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Original poster

Cat home and guests with dogs

58 replies

1winterblues · 09/01/2022 12:13

So we have two kittens about 1 yr old.

They go out very little, maybe once a day for 10 mins. We prefer this as live in a busy area and main road. They play together a lot and have the run of the whole house.

Now more and more friends have dogs, and we get asked regularly whether it's ok to come over with their dogs. We used to say yes pre cats but now we have cats I am not keen on stressing my cats out so they can come with their dog ? Three of my closest friends now have dogs

What do other cat owners do ?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 09/01/2022 13:35

I'd be saying a flat no. My two cats are scared of dogs and this is their home.

Branleuse · 09/01/2022 13:38

I dont let people bring their dogs to mine because i dont want to freak my cats out.
We have dogs too but my cats are used to those ones.

Its absolutely normal and fine to ask them to not bring their dogs to a house with cats

JurgensCakeBabyJesus · 09/01/2022 13:38

I say no, and actually I choose not to have dogs because I don't like the smell or the hair so why should I have to clean up after other people's? My cat is fine with dogs but gives me a reasonable excuse to not allow people to bring dogs to my house. This seems quite a recent thing expecting to take your dog wherever you go

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Mybalconyiscracking · 09/01/2022 13:39

We have 4 cats, my SIL seems to think that we want nothing more than to welcome her NewFoundland mutt into the place. Hmm

RampantIvy · 09/01/2022 13:45

This seems quite a recent thing expecting to take your dog wherever you go

It does. Some dog owners are too selfish and arrogant to realise that not everyone wants a dog in their house. Most aren't in my experience, just some.

DareDevil223 · 09/01/2022 13:58

No, I don't mind dogs but I've never wanted one and I don't want one in my house. It might upset my two cats and it's their home.

GrandmasCat · 09/01/2022 16:57

@RampantIvy

This seems quite a recent thing expecting to take your dog wherever you go

It does. Some dog owners are too selfish and arrogant to realise that not everyone wants a dog in their house. Most aren't in my experience, just some.

It is, and it is getting to the point of the ridiculous… dogs need to be taught they are safe at home on their own. It seems that since the lockdown dogs are the new toddlers.

I have taught both my child and my dogs to be patient when I’m busy, but there are so many meetings interrupted nowadays because the dog wants to play or even people demanding to work from home because they do not have a dog sitter… and don’t start me on having to choose restaurants to meet a dog’s needs when you are out in a big group.

How did we cope in years past?

Original poster
1winterblues · 09/01/2022 17:24

It's a shame everyone thinks the worst of others all the time. My friends are actually my real friends, and they do ask (because they are nice people) and have made other arrangements for their dogs with out batting an eyelid when o have said no.

It's only a question as I am new at the cats thing and in the past i have not minded dogs in my house and previously had a dog with anxiety problems so absolutely understand it's not easy for all dogs to be left, especially all day or for long periods of time

OP posts:
Santaisstilleatingmincepies · 09/01/2022 17:28

If I had nice friends I would treat dcats to a bowl of food/more toy and lock them away/upstairs.
My bff years ago had a serious ddog phobia. As in crying and shaking. Way out of my comprehension tbh. But for the sake of our friendship I put our ddogs outside (access to shed!) and she had to hold the key so she knew nobody would accidentally let them in. Quite extreme but I loved her!!

TheCreamCaker · 09/01/2022 17:31

I've always had cats (only got the one now), and I've always said no to people bringing dogs round. One friend bought her Jack Russell and our previous cat shat herself - literally shat on the floor - with fright.

CoastalWave · 09/01/2022 17:31

No. Very unfair on your cats. Also unfair on the dogs being carted in a car for 2-3 hours just so they can get away without sorting dog care.

Is this really a thing now?!

gunnersgold · 09/01/2022 17:34

No way , no one brings their dog in my house . My cat would take its face off regardless if I allowed it or not ! It will very much upset your cat!

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 09/01/2022 17:35

It's a no from me, and I have three cats and a dog who get on just fine.

It's not fair on the cats OR on the dog. If they can't find daycare or kennels for the dog, they need to stay home or meet you out of the house somewhere they can bring the dog.

Unfortunately, dogs are really tying and too many people get dogs and don't realise (until it's too late) that they can't just be left on their own all day with no interaction.

AwkwardPaws27 · 09/01/2022 17:36

I have two cats and a dog.

My dog is good with our cats, and with cats he sees on walks - but I do not take him to my mum's house, as her cats aren't used to dogs so it would be unfair on them.

I might take him to visit my nan - she has a cat and a dog, so her cat is used to dogs - but I definitely do not expect to take him to any cat-only homes as it would stress out the cats.
The only exception to this has been a BBQ in a garden with side access - dog remained on-lead throughout and the host invited us to bring him.

magicstar1 · 09/01/2022 17:36

When we had a cat we told the in-laws they couldn’t bring their dog as it was the cat’s home. They had to agree.
Now the cat died but they still can’t as we have GSD who wouldn’t like it lol.

RosiePosieDozy · 09/01/2022 17:38

No, I don't think I would say yes to this. You need to make sure your cats are happy and feel safe.

Unless your cats love meeting dogs, I wouldn't let my friends bring their dogs round if I was you.

MyGreenTutu · 09/01/2022 17:42

Absolutely not, unless we were sitting the in the garden with the dog and the cat was inside.

Delatron · 09/01/2022 17:42

No. They can’t bring their dogs over and stress your cats out. Why would they need to? I say this as a dog owner.

Even friends without cats we don’t ask if we can bring our dog over. We just don’t take him. Many people don’t like or want dogs in their house.

Before I got our dog I used to hate friends bringing dogs over uninvited.

FuzzyPuffling · 09/01/2022 17:47

No to dogs.

I have two cats and one of them in particular HATES dogs (a very badly behaved one locally escapes and gets into our garden, which is how I know). It's the cats home and dogs are just not welcome.

FuzzyPuffling · 09/01/2022 17:53

Can't people leave their dogs in the car if they must? Take it for a quick walk and a wee, then pop it back in the car.

HazelBite · 09/01/2022 18:12

We had DS plus Dog living here from August to December. We have two cats who were used to the dog visiting but we had to let only the cats have access to the upstairs so they could safely be away from the dog. Although the dog basically ignored them they were not happy, and the female stopped properly grooming herself, which we didn't realise at the time was a reaction to the interloper.
Even though it was a situation with 2 fairly calm cats and a very elderly laid back dog, it wasn't ideal, and its only since the dog has departed we have realised the impact on the cats,

Blossom64265 · 09/01/2022 18:18

No.

Distance is irrelevant. Length of stay is irrelevant. Your friends are surely responsible pet owners and will have a system in place that allows them to leave the home without their pets and they will use that system.

EricScrantona · 09/01/2022 18:26

Why on earth would any dog owner want to take their dog to a house with cats in? I bet they say "it's ok, he's friendly" too.

I say this as a dog owner. I don't live with my head so far up my arse to think that my dog can't be on his own for a bit or that any cat owner (or anyone) would want him in their house.

OGenkiDesuKa · 09/01/2022 18:30

I don’t know anyone cheeky enough to even ask to bring a dog into my house. Is this a thing??

GrandmasCat · 09/01/2022 18:55

@FuzzyPuffling

Can't people leave their dogs in the car if they must? Take it for a quick walk and a wee, then pop it back in the car.
No, they can overheat to death pretty quickly, in any season. They need to be left at home.