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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

A new puppy and two new kittens at the same time? Too much?

14 replies

countingto10 · 11/08/2013 11:32

As in the title, will it be too much for all involved?

Haven't had an animal in the house for 4 years but now the DCs are older and the majority of the building work done and would like a dog and a couple of cats again. Was trying to think of best way to achieve it eg getting kittens first and then introducing puppy or all at the same time. Has anyone done this?

OP posts:

topbannana · 11/08/2013 13:55

I think you're bonkers personally :)
What breed of dog were you thinking of?

Original poster

countingto10 · 11/08/2013 14:10

I did think it was a big ask - trying to keep everyone happy, have 4DCs, two of them want the cats and DH and one of them want a dog. Was originally intending to get a couple of kittens or older cats and then DH said he would rather have a dog .

I used to have a border collie who was very much my dog (pined for me etc) and he didn't like DH very much when DH moved in. DH wants a family dog so we were thinking of a lab, was looking into rescue ones but have a very "busy" family, lots of noise, comings and goings etc and feel that maybe a confident puppy would be able to cope better. I am a SAHM and know most of the work will fall to me.

Maybe get the kittens and when they are settled, neutered etc (maybe 6/8 months) and then get the puppy......

OP posts:

Branleuse · 11/08/2013 14:11

why so many all at once???

HorizontalRunningOnly · 11/08/2013 14:15

Maybe just get one of each? Or realistically whose gonna be looking after these animals most? If its u then get what u want first.

Puppy's are most work id say and need a lot of work and attention to get settled and behave how u want want then to so that might be easier to achieve with out any other pets around?

Getting three baby animals at once when u had no pets for 4 years seems mad. - hoe old are the 4 children in the house as wel?

Original poster

countingto10 · 11/08/2013 14:26

The DCS (boys) are 8, 10, 13 and 20.

I think what I was thinking of the most was the introduction of new pets ie is it easier to introduce a puppy to older cats (I did this with my older dog) or young kittens to an older dog IYSWIM. I use to have 2 cats and a dog so not phased by that aspect. We lost our last cat at the ripe old age of 20 four years ago and as he was already 14 when the dog was PTS, we felt it wasn't fair to introduce a puppy at that time (not expecting him to live for another 6 years). I subsequently had the fourth DS in that time too.

Have really missed having animals in the house but delayed getting anymore as we needed a lot of building work doing and DS4 was hardwork. He is now older and more sensible. Just trying to keep everyone happy

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 11/08/2013 15:43

Personally I have several friends who had cats that have either moved out or moved upstairs when a puppy has arrived and for that reason I would get the puppy first so that any new cat coming in knows from the outset what it has to put up with IYSWIM. It would also give you time to assess whether your puppy will be good with small furries before you get the cat .if you want a young / puppy rescue it may be worth looking at Many Tears ,they rehome all over the country ,have lots of youngsters and are generally in foster homes so they are used to busy families /cats etc.

everlong · 11/08/2013 17:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

countingto10 · 11/08/2013 18:17

Thanks for all your opinions - I obviously did take leave of my senses to even consider it .

Will consider getting the puppy/dog first then and take it from there.

OP posts:

everlong · 11/08/2013 18:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tabulahrasa · 11/08/2013 18:36

I'd get a dog first - my cats were fine with the existing dog, lived with him happily for years, he died, I got a puppy and they hate him.

Well one tolerates him, but the other is massively stressed by him, even though he's now 1 and never goes near her.

Karbea · 11/08/2013 19:40

I've 4 cats and a dog. The ideal is to have the cats first, and then the dog and introduce really slowly, swap beds, see through a glass door etc.

For a dog it's all about hierarchy, so having the cats first shows their are more important than him, for a at its about territory.

My youngest cat (1year old bengal) and my pup (6month old cocker) love each other and play all the time, it's a joy to watch.

I would definitely get a pup and kitten at the same time, but be very careful about play time and don't leave them alone initially. The dog will be bouncy and the cat skittish, which will make the dog chase etc. had but rewarding.y

Original poster

countingto10 · 11/08/2013 21:32

Thanks Karbea - maybe I wasn't completely off my rocker to consider it . It was my feeling that they would all grow up together and get along knowing how hard is was for one of my old cats to accept my old dog as a puppy.

Any puppy would be restricted to a crate and/or the kitchen during the day and whilst the house is empty so any interaction between kittens and puppy would supervised. This was how I envisaged it. Also thinking young animals don't have that fear that older animals have and many kittens and puppies are bred in homes that have both animals and therefore used to them IYSWIM.

There again, maybe my bumps do need to be felt.......

OP posts:

foxy6 · 11/08/2013 21:42

I would get them all together they will grow up to be such good friends. it prob will me manic for a while but so nice for them to grow up together.
if you do decide on getting them separately I would go with the dog first as my cat was fine with the dog we had when we got him, but after getting another puppy he left home

mrslaughan · 12/08/2013 18:15

I think it depends how much space you have .... You'll need a crate for the puppy and then a place for the littler box that you can fence off, do puppy doesn't eat the cat poo....
But what about rather than kittens, you got some young cats (say 6months) or even better adult cats ? Rescues are full of them and everyone wants a kitten? It would already be toilet trained - so you would only have about a week if dirt boxes? Plus they are big enough to protect themselves.

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