Having a cat and then getting a dog

[Puppy78]

We have a lovely 3 year old Birman. She is mostly inside but does occasionally go out.

Is it fair to get a dog, when we already have a cat? I'd love one for DC, I'm thinking of something small like a Pomeranian. We always had cats and dogs growing up, and while they didn't like each other I didn't feel like it was cruel. DH thinks it would be cruel to the cat to get a dog - is he right?

I've got a Birman, she used to live with a dog at her previous home and got on very well with him.

I think they're quite friendly, sociable cats and mine actually reminds me of a dog, the way she follows us running through the house. 🙂

I'd say go for it, just make sure she has her own safe space to retreat to if she wants it.

Let us know what you decide!

I have had cats and dogs together for most of my life. They're fine if common sense is applied, and it's much easier that the cat is established pet and introduce a dog than the other way around.

I don't know much about pomeranians, but small dogs tend to be worse for chasing small furries like cats. There's also the added complexity that they are often allowed up on furniture, which is one way a cat can get out of the way of a bigger dog. I say this as the owner of a cat and a chi x JRT at the moment, I had labradors previously and I definitely wasn't as nervous for the cat with the labs as I was with the little one!

All my cats have tended to stay out if the way for a few days or weeks when a new dog has appeared- sometimes we've had to engineer a meeting! Once they've had a spat and the cat has smacked the dog, the cat will grow in confidence knowing that they can hold their own and the dog will develop some healthy respect that the furball has claws and shouldn't be messed with!

Please consider adopting not shopping, there are so many dogs in rescues (particularly in the next few weeks after Christmas ) needing homes, and rescues have a decent idea of the personality of each dog and suitability for a home with a cat. If you get a puppy you don't know their personality until it develops (although younger dogs are easier to accept that the cat is the boss).