in and places it in a common room, like the living room. The permanent residents can walk around the cage and get used to the smell of the new visitor. Then, when the permanent residents are outside, or closed in another room, let the new visitor out to smell things. Do this for about 3 weeks. Then, let them meet face to face, one at a time. Works like a charm every time.

SO unnecessary.

I have a friend who fosters animals, but also has "furrever" friends who live with her permanently. Any time she introduces a new animal, she crates in and places it in a common room, like the living room. The permanent residents can walk around the cage and get used to the smell of the new visitor. Then, when the permanent residents are outside, or closed in another room, let the new visitor out to smell things. Do this for about 3 weeks. Then, let them meet face to face, one at a time. Works like a charm every time.

SO unnecessary.

Possibly for you. She, however, has tried just "letting them at it," so to speak, and it just doesn't work for her elderly territorial cats and dogs. Every animal is different, and every approach should be also.

I have always had cats and a dog or two.

At first when I introduced the dog (she was a puppy) to the cats they didn't want anything to do with her. Even though she was way smaller than them she smelled different and they ran screaming and hissing. She was a black lab.

That dog grew up and those cats pretty much ignored her. Then we added a second dog. He was a lab/pit mix. All but 1 cat was really afraid of him. Eventually 3 out of 4 cats realized that he wasn't going to hurt them and they would be seen in the same room with him but only 1 was brave enough to be on my lap with the dog right next to me on the couch.

Then divorce and he got the female and I kept the lab/pit male. And when he passed a few years ago I brought an older male lab mix into the house. He came from a shelter so I had no idea how he was with cats. When I brought him in the house his fur went up around the cats and he barked at them...I instructed him that "those are YOUR cats"... and in less than 2 or 3 days he was fine with them... but any cat that was outside (I have a fenced yard) was free game for him and the strays that would come into my yard looking for food would be chased to the fence and barked at and whined at and basically treated like "game on"...

Two years ago one of those stray cats from outside got pregnant and decided to have her babies here... and Charlie got to sniff them each as soon as they were born (I couldn't have him trying to get at these babies for 6 weeks!)... and the Momma was living in my house... after the babies were grown and it seemed that the Momma was staying, I had to instruct him that she was now "his cat" too... she is still a little leary of him... but she is not afraid of him. She had two litters and I kept two of the babies -- they think the dog is their Daddy... they rub up against him, they lay inbetween his paws, they lick his paws... and he tolerates them.

Good luck - it is not always easy to add a new pet - but a dog is so worth the experience!

It very much depends on the dog, and your cats' reactions to the dog. Sometimes, getting a puppy is the best choice because the puppy learns to respect the cat (I'm assuming they aren't declawed). Sometimes, shelters will know whether a dog is good with cats. And sometimes your cats will be upset about a new family member and start pi&&ing in your bed, just because they can.

Dogs can make awesome exercise companions, and many local shelters need volunteers to walk their dogs every day. If you are looking for some more exercise, you could always volunteer at the shelter and get a feel for each of the dogs there; when one captures your heart you'll be able to take him or her home!
~Jess

It would depend on both of the dog and your cats and their manner.

The best thing I can think of is take the animal home for a few days and see how they react to being around each other. If they get along then great if not then keep trying and see if you can find the right "fit".

my one cat (Lucky) HATES my dog. He hates any dog and cat actually because he was the only pet for like 7 years. Then we got another cat (Duncan) who is fine with other cats and dogs and then came my dog (Ali) two years ago who KNOWS to stay away from Lucky and likes to play with Duncan. I got her at 5 months though so it took a little bit for her to get warmed up to Duncan but she always knew to stay far from Lucky. Just rescue a dog that has experiences with cats and you should be fine.

I got a german shephard as a puppy, he grew up with cats. One day he began to play too rough, didn't know his own strength, he killed my flame point siamese without warning! And on a Holiday weekend, such a huge vet bill and so sad. As he got older his prey drive increased and he would give chase to neighborhood cats as well as my other cats. At this point we have had him eight years, and what an exhausting dance to put him out, let cats in, let him in, put cats out, etc. Good luck and always be aware of his body language when he's around kitty!

I have two cats and a dog, all rescues. I say check with the shelter or rescue group to see if they have tested the dog for how they behave around other animals, especially cats, and I would avoid greyhounds or any other dog that is known to have a predatory instinct, however, there are always exceptions! Good luck!

I had dogs and then added cats to the household and everyone gets along. There will be some adjusting when a new furrie joins the family, I think when they are young then adapting will help. I have a cat who just loves my dog and I think he thinks he is a dog but then my son did name him Wolf.