Is a cat good company for a dog? Or is another dog better?

[HoneyDragon]

Or do they not need animal company at all?

[tabulahrasa]

They don't need company, they've got you.

They might enjoy another dog or a cat, but that depends on the personality of the individual animals.

[HoneyDragon]

I've always been a one dog person, but loads of people always seemed to think this was unfair.

I think I need to stop looking at Rescue pages

[tabulahrasa]

Nah - it's not unfair at all, they interact with you.

I mean most dogs might like another one, but they don't need them, not like say guinea pigs or rabbits.

[HoneyDragon]

so if we decided we wanted another at a later date (for reasons of indulgence ) another male [have bitch] older rescue whippety type dog would be a better candidate for happy pets than a kitten, say?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

So I have two cats and one dog.
Dog would rather be a lone pet.
Cat 1 would rather be a lone pet.
Cat 2 had such an awful life prior to living here as long as she's not beaten she thinks it's luxury, sharing with two others pets rather than the 14 she was with before even better.

[tabulahrasa]

Depends on the dog, mine loves cats...he can't play with them like another dog, but he just follows them about licking them and gazing adoringly instead.

There's no reason not to have a kitten if you want a kitten or a dog if you want a dog - as long as your existing one doesn't actively dislike either.

[HoneyDragon]

Nope ... She's a Labrador with an over zealous love for all forms

[MissBeehiving]

I have 2 cats and 2 dogs.

Dog and pup love the cats but love each other more. They play all the time, wash each other and sleep together.

The dogs try to involve the cats in their play but get swiped on their noses regularly. Cat 2 does put up with bottom sniffing from the dogs and a bit of face licking.

Cat 1 and 2 would both rather be only pets, tbh Cat 2 would like us to get rid of the children too and spend all day attending to his needs.

[LST]

I have 3 cats and mental border collie teen. He loves the cats... until they look like they are getting more attention than him.. he then tries to jump then (pup normally ends up worse off)

girl cat hates every other thing in the world bar her food bowl.
black boy cat loves us not so much the dog... at all.
tabby boy loves everyone and the dog.

[chocolatelime]

After having our lovely lab for 8 years, we bought a new puppy a couple of years ago. I was concerned about how it would work out as our older girl did not seek out the company of other dogs & mostly preferred people. I needn't have worried as now the 2 dogs are very close & rely on each other. When they were separated for a night recently, they were so pleased to see each other the next day.

The puppy has kept our older dog busy. We have found it so much easier with 2 dogs as the pup has followed the example of the senior dog. They have both benefited so much from the companionship they have given each other.

We also have 2 cats who are part of the family, but the dogs have such a close bond that I would never have believed possible considering the difference in age.

[angelinalutas]

Yes, according to pets lovers, cats and dogs can be good companions for each other. However, you have to go slow and be ready for it not to work.
petshealth.ae/services/

[Feralkidsatthecampsite]

I had ddog before I met dh. We spent 2 years doing our homework on his ddog of dreams. Weren't convinced ddog would be too appreciative so got Dream Ddog +runt of the litter of a different breed!! A month apart never had any issues. It worked well. Ddog1 joined in when she forgot to remember they were clearly beneath her status and watched them having zoomie sessions when she remembered!
Ddog 1 enjoyed /endured them for nearly 7 years before she died in February.
I doubt she wanted a companion but they made a terrific trio...

[Bergerdog]

I have 3 dogs and 3 cats
I 100% think the dogs are happier together. They do play and interact with eachother most of the day. Even on walks they play and run together.
One of my dogs would probably cope as an only dog but the other two would be depressed I think. Even the dog independent one wouldn’t cope being left in the house without someone for company.
2 of my cats get on well. The third would quite happily never see another cat or dog as long as she lived
The cats and dogs mostly ignore eachother.

I do think it’s a personality thing but I do feel slightly sorry for some only dogs that don’t ever get interaction with their own species (or the ones that don’t get enough human interaction either!)