dishwashing

We have a cat. OH likes them. But she's agreed to get a dog too! A lab as they have a pleasant nature. Anyone know about how to acclimatise cats and dogs into one household?

haggis88

Watching thread with interest...

My GF and myself have just adopted a little rescue Cornish Rex, and it's staying at her parents place until we get our own place as my rental doesn't allow animals

In the family they have 6 Boxers, so the cat has been kept upstairs until we feel he's comfortable enough to introduce them...they're very boisterous so not sure how the cat will cope!

Tootlepootle

We have two dogs and two cats. The cats tend to win an arguments in the house, the dogs fair better in the yard! If you are getting a puppy the cat will either teach it a few lessons early on or will learn to keep out of its way. Our lot all sleep together in a giant furball on the couch so it can be done. We have a French bulldog and a Pug cross (who is a little shit)!

scrubbedexpat091

When I had a cat and then got a dog, just introduced the puppy slowly and the cat sniffed the puppy, checked it out, and that was it, dog grew up with cat so had no issue with it, and cat just ignored the dog.

Every animal will be different however, but just introduce them in a controlled environment and if the dog is a puppy, chances are the cat really wont care nor will the puppy.

Piff Poff

One reason Daisy found a new home with us was because her previous owner moved her into a home with unsocialised cats and she reacted to the cats and it became necessary to keep Daisy on a leash.

The reason we know it's the cat and not the dog is because when Daisy goes to the kennels, there is a dog socialised cat that Daisy sniffs at and walks away and a unsocialised cat that Daisy just wants to chase. It does mean we can have a mouser out here on the acreage in case there is a problem.

One thing that the Chow forum I frequent recommends when introducing a new dog is to have the animals meet on neutral ground, this may be hard with a cat so having the new animal already in the while the other animal is out may work as the new scent will already be in the house, you could see if you could leave a blanket or something smelling of the cat and vice versa with the animals for scent transference so the smells are familiar.

ann m

Look, the cat is gonna win, so accept your lot.

SivoxII

.. that's about the size of it Ann.

Whether it's Cat v Cat, Cat v Dog, even Cat v HUMAN!!! ... a Cat will always win, physically or mentally. Unless we are talking outdoors and they choose to try their luck with a Raccoon or other four legged "Canadian Yard Warrior" !!!

Seriously though, hope you find harmony with some of the advice above.

All the best!

dishwashing

All good, thanks guys! We have been introducing them and they seem quite friendly..

Mikeypm

We got our cat as a kitten and our dog was young but not a pup, we gradually introduced them over a few days and they happily live along side each other. But the cat is the boss!

SivoxII

Sounds like a success story for all involved, the key word being "gradually".

All the best!

MillieF

I have 17, 10 and 6 year old cats, and a 4 year old Cairn Terrier, who chases them when he gets the chance and they tease him unmercifully. I had an elderly dog before we got the Cairn, and we never had any problem either. We just 'expect' them to get along and they do. The dog 'respects' the cats cos they'll turn round with claws if he pushes his luck, but they all sleep together like Tootlepootle's furball. Cats will always win.

Very best of luck.

JonboyE

We had an elder cat in the house when we brought our lab pup home. For a few days the cat lived upstairs and the dog downstairs.

Then there was a cat's claw / puppy's nose moment.

Afterwards the dog would get up and leave the room whenever the cat entered.

The cat's favourite was to wait until the dog went out for a pee in the yard, then sit in the doorway nonchalantly examining its paws while the dog whimpered for some human intervention.