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Original poster

Other-pet-friendly dog -- is there such a thing?

40 replies

ATailOfTwoKitties · 22/10/2013 13:32

We have an elderly moggy (only one left despite the nickname); children over 10; and a cageful of guinea pigs in the kitchen.

DH admitted about six months ago that he's always hankered after a dog, but was somehow lumbered with my cats instead and assumed the two weren't compatible.

Could a dog be trained to leave cats and guinea pigs alone, assuming we didn't go daft and look at terriers or greyhounds?

Would a rescue place laugh us out of the water if we asked to rehome a cat-friendly dog? I'm home-based and likely to be so for some years yet, the kids are over 10, the garden is large and already wrecked like the house but we would be novices at this dog-owning lark.

OP posts:
MrsPnut · 22/10/2013 13:35

There are some out there, we rescued our dog a year ago and she is not at all interested in the cat.

In fact, sometimes the cat makes her feel uncomfortable, so she gets up and moves if the cat sits too close to her - of course the cat does it on purpose!

Original poster
ATailOfTwoKitties · 22/10/2013 13:43

Ah, that's encouraging. Trying not to get too excited at the idea though!

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kchapper5 · 22/10/2013 13:43

The rescue my dog is from will cat test any of their dogs if asked, they also take account individual circumstances so would only rehome a compatible dog with your situation :) my old dog was brilliant with cats, I think because the cat was there first and the cat wouldn't think twice about putting the dog in its place. So she soon learnt to leave her alone :) my new boy however would tear a cat to shreds If he could catch one :)

TreTops · 22/10/2013 13:44

Cats and dogs can definitely live together, particularly if the cat is there first and sort of put the dog in it place so to speak, but the dog will need to be a puppy for this. I'm sure there will be dogs in rescues that have lived with cats before, but they are unlikely to home one unless they are 100% sure.

It's more a question of how the cat will react to the dog, I know you said elderly but how old is the cat?

Guinea pigs should be fine as long as the cage/ run is secure the dog should get bored soon enough.

We had rabbits and a lab when I was a child he wasn't bothered if they were in cages if they were in the garden loose he would chase the females but my male rabbit would chase the dog and bite him, so it's just a case of them sorting out the hierarchy so the cat comes out on top.

Dog that I have known to live with cats are springers and terrier/ terrier crosses actually so you might not want to rule out terriers as the cat might prefer a smaller dog it can boss around.

If the cat is very elderly you might be better waiting as it might find a dog to intimidating.

flummoxedlummox · 22/10/2013 13:48

Our rescue was "cat tested" before she came to us as we already had a cat. The cat and dog get on fine mainly because the dog can't catch the cat running on laminate flooring.

The cat hugely enjoys hiding round corners and leaping out on the dog as well as the occasional leap onto the dogs back from the table. The dog is not top dog in our house.

absentmindeddooooodles · 22/10/2013 13:52

Ive always had cats and dogs together . Spri gers and collies ive found to always be fab with any cats weve had. Shepards not so much...too playful but still wouldnt try to eat them etc.

Id definatley go for a puppy though. ( plenty of them in rescues) as that way the cat could straight off show it whos boss.

Make sure you think your cat could handle the stress though. :)

minsmum · 22/10/2013 14:00

We have always had cats and dogs together with no problems. The rescue cat tested the dogs for us. One of whom was a three year old greyhound saluki cross. Our current dog is a collie saluki cross who is scared of the cats but they love her very much.

idirdog · 22/10/2013 14:15

We have always had cats and dog together. They get along fine although cats often have the upper hand Smile

Original poster
ATailOfTwoKitties · 22/10/2013 14:16

Thanks all. The cat is semi-used to dogs as the neighbours each side have one (lots of tail fluffing goes on but she does a good death-stare).

She's 17 - could be with us 6 months or 6 years longer, who knows.

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CherryLips1980 · 22/10/2013 14:29

I've got a weimaraner (a gundog who also has a strong chase instinct) and 2 cats. The cats were here before him, the big fluffy one teases him and quite often sets off games of chase (it is quite amusing to see a 35kg dog being chased by a 5kg cat) but will hop up onto the sideboard/top of the cat tree when he gets bored/has enough, whereas the Siamese HATES him more than anything has been hated before. He respects her entirely and won't even pass her if she is between him and where he wants to be. I just make sure that on a morning when the dog has just woken up and at his most irritating energetic the cats have access to the stairs which are blocked off, leaving a cat sized hole for them to get through.

Original poster
ATailOfTwoKitties · 22/10/2013 14:32

I was wondering about dredging up the old stair gates to let a cat through but not a (shortish) dog -- might that work?

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CherryLips1980 · 22/10/2013 14:34

I'd say they'd be perfect. I'd use stairgates but, er, the clothes horse option is cheaper, in that we have that already ;)

tabulahrasa · 22/10/2013 14:38

I've got a dog and two cats...he licks one of the cats a lot, but apart from that it's not an issue.

I had one of the cats, a different dog and two guinea pigs a few years ago and the only thing that I had to watch for was the cat trying to stick her paw in the guinea pig's cage.

CherryLips1980 · 22/10/2013 14:39

Gratuitous photos:

not daring to get by the cats

Mates really :)

Original poster
ATailOfTwoKitties · 22/10/2013 18:42
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kikipie · 22/10/2013 18:52

We have 3 dogs and 14 cats, all get on fine most of the time, with the current 3 dogs (some) of the cats were here first and the rest they've just got used to, so it's not impossible - and all our cats and dogs are rescues

tabulahrasa · 22/10/2013 18:57

Mine used to just move over till they were exactly out of reach and just sit there - they pretty much looked like they thought the cat was a bit thick.

OnaPromise · 22/10/2013 20:12

Greyhounds are often cat trainable, I feel I have to point this out. I have an elderly moggy and a young rescued greyhound who are at the moment sleeping together on the couch. I don't know so much about guinea pigs but I don't see why I couldn't train him with them as well.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 22/10/2013 20:23

We have cats and a dog. One of our cats kind of moved out, the other was fine . New kittens came and all fairly harmonious.

I do think it is stressful for older cats though. My friend is having problems with elderly cat who tolerated the introduction of their older dog when she was a pup and another kitten but not having a good time with their new puppy.

17 is quite an age and personally I wouldn't do it as I think it would be a lot to ask a cat of that age to deal with. Sorry to say that and I'm sure others will disagree with me.

fanoftheinvisibleman · 22/10/2013 20:24

I have a terrier who lives with a hamster and also spends two days atmy mums with an elderly cat. I only allow the hamster out in his ball but the dog knows he is not allowed to annoy the ham. The problem now is that the hamster is obsessed with the dog and chases him with the poor dog trying to keep out of his way!

He even backs off when the stupid ham tries to take his food off him!

LEMisdisappointed · 22/10/2013 20:25

My cats used to do that kneeding dance on my rotties chest and the dog would play in the garden with the rabbit, he never EVER did anything wrong.

Original poster
ATailOfTwoKitties · 22/10/2013 20:40

No, that's fine, Wynken -- I need both views.

The only hurry, as such, is that we would like a dog to be part of the family while the children are still here to appreciate it. We have one with autism who is pretty isolated at home and the hope would be that he would at least get out and about a bit more with a good reason to go for a walk.

OP posts:
Original poster
ATailOfTwoKitties · 22/10/2013 20:40

OTOH, he may well be with us for many years yet!

OP posts:
digerd · 22/10/2013 20:55

At 17 it would not be fair on the cat. The stress could be fatal for her and you would feel so guilty.
Please wait.

My little dog, who is smaller than cats, loves cats, but the 3 in our small cul-de-sac want nothing to do with her. They are not frightened of her, but it seems they can't stand her smellSad. The cats don't like each other either grin]

Karbea · 23/10/2013 07:03

We've 4 cats, Persians (13, 11, 9), Bengal (18months) and we introduced a puppy in the spring (American cocker), I introduced him really slowly, he had different relationships with all the cats ( I guess how he saw them in the hierarchy), the older ones he was very respectful to, let them drink water first etc, the Bengal was his best buddy (they played together, he "helped" catch mice etc, slept together, he sat on top of her). I would say go for it, but don't rush it, teach him recall really early, and don't leave him alone with the older cats, I would worry he (bull in a china shop) could push the really ones over by accident if he was rushing about, but I think I was paranoid. We often had growls from the cats if they thought he was getting too close, but they always sorted him out (they were boss), I often worried he'd get hurt rather than vice versa.
Do it, it's was a lovely thing to see them together. My Facebook too, was full of cat and dog pictures.
My dog died earlier this week, the Bengal is in mourning, she hunts the house for him, and just shouts at me (she was the most unvoical Bengal ever), the others are hardly eating.

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