Introducing a dog to cat.

[fairydust]

has anyone ever successfully introduced a dog into a house with a cat.

We have a 3 yr old cat but would like to get a dog - are we heading for disaster????

If you have what type of dog did you have????

I think it is easier when you have the cat first and get a dog. If you have a dog first I would say forget it.

I recommend Border Terriers, had one as a child, well for two years until my Mother decided to give her away. Have two now and they have brilliant with the kids. Great little dogs with big characters.

We introduced a dog to our cats, twice, and it's been successful. The dogs were puppies (Cavalier King Charles) both times and the cats aren't really phased by a baby animal about the place. Good luck!

if you can afford it, buy one of those big collapsible cages from a big pet shop. Put the dog in it while the cat is out of the room. Then bring the cat in and do it like that. That way, should all hell break loose, they will be separated by the bars of the cage. If it does, then after a while it might get easier. The cat will feel less threatened by a dog in a cage as well. The cage will be good for keeping puppy in at night as well til it gets used to the place, and will stop it chewing everything while you are out as well. HTH

Well we had a cat first, then a mad, rescue Springer Spaniel, and all I can say is that we had to forget it. We had to cordon off different bits of the house. Poor cat was quite elderly so we didn't have to put up with it for long, but it may have assisted her demise ...

We have done it both ways and they tend to ignore each other after a while. 4 weeks ago we got a Spronger puppy and he is interested in our 6 yo cat be she just keeps out of his way - cats are far too clever to let any dog master it!

Got our first cat when our Belgian Shepherd dog was 15 months old & they adored eachother. When cat had a kitten 16 months later the dog became its second mother... the kitten used the dog to suckle on, purring the whole time (it was bizarre & most unnerving!)

Sadly the dog developed severe epileptic fits & eventually had to be put down (this was in 1999 & although I think they can now cure it(?) nothing could be done at the time). The cats were distraught.

Got a Rhodesian Ridgeback in November 2003 (too scared to have another Belgie, though I'd love another one) & while the 2 original cats were fine with the puppy- basically ignoring her- the 2 cats we've had since losing the other dog were not impressed. They hissed & spat & took to hiding under the table & lashing out a claw when the unsuspecting dog walked past. They also sneak into her cage when she's not in there & spray it!!!

Since she has grown into 36kg of bouncing mayhem she is now paying the cats back-with interest. She chases them, jumps on them & is generally a pain in the backside. They respond by spraying. Ours is not a happy household.

Depends on the animals, but for us dog first was best. (Having said that, I wouldn't want a tiny kitten with a RR....)

We introduced a labrador puppy to the house with two 8 yo cats with no problems. We decided that we're all going to live in the house together and it's up to them to get on.
We just bought the puppy into the house opened the cage door and let her roam around to find the cats in her own time and didn't make a fuss at all.

I'm more worried about introducing a baby to the mix but hopefully we'll take the same approach.

HTH

We introduced cat to Westie and then added a labrador to cat!! I think the secret is not to rush after them or make a fuss - just make sure the cat is not cornered and can get away easily. Make sure the cat has somewhere high up it can sit to observe dog e.g back of sofa or kitchen units (not very hygienic, I know!). They can then spend a bit of time living side by side on different levels until they have got used to each other. Ussually a situation occurs when the dog gets to close to the cat and the cat hisses, arches her back and smacks dog round face - don't intervene and they will then live happily ever after!!!!!!!!

Funny thread becasue i nearly had to ask the same question.. We just got a 3 year old resued lurcher. She is very placid.... for a lurcher but not used to cats and we have an 18month old nutered tom. When we started getting our animals sorted i asked the RSPCA what to get first and they recommended the cat first then the dog. Cats are normally really teratorial and like to know where they belong..get fed! So far the intro has gone well. Dog and cat sleep in the lounge together but outside and the cat getting into the yard is a small issue still as the dog chases the cat out every time! but in the house the cat is boss and the dog knows it. We got the dog just over a week ago and im sure that in time they will sort out the yard issue. The cat did attempt to come in today but i wasnt quick enough to stop the dog.
good luck, i dont think breed matters whatever you like id say! puppies may be easier? but i didnt want to have all the housetraining and DD is only 21 months so a bit young to understand puppies and id worry it may have been squashed, or dropped or sat on etc etc....

We had a 12 year old cat and introduced a 2 year old rescued trailhound to it and they just ignored each other. Sadly the cat died due to kidney failure, and we then got a 2 yr old cat from the same place we rescued the dog. They are best friends - the dog licks the cats head and the cat rubs her back against the dog. They both lay out in the sun in the garden together. Aah. sweet!