Cats & dogs

[Piemaster]

Anyone have a cat and a dog?
At the moment we have a cat (coming up for 2 years old), there was apparently a dog in the household where the litter of kittens was born in so it may remember it. It's very much a housecat as although it can clamber out of the garden using bushes etc following other cats, it can't get back in as it can't manage the 6ft fence from the neighbours side
Am now thinking of rehoming a dog, would obviously have to find one that had been in (friendly) contact with a cat before, or one young enough to get used to the cat.
I'm guessing some breeds will have to be discounted due to their 'chase small furry things' instinct - greyhounds & terriers?
How practical is it? Cat has food out all day and helps itself as it feels like it. When my parents had dogs the food went down and was consumed instantly. I can see a fat dog / thin cat scenario developing
Any advice anyone?

 

[longers]

Kept lots of cats and dogs together.

You will occasionally get a clash of personality but mostly it's absolutely fine.

One tip is to not give the dog access upstairs or on the furniture, it means the cat always has a safe place. You could look at feeding the cat upstairs maybe or having somewhere out of reach of the dog if you can.

Teaching the dog "No" and using it quite a bit might be needed at first.

Out of the three cats here, one was fine once he got to know the dog, one is a bit scared but better than she was and the other just walked up to the dog and headbutted her on first time of meeting.

They all have different personalities and until you put them together you don't know how they will get on.

 

[Aperitif]

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr<cats>Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"

My little 'princess' Jack, would be mortified to find Tiddles in his domain...

 

[tyred]

Like humans, all dogs and cats have different personalities and it's impossible to say for sure until they meet up but in most cases, it's fine once they get used to each other.

In my experience, small terriers are often the most "anti-cat."

 

[beanzontoast]

We've always had cats. Daughter has always wanted a dog, but I've told her she needs to wait until she has her own place. IME , they sometimes do and sometimes don't get on.

Having 2 cats was bad enough - they didn't like each other either!

 

[Mr Pig]

Get the dog, get rid of the cat, job done :0)

 

[Night Train]

I've done this.
I let the cats know there was the smell of new dog in the house, this wound them up a bit. I then had all the cats in the biggest room and opened the door a small crack so that the dog could stick its muzzle through for a sniff. This introduces the dog to the cat(s) and the cat's claws. It gives the cats a chance to let the dog know it is at the bottom of the pecking order. Shut the dog outside the room and comfort the cats. Then let the dog in. It will have become scared of the smell of 'big scary cats with deadly claws' and so will show due respect.

As for the food, I fed the cats in a seperate room with a cat flap in the door.

 

[Piemaster]

As much as I'd like to follow the 'get rid of the cat' advice, in the household pecking order I think I come a rung below the stinking animal in my daughters eyes. This (some profanity) sums up the cat thing to me.

 

[rich p]

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr<cats>Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"

My little 'princess' Jack, would be mortified to find Tiddles in his domain...B)

If I didn't know you better Ape, I'd think that was full of innuendo of the finest kind!

 

[snapper_37]

It will always depend on the personalities. Our dog (rescued) couldn't give a fig about the numerous cats we have in the garden and house, she is too old to care and too daft to even bother.

We did try and re-home another dog 2 years ago and she was very agressive to the current dog (who was nearly 14 at the time) and the neighbouring cats.

Unfortunately we had to return her.

Take it easy and try and introduce them very slowly but there are some breeds who will just not take to cats at all.

 

[peanut]

animals operate first on smell not sight or sound.

it won't matter one jot you showing the cats the dog . Its all about smell.
You are part of your pet's pack.
it recognizes you by the smell of your sweat and body odours and the smell of itself on you which it continually leaves by rubbing against you and licking you.


you need to put an item of dirty sweaty clothing with the dog for a few days before bringing him to the house. Rub the dog all over with your hands especially if you wear perfume or aftershave. He will then smell of 'your pack' to the cats.

Don't just let a dog lose in a cats territory, where it feels safe, unless you want cat pee all over your house and traumatized cats

Introduce the dog to the cats in the garden in neutral territory first and make sure the dog is on the lead at all times. It must be under your complete control . If the dog chases the cats initially then it will be 10x more difficult to get them to accept each other.

I can't think of one good reason why anyone would want to put cats and dogs together when they have not grown up together. You can't think much of your cats

 

[snapper_37]

You can't think much of your cats

Not that this is P & L but I had it from good authority (the OV at work - a vet to you and me) that there isn't always a problem introducing a dog but you have to do the homework and legwork first. In some cases, it does work, in most cases it doesn't.

I don't think the OP is being flippant, just asking advice.

 

[Piemaster]

I don't think the OP is being flippant, just asking advice.

Originally Posted by peanut
You can't think much of your cats

You are both correct.
It was a genuine question.
The cat was brought into the house while I was away at work for several weeks without my ever being asked. I don't think much of it and ignore it as much as possible. I am most definitely not a cat person. Wouldn't want it to come to any harm though.