Puppies and cats / kittens

[LaBelleSauvage123]

DH and I are thinking of getting a Labrador puppy in the next year. However we also love cats and recently lost ours, so we’d also like a pair of bonded cats or kittens. Is it best to get one before the other? Or at the same time? I’m fully aware that a puppy and two kittens would be a huge amount of work but we are recently retired and have the time and energy to devote to raising them. Any shared experiences would be great to hear.

I don’t know about having puppies and kittens but I do know a puppy is an absolute nightmare to start with. Luckily they are completely adorable which goes some way towards forgiving them for weeing and pooing everywhere, getting you up in the night, chewing all your best stuff, and just generally being a pain 24/7. Good luck with that.

Yes we’re very aware that it’s a full time job which is why I’m wondering if we’d be absolutely mad to get kittens or cats at the same time - but I think we’d put up with it if it’s better for dog-cat relations.

Do it! Our last pair were together for almost 16 years and were always close. We got our kitten first as they are pretty quick to train and settle into a new home. 3 months later our puppy joined the home. With them both being young they learnt and grew together. We’re a cat only house for now but I’d do the same again

That’s good to hear Walker1178.

We've introduced kittens to older dogs years ago and more recently puppies to older cats currently have 15yo and 7yo cats and dogs 3yo and 4 months

I definitely preferred introducing a puppy to older more settled cats as then the cats were very confident in showing the puppy it's boundaries where as with the older dog I was more on edge in the first days.

The old cat snuggles so nicely with them and the younger cat likes to play about with them
The only real problem I have come across is the puppy sneaks behind us and gets to the old boys litter box

I’ve found landsharksanonymous very knowledgeable in this area. You’ll find a post in AMA started by her, she breeds Goldens - very responsibly.
Good luck OP.

My experience is the total opposite to PP - I found it much easier to introduce kittens to an established adult dog!

@Glitchymn1 You mention my name and I appear! 😁

@LaBelleSauvage123 - it completely depends on what sort of dog you want. Some dogs breeds are just better with other pets. For example, you'd be a bit bonkers to get a sighthound, raise it, and then get kittens. But, if you got something like a Lab (as you mention) or a Poodle etc then you're more likely to have success either way, I imagine.

What I would say though is raising even one puppy is a full time job and raising any sort of retriever (Lab, Goldie, Flattie) is a thankless task and you will probably regret it at least once. Adding kittens to that would be insane.

I don't think it's any better or any worse for their relations if you get them at the same time - but what I do know is not many responsible breeders would sell a puppy to you if you said you planned to get kittens shortly after or had just gotten kittens. Just as they wouldn't sell to you if you already had a v. young puppy at home.

You might find the odd one - if you're very very lucky - but they'll be few and far between. That is simply because although people have best intentions...best intentions aren't enough. And, of course, buying a puppy from the type of slightly irresponsible breeder will come with it's own challenges, so you need to consider it carefully.

That's not to say don't do it, but you just need to be aware this is bigger than 'which way around do I do it.'

@LandSharksAnonymous thank you - that's very helpful info. We are weighing up very carefully the decision to get a Lab puppy and have given ourselves a year post-retirement ( and adult children leaving home) to make that decision. We both had dogs growing up but this will be our first together. Cats are an easier prospect, especially if we rehome adults, so I think we'll probably do that while we consider the puppy question. Do you breed Labs? Or know of responsible breeders? We have found one near us online who looks great, but there's nothing like personal recommendations. If you've got the time to pm me any info, that would be great.

@LaBelleSauvage123 - I breed Goldies, not labs!

But what I would say is to:
(a) Check how many bitches they have and how old they are - lots of young female dogs but no older ones is a huge red flag
(b) Find out how many litters the bitch will have (more than two is a red flag)
(c) Find out the dogs health tests - fully health tested - and ask to see those tests
(d) Ask questions and be expected to be asked questions
(e) Expect to wait - good breeders don't have puppies readily available.

There's lots more, but those are my top five things to check to be confident you're getting the right pup from a good home! Good luck 😊

Thank you - I’ll check the place we’re looking at for all those points.

It might be very stressful for adult cats to get used to a new comer in the house, especially if they are not used to dogs. Easiest would be to get young cats/kittens and the puppy at roughly the same time and let them all grow up together. That should get you the best results, even though it may be the most work in the beginning.