Can a cat live happily with a dog?

[homeismyhaven]

We have had cats for last 20 years. Most recent kitty was 2 and very bold character- ruled the roost, so decided she could handle herself with a cavapoo puppy (1st dog in the family- time was right with wfh and kids now a bit older to help to take for walks etc- he has quite gentle nature and a lapdog/ v affectionate) they got on fine, cat would put pup in his place and were starting to cuddle up in evening together on sofa.

Unfortunately we lost our cat a couple of years ago and haven’t replaced her as felt new kitten may be more vulnerable with our dog still being young.

As much as I love our dog, I am def a cat person and really miss having one around. Our dog is now 3 and although lots of energy is def calmer, so wondering about if we could start considering having one again.

My worries are that the dog may traumatise/chase the cat (neighbour has dogs and a cat and cat basically spends all its time outside/upstairs to avoid dogs), the dog might get jealous of a cat coming into family/sitting on our laps for cuddles. Are these things we can train our dog to not to? Or would it be too stressful for a cat and best not to consider it??

Interested in hearing any experiences of introducing a cat into the house with a dog! Would prefer a kitten if possible (would it learn better to cope with a dog being young?) but would consider adopting an older cat who has already lived with a dog (although when I’ve had a brief look, most ads tend to say prefer not to live with a dog?!

I had two adult cats and successfully introduced a puppy. Once they were used to one another, the cats didn't take much notice of the dog and his only interest was in sniffing their bums after they'd had a poo.

A few years later, one of the cats died and I very quickly adopted another (young adult cat about a year old). I'd swear that dDog didn't even notice the cat had changed. The new cat just accepted him as part of her new household.

For what it's worth, our dog was a Cavalier so not dissimilar breed to yours. I have always had two cats and in all the 14 years we had a dog as well, the cats and dog never quarrelled, I've only ever dealt with fighting between the cats.

We had cats already and got a dog, that took a bit of time but the boy cats are fine with her, girl cat is a bit humphf still but ok
My friend however had a dog and over the 12 years she had him she got 4/5 cats and they were all absolutely fine with him

In my experience of several cat and dog combinations we have had over the years for the most part they just live happily ignoring each other's existence. If you are lucky they actually like each other but I find for the most part they just live separate lives under the same roof.

Occasionally you will get a dog that just can't live with a cat or vice versa but there is no real way of knowing until you are in that position. I would say if your dog has already lived with a cat and you either get a kitten or a cat that isn't known to be afraid of dogs (or a bully) then you will more than likely be fine.

Cats and dogs are mostly ok with each other. Especially if from puppy/kitten as it’s all they’ve ever known.

How about getting a rescue cat. They rescue will know if a cat can live with a dog, has lived with one before etc?

We have 2 dcats.. And 3 sighthounds!
They all get along more than fine!! 1 dcat was before the ddogs came along. 1 dkitten.. She took longer to not be terrified but now she rules the ddogs...

We got a kitten when one of our 2 dogs died. The cat adores the dog, but he is fairly indifferent to her charms. She often tries to get in bed with him which he won't allow and is always rubbing up against him which he finds annoying. They do have a relationship of sorts and seem to communicate - she will sometimes come and get him when she has caught something in the garden and wants him to look and he will go with her on these occasions.

Yes absolutely fine. I currently have a dog & cat sat on my bed. They largely ignore each other. Occasionally they give each other a sniff. They are fine together.
we got a kitten & then an adult cat after we had our dog for a couple of years.

I hope so, my Mum died 4 weeks ago and left her 2 cats orphaned so I've brought then to mine with our GSD. They've not met yet, it's all scent and sound atm while I get cat shelves put up to give them some sanctuary up out the way.
Currently, the cats are shut in a bedroom from 7am-8pm while the dog has the house, then when she goes in her crate for bed (which has been a bit earlier than normal) the cats have the run of the house. They've been here nearly 3 wks and so far so good.
I'm planning on letting them see each other next week, the closest theyve currently gotten has been eating meals on opposite sides of a closed door.
They will only have to tolerate each other eventually...

I'm sorry for your loss.

Of course if this is the arrangement you think is best for introducing these particular animals then that's great but just wanted to let OP know this is quite a long and cautious approach to introducing cats and dogs and in most circumstances this would be overkill. Just don't want OP to be daunted by this description of the introduction process

I hope when they do meet they all get on so your lovely DMs cats can have a safe and happy home.

Yes we have a dog and a cat - the dog came first. I think if you know the nature of your dog and know they aren’t likely to be aggressive everything else sorts itself out. Our cat is definitely the boss but they do generally get on fine

We introduced two kittens to our two older (both over ten years old) dogs. The cats like the dogs more than the other way around but they co exist fine. They do sleep next to each other but more in a ‘you have your space I have mine’ kind of way!

3 cats and 1 dog here. The dog and the latest rescue cat are pals and will cuddle up together. Middle cat tolerates head licks and kisses from dog. Oldest cat ignores the dog. Everyone coexists just fine.

Mostly yes. I have had cats and dogs together, most recently I took on my Mum's dog after she died and my cats barely turned a whisker. Very calm little dog.
Although I have also owned a dog I wouldn't have had a cat alongside as she was a chaser.
It depends on the animals. But there's lots you can do to make for successful introduction and co existing.

Yea I realise I'm drawing it out, am doing it this way as we're currently clearing Mum's flat to give back to the council and have her funeral on Wednesday - I literally don't have the spoons atm.
I've said to myself I'll give them a good 8 weeks to settle in and meet each other before making the final decision as to whether they stay, I'm planning to start gentle meetings with dog on lead lots of rewards for calm etc next week. They do have another home lined up to go to if necessary but we really wanted to try to keep them in the family 1st.

Of course I understand, fingers crossed they get on or at least don't not get on.

They usually get on or, if not,one just avoids the other. We had multiple cats and dogs growing up who mostly just tolerated each other. One cat used to put the dog in a headlock to groom him because she was just a little bit older than him so mothered him.

Your best bet is a kitten as it should learn to get used to the dog. However, an older cat from a dog family could work (but you might want to trial it).

Yes, but it very much depends on the breed traits, space available, how you introduce them and individual personalities of the animals in question.

I have a very self-assured cat and a laid back retriever. We have had more nervous cats previously who wouldn't have tolerated any kind of dog and even a very confident cat who was great in every other situation but was not a dog guy. Having had cats since I was a child (I am now mid-40's), this is the only cat is confident around dogs.

It helps that we have a breed that is generally comfortable around cats and ours has zero prey drive. Plus, we had the cat first, so dog had to march to the cat's beat. We also made sure to introduce them slowly and even now, many years on, have areas of the house where only the cat can go, so he has safe spaces. Plus we have a cat flap, so he can come and go as he pleases.

I introduced 2 Basset Hounds puppies to my existing ginger cat many years back, and after a short while, my cat use to sleep cuddled up with my male hound. Then sadly the cat passed aged 20 and I had a two year break. We then got a 6 month old ginger kitten from the RSPCA and luckily he totally accepted the dogs, however what was funny was my male dog was so pleased to see the new cat, I often joked he thought it was his previous old friend reappeared.