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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think you can integrate a puppy with two cats?

47 replies

Super123 · 30/01/2018 23:56

We've got two gorgeous two year old black cats. We got them from the RSPCA a year ago and we love having them around.

The only problem we've had was when we minded a friends cat for a few weeks while she was on holiday. This male cat terrorized our cats and they both became anxious. We had to keep them apart and wouldn't attempt introducing any more cats.

DD10, is desperate for a puppy. Is it possible to introduce a puppy with two settled and content cats?

OP posts:
DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 31/01/2018 00:00

I am purely here to tell you I thought your thread title said impregnate not integrate... Shock time for bed I think...!

I had a friend who successfully introduced a puppy to her two established cats and they're all fine. Prepare for cats to teach the pup they're in charge!
Good luck!

thisgirlrides · 31/01/2018 00:02

No idea but watching with interest as owner of 2 cats wanting a dog 😁

Costacoffeeplease · 31/01/2018 00:04

I have 15 cats (including 3 kittens) and 2 dogs. It’s perfectlly possible as long as you plan it properly and make sure they are all safe at all times, using crates, stair gates, treats etc

HateTheDF · 31/01/2018 00:05

My DM has done. We had 3 cats growing up and then she brought in a puppy and about 6 months later we got a second puppy. Just make sure there's somewhere safe for the cats to get too if they feel they need it.

Baby gates are also good, keep the puppy one side of it and they can slowly introduce themselves to each other.

JoeyMaynardssolidlump · 31/01/2018 00:12

We had s puppy with 2 cats.

My sympathy is entirely with the puppy as the cats always rule the roost.

Introducing other cats Is far more unsettling I think a dog will be fine with usual sensible precautions

nooka · 31/01/2018 00:18

We adopted our cats (also two years old) a year before we got our puppy. It seemed the right way round to do things as the cats were settled, knew all the bolt holes etc and the pup would be small when he arrived so they had the upper hand. It's a good few years later and we've not had any significant issues except that the dog does like to police them a bit and gets a bit excited when he notices them playing so they don't tend to play much when he is around. Oh and he does like to lick their bums (they enjoy this though)!

dh had a very small fierce cat when they got their family dog. The story in the family is that the cat pinned the puppy down in the early days and he did pretty much what the cat told him ever after.

bellabasset · 31/01/2018 00:24

I have and the cats will be the boss. You could always use Feliway initially as that is very calming for cats if you think they might be anxious

If you haven't tried them already some cats love Dreamies so they get a treat when the puppy does. (Recent thread on Dreamies)

PassTheAfterEights · 31/01/2018 00:27

Never had a prob before - just watch them like a hawk for the first few weeks, protect them both from too much interest or bad temper from the other and follow advice about introductions and quiet time etc from the vet or online. They'll establish their own dynamic in time.

Our cat had had at least four previous puppies and our pup was a sighthound, very interested in a rapidly retreating furry rump. The cat helped no end with training - think we have the only greyhound in the world who doesn't care about chasing and eating furry critters 👌 (and now they share a bed)

Skowvegas · 31/01/2018 02:05

We did this twice.

First puppy had unbelievably strong prey drive. Had to keep cats and puppy separate. Very stressful.

Second puppy - cats were still traumatised from the previous experience and it took at least a year for them to accept the dog. They now think he's OK but he does chase then if they're outside.

sofato5miles · 31/01/2018 02:10

Went fine for us. Though the puppy was small, he was just big enough that they couldn't hunt him! A year later he is bigger and they all play together.

HicDraconis · 31/01/2018 03:14

One of our cats moved out to live with a neighbour when we brought our puppy home. The neighbour was quite happy as they loved the cat, the cat was happier without the dog around and our other cat seems to enjoy being an only cat although she’s not keen on either dog, she tolerates them.

Ericaequites · 31/01/2018 03:45

We have integrated multiple cats with multiple dogs over the years. Try to keep them separated when you can't supervise directly. The cats will teach the puppy who is boss. Our cats used to curl up on the dog to dry off after going out in the rain.

mrsprefect · 31/01/2018 03:46

We have two rescue cats and introduced a puppy to them no problem. Just pick your breed carefully and read all the advice about introductions.

Hidingtonothing · 31/01/2018 03:59

We did, I was really worried how the cats would cope but DD and DH really wanted a dog so I was overruled. Cats hid upstairs for a few days, only really coming down for food and toilet but soon started to venture down to investigate what the weird, noisy thing was Smile

It took a while for them to fully integrate but it's turned out better than I could have imagined. We lost one cat and adopted another puppy and a kitten (over a few years, not all at once!) and that worked out fine too, they all just mill about together now, no problems.

Always give cats somewhere to escape to where the dog can't follow (stairgates are a godsend) and let contact happen at the cats pace, the rest will be down to the individual personalities of the cats/puppy. Good luck, hope it works out well for you too.

MsHopey · 31/01/2018 04:39

I had 2 rescue cats, both a little mean sometimes, but we'd had the one for 5 years and for other one for a year when we got our dog.
She's a Jack Russell mix, nothing big, and they all get on very well. They even play together, it is doable, but obviously totally depends on the individual cats and dogs.

Soubriquet · 31/01/2018 06:14

Yes of course

I had a cat before I got my dog. My cat was so unimpressed she actually moved out and refused to come in the house.

I had to set up an area for her in the outhouse where she can eat and be dry and warm.

She sulked for 8 months. However the last 8 weeks, she has finally giving up and has started to come indoors in the day time.

She also now deliberately winds the dog up into a game of chase. The dog will chase her, she will then chase the dog.

It's been hard but it has worked

AIBU to think you can integrate a puppy with two cats?
AIBU to think you can integrate a puppy with two cats?
Original poster
Super123 · 31/01/2018 06:29

Thanks everyone. Some great advice there. It seems like we're doing it the right way round.

OP posts:
ZanyMobster · 31/01/2018 06:32

Wow, a lot of these stories do not sound successful and definitely not in the cats best interests. Why get cats if you want dogs, can't believe people are ok with their cats sulking for 8 months or moving out.

What would you do if it doesn't work out OP?

ZanyMobster · 31/01/2018 06:35

Sorry not sure why it ended up saying a lot, I meant a few (it's early)

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 31/01/2018 06:42

We integrated a kitten with two very established dogs - they all coexist quite happily now. The cat ignores the dogs mostly. This may or may not be helpful.

MrsJoshDun · 31/01/2018 06:48

I’ve done this. Had two cats, they were not used to dogs.

Got a dog, few years later dog died. Got another dog, then got a puppy.

Puppy was the easiest.

But I will warn you every time we got a new dog the cats sat outside in the garden in protest for a week. They must have come in occasionally for food but we barely saw them.

We have a stair gate on the stairs so the cats can have a dog free space upstairs.

Do introductions in a closed room as a dog may chase of a cat runs. Keep dog on a lead. But with a puppy there’s a lot less risk.

Current dog plays with one of the cats like it’s a puppy, they wrestle together. Cats are definitely in charge and poor dog isn’t allowed in either of her beds as the cats keep kicking her out. If either cat has had enough of the dog they just give her a tap on the nose and she backs off.

BatFaceGal · 31/01/2018 07:25

Agree with Zany.

Cats don't like it and they'll show you this in their behaviour. Just because they eventually accept it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

If you already have an established cat, then put that existing pet first

DarthNigel · 31/01/2018 07:34

We have an older Cat and have Introduced two Puppies with little bother now. The only real issue is that the poor cat got less fussy for a bit as the dogs were time consuming when small...I felt sorry for the cat and a bit guilty but he didn't seem too bothered tbh

Idontdowindows · 31/01/2018 07:41

We've always done it either way. Introducing a strange adult cat or a different species youngster are two entirely different things. The latter is easier :D

Soubriquet · 31/01/2018 07:42

My cat was never a friendly pet. She has always been half feral.

Since she has had her sulk, she now is lovely.

Happy to come for a fuss and cuddles whereas before you either got swiped at or hissed at.

I don't regret it for a second

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