Introducing a rescue dog to an elderly cat? Could it work or is it a really bad idea?

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Hello, I am looking for people who have experience of introducing a rescue dog to an elderly cat.
We have a much loved cat who has been with us for 15 years, she is a feisty rescue cat and she is now 17 years old.
We have 2 ds's one is 13 and the other is 5.
We are at the point in our lives where a dog would be a much welcome addition and we would very much like a rescue dog. It is possible from the research I have done to find a rescue dog that could get on with our 5 year old and our cat. However just because we can do it doesn't neccessarily mean that we should we do it?
I am mostly concerned for our cat's welfare being as she was here 1st and she is getting on in years. I was thinking a calm dog might work?
Would this be a nightmare and should we let her spend her final years in peace or is it possible for us to explore the option of having a dog?
I welcome peoples experiences in this matter,
Thanks

This is exactly the situation I have now. Obvs we chose a rescue dog who was assessed as being good with cats. But there's nothing I can do with the poxy cats. The old lady is fine - she brooks no nonsense and I think has told the dog she is not putting up with any shit, and dog ignores her. It is the younger idiots cats who make a fuss which makes the dog want to play with them who are my main focus atm. I have put up a stair gate so there is a dog/cat divide. Only 3 weeks in but am very much hoping I don't have to climb over this bloody gate for much longer.

The 'old lady' is a cat btw as my post isn't very clear.

My main concern isn't that the dog would disturb the cats, but that the cats don't damage her by scratching her eyes or something of the like.

I think you've correctly identified the difference between being able to do something and whether that is a good thing to do. [hsmile]

Yes, you could easily find a nice quiet rescue dog who could get on with cats and DC. But I would be wondering if you should. I am definitely NOT a cat expert (DH is allergic) but at that great age, she is realistically in the later years of her life, and at a stage when she appreciates peace and quiet, and that is going to be more likely not less in the future. Going by friends who have elderly and much loved rescue cats, they tend to become like very much loved prima donnas, still making their presence felt, still with their quirks and eccentricities, and still enjoying their routines and being boss of THEIR household and loyal subjects.

While she is still with you, why not explore some other options such as dog walking for the Cinnamon Trust or for your local rescue kennels? That way you would be getting your doggy fix and helping somebody (with CT, particularly) but keeping home quiet for your Dowager Empress. [hwink]

The cat would always be the boss Scuttlebutter :)

I think it would depend on a number of things (speaking as a cat owner, rescue dog owner and rescuer). :)

Whether the possible financial expense of owning an elderly cat would be a strain on your budget if you had a dog to insure, feed, provide for, vaccinate, find holiday care etc for too when, heaven forbid, the cat might become poorly as she ages.

Whether you think that Mog would be scared or intimidated by a dog, no matter how calm. Look at past history - for example, does she leg it when your 5 yos friends come to play or is she content amidst the added creatures and noise?

Can you provide her with somewhere to escape to if, for example, she is poorly or if she becomes more nervous or withdrawn as she ages?

I'm sure others will think of more, I'm brain dead and knackered this evening!

But, if you think she and you can cope, then as you say it is perfectly possible. Please ensure that you find a rescue that does all the stuff I bang on about in virtually every thread, including a home check as this in itself will help rescue consider your cat's needs. An older dog who has a history of living with a cat and who has been cat tested/fostered with cats too would be your best bet.

However, bear in mind that even a dog used to living with HIS cat may initially decide to have a fake chase of one in his new home although that is highly unlikely to last. Of course the other thing is never to leave the two unattended in the early stages at all and even when the dog is an established resident it may well be unwise to leave them together whilst you are out.

Also, always make sure that the cat has an escape route. A friend leaves her dog in the kitchen when she goes out (not often, she's a SAHM), with the door open but a stairgate in place so mog can get out if he is fed up with the dog.

Hence my reference to the Dowager Empress [hgrin] But woof might be a rebellious subject (sort of like Wat Tyler). Humans are trained.

I think I'm going to have to get a stairgate which opens.

We always wanted a dog but had two cats and by the time we thought it was good time for a dog both our cats were getting on - about same age as yours . What did it for us was one Christmas we had people to stay and they brought their well behaved dog - but one of the cats was totally spooked despite this dog having stayed at our house many times before . The cat stayed in our bedroom and at stage pee on bed which was unheard of . - duvet in bin.

That did it for us - cat behaved very unexpectedly so we waited for another 18 months before they sadly passed away before we thought of getting dog.

We didn't think it was fair on the elderly cats and wanted they last few years in peace. Your dog may be well behaved and not bother them but it is how the cat feels.

Thanks for all your very helpful responses, there is certainly a lot to think about, and Avantia's experience is exactly what I am concerned about. So I think that all things considered our cat will spend her dotage in peace! I will have to avoid Many Tears website for the time being. Thanks again for all your input.

I've done it - the feline tripod is probably about 10/11 years old now (but hasn't apparently recieved this memo) and it's generally worked out OK for us - she sulked for a while (hell hath no fury like a wronged moggie) but currently she's on the back of the sofa glaring imperiously out of the window at the street and the hound is on the main bit of the sofa.

It very much depends on the personality of the cat though - mine's a bloody madam mardarse who sharpish brought the dogs into line - to the extent that the soft one won't even go ON the sofa if the cat's sat on the back of it - the drip spent 30 minutes the other night begging me to go sit on the sofa so he could jump up beside me without the nasty kitty getting him and telling him off. If you've got a cat that runs it's harder because running = woo hooo nice chase the kitty game... the dogs rapidly concluded the hissing ball of wrath wasn't worth the bother and learnt to stay well clear.

They're NEVER left together unattended - the dogs sleep upstairs with us, cat has downstairs, initially we made the spare room a safe zone for the cat - and the cat's food and water is behind a nice impromptu construction of a knackered babygate tied to two coffee table crate things and two looroll tubes holding it wide enough open that she can get in and out but the dogs can't fit. I don't trust either side THAT much (the cat's AS liable to start a rukkus as the dogs are)!

Sounds daft but we couldn't have a dog any earlier than we did (as we rented prior to that) and I really didn't like the whole mental feeling of waiting for the cat to die so we could - if that makes any sense to anyone.