If you have dogs and cats...

[MagpieCursedTea]

How did that happen? As in, who came first? How did you know they'd be okay with each other?

I wasn't sure whether I should put this in the dog section or the cat section. I decided to put it in the dog section because I love dogs but never get to post here.

I had the most amazing dog growing up, she was my best friend and I loved her dearly. She died three years ago (at the grand old age of 18!)

When I moved in with DH, he wanted a cat and I wanted a dog. It was decided that because we both worked full time we'd get a cat.

Our circumstances have changed now, DH works from home and I work part time. However with two cats and a toddler, it's pretty unlikely we'll adopt a dog anytime soon

I'm just curious though, so would love to hear how it works when dogs and cats live together so I can eventually talk DH into it

I have one cat and 5 dogs. This is how it works....

What the cat says goes.

But, the cat was there first so I think that helps, I supervise when the cat comes into the kitchen/dog sitting room, because I wouldn't trust a couple of the dogs that much. When I go out if the cat is in then I always shut doors to keep them separate. For the most part the cat stays away from them. Unless he feels like being an arse then he bullies them .

Cat decided he wanted to sit with me in the kitchen the other day and he actually herded 4 dogs away. Hissing and moving round them like a collie with sheep. I was quite impressed!

We always had both cats and dogs when I was growing up so it just seemed a natural part of life - they all got on more or less with the cats very definitely being in charge

Both our current cats were in residence when we got our puppy - he was used to cats at his breeder's house so was already used to them. He adores our boy cat (the feeling isn't mutual - boy cat tolerates his attempts at initiating friendship but will occasionally unbend enough for a mutual nose sniffing session followed by allowing ddog to lick him) and he's terrified of our tiny elderly girl cat. We came home a few weeks ago and the dog was at the top of the stairs, frantically wagging his tail but not coming down to say hello. We realised that girl cat was sitting on the bottom stair hidden by shadows and the dog was too scared to go past her!

Cats, dog, baby here. Probably not the most sensible way to do it but works brilliantly for us. We got the dog as a puppy and he's tiny so the cats established ascendancy right away. Dog was kept downstairs in the daytime so cats had plenty of space to retreat upstairs. Then when DS came they all freaked out for a couple of weeks then took it in their stride. DS is 20 months now and although I wouldn't get a dog now if we didn't have one already, we have a really lovely dynamic going on between all the rugrats (soon to be shattered by the arrival of DC2!!)

Also remember if you are bringing a pup in, then you need to watch the cat doesn't hurt the pup, there will be biting and scratching and the pup wants to play. Then when it's bigger you make sure the dog doesn't eat the cat

If you are getting a rescue check that it is cat proof. Because an adult dog that hasn't been used to cats could do a lot if damage very quickly, depending on it previous experience/prey drive etc

We have twice had a puppy who has met a resident cat. Cat1 hated our first dog and would lie in wait for her and box her ears. As a result, MiniDog dislikes our present cat as well, but largely ignores him.

Cat2 had just moved in (yes, you read that right, he moved himself in) when MehDog arrived as a tiny puppy. He hates every single cat in the world and would eat them all for tea... except for Cat2, who he adores. Cat2 rather likes him and they have mutual adoration sessions where the cat twines round MehDog's legs and MehDog cleans the cat's ears. MiniDog watches these antics with contempt, having been emotionally scarred by Cat1 (now deceased), but she leaves Cat2 alone (despite hating and being prepared to pursue any cat she sees elsewhere).

So from my experience, if you want the cat to have the upper hand and not cat chased etc, make sure the dog enters a house with a cat in it already.

Dog, first cat, second cat...dog died, new dog.

How it works - first cat is the supreme overlord of everyone, ever...

We have had various combinations up to 14 cats and 4 dogs, currently 14 cats and two dogs.

In the current set up the dogs came as young pups with however many cats already in situ, and it's generally fine. One of the dogs is much better than the other, he loves the cats, loves licking them and playing with them, and some of the cats love him and will rub themselves against him, wind themselves round his legs etc, the other tolerates them and can be a bit hyper with them, but he's a very nervous dog.

The other 3 dogs we've had have all been fine with the cats too - the cats tend to have the upper hand, or at least can jump out of the way of the dogs

First time: Baby dog introduced to grown up cat - no problem after several months trauma for neurotic cat as cat finally learnt to put pup in his place.

Next time: Adult dog (who enjoys chasing other people's cats if they stray into our garden) introduced to baby cat - VERY careful, controlled introductions, a week or two of shutting doors between the two - no problem. After initial excitement (on dog's part) and total indifference (on kitten's part) within 2 weeks they were curled on the sofa together.

Old cat came first, then two dogs (now deceased) then second cat, then current dog.

Old cat is very much the boss and treated with the utmost respect by everyone in the house, except second cat - who tries to pick fights with old cat & gets put in his place.

Dog keeps her distance from old cat having been on the receiving end of his claws as a pup.

Dog adores second cat and they seem to get on fine. Dog especially enjoys licking second cat dry when he's been out in the rain.

We will hopefully get dog another canine companion soon, which will no doubt lead to another reworking of the dynamics.

When I first graduated from university my boyfriend (who later became DH) and I had a kitten and we lived next door to people who had a puppy. They used to play so nicely and so years later we got a puppy and I wanted to get kittens.

Then I was sold a sob story at the rescue centre and ended up with 2 fat lazy elderly cats!

All has been fine mostly ... it's only a little dog though.

I'm really enjoying reading the posts about the cats and dogs who love each other, it's very cute!
It's also pretty amusing that in almost every case here, the cats are in charge
As I said, it's not something that's likely to happen for us anytime soon. The cats have only just forgiven us for DS (there's a growing love between them now) and I doubt any rescue would let us adopt a dog while DS is so young. It's nice to know I could be a possibility in the future though!

Thank you OP I have been intending to ask the same question for ages.

Rescue cat 1 first, then rescue cat 2 - obtained as company for cat 1 (cat 1 actually hates cat 2) then the dog.
Cat 1 hates the dog, cat 2 and dog get on well and will snuggle near each other. Dog also allows cat 2 to groom him.
The cats are definitely in charge

We had a cat first then 1st dc, then dog then 2nd dc.cat then died so we got another cat. Then a stray moved in. Then dog died so got another dog, then the stray died and 10 months later the other cat died. When this happened the dog got quite seriously depressed so we got 2 kittens from a rescue. They all love each other. The cats sleep with the dog , wash her etc but she knows that cats are more important and are scary. They are definitely in charge she will even let them eat her food and move her from her bed

It's not a great photo, but this is our cat and dog tonight, after 3 weeks of living together. We got the cat first (6 years old rehomed to us mid April) then the dog (12 months ish rescue GSDx).

The cat is gradually getting braver and the dog is feigning less and less interest, although he'd love her to cuddle up to him. He seems to know that patience is a virtue.

We have 3 children under 10, a cat and 4 chickens and we still managed to get a rescue dog -don't lose faith.

Ours went cat, puppy, baby1, 2x kittens, another kitten, baby2, old cat moved out :( ( Builders and babies), we moved house, baby3, moved house, baby4, one cat died, puppy , cats moved to neighbours for 18 months, two old cats came back and avoided the dogs whenever possible, old dog died, new puppy, one cat died, two kittens, dogs interested but kittens used to dogs and very confident, last old cat died, dog died unexpectedly, new rescue dog.
So now we have two dogs, almost 4 and almost 2, and two cats , almost 2. This combination seem to get on well.
The new rescue dog does follow the cats around a bit and will chase them when the run, but the cats are daft as they will disappear over the fence then come straight back to be licked.
They all sleep curled up on the sofa and are much less trouble than the 4 children!

We did
Male dog-baby-female dog-2x kittens

My mum has my two 8 year old cats in the uk. She then got two lurcher puppies. Given the chase/prey drive of said puppies I was slightly concerned but as it turns out one puppy has always maintained a fearful respect of the cats. The other puppy is still stupid enough to try and play with the cats then scream with fear if one of the cats actually takes her up on her offer. It's very funny though. I definitely think it's easier to present a puppy to an adult cat than the other way round.

We had a cat
Got a dog (greyhound)
Got a kitten
Dog died
Got another dog
Got a second dog

it's all been fine.

We had 3 cats then dog. Dominant cat adopted very dumb puppy, female cat started off very aggressive now adores dog (after 8 years!) Which totally terrifies him and third cat thinks he is stray even though he's been spoilt since he was born in my cupboard and ignores him.
Probably wouldn't have so many pets again but they just all arrived.
If anything dog has adopted many cat traits.....

Cat first, then one dog, then another dog. Cat and dog one have mutual hatred going on, dog two loves cat, she is indifferent. Cat is Maine coon and dog two is chihuahua, so she's actually bigger than him and I don't think she realises that he even is a dog, maybe a big mouse or something?
She allows him to sniff at her, lick her nose and lie down beside her occasionally, he can't believe his luck. Then she will move unexpectedly and he leaps back in terror. It's very funny.

The dog was still a puppy really when the cat moved in (NDN was pregnant and wouldn't let the cat in anymore) and what the cat says goes - except when they are outside and then the dog will chase the cat if it runs.

"It's also pretty amusing that in almost every case here, the cats are in charge"

This surprises you? Lol

For the record, old dog had never lived with a cat before we got first cat, I cat tested him at a neighbour's house and him and first cat lived happily together for years until he died, they weren't amazing friends but they shared the house happily and greeted each other occasionally, second cat when she arrived would cuddle up with him and play.

New dog gets on pretty well with second cat as well, though he's a bit too licky for her, first cat hates him, she randomly swipes at him for existing...he follows them both round gazing at them adoringly.

First cat isn't stressed about him, she'll wander past and steal food from him, plays near him and goes about doing whatever, she just doesn't like him.

we had three year old guide dog when we rescued two kittens. Dog wanted to play with kittens, kittens growled at dog. after a couple of weeks black kitten snuggled up to dog, tortoiseshell kitten sniffed dog....

As they grew up black cat would sleep in the dog's basket. She was never a cat chaser and never even tried - she just wanted to play.

As time went on two more guide dogs entered the equation, and they both chased the cats to start with, but the tortoiseshell was the dog tamer - she was small, but only had to stand up to them once to show them who ruled.

Black cat died a year ago and I had to have tortoiseshell pts two weeks ago . Now I just have one dog, and my house is soooo quiet without a cat.

we had two cats, then got a dog, and they made her life hell...they ignored one another mainly

then got another dog, and the status continued....cats in charge, dogs very much the underclass.

next cat (Oscar) was a bit scared of dogs, first two cats died, then the dogs carked it

then we got two kittens, and have had a succession of puppies through the house and it is really nice to see how they all get along. Faerie mainly is in charge and rarely has any contact with the dogs, or new puppies, except for a huge fisticuffs if they dare to rush her. Reuben has liked all the pups in different ways and is the one who teaches them all cat manners....even cosying up with a couple.

Current house dogs are respectful of cats, Kelly likes to protect them and will try to break up any cat fights, Zac is a bit scared of them, Oscar will still ignore and avoid the dogs and pups.