If I look after SiL’s puppy for a week will my cat get over it?

[PsychedelicSheep]

Hi, could use some advice from those of you who have both cats and dogs.

My SiL is going away in April and DP said we’d look after the puppy, I agreed to this in principle but left it to DP to sort.

Thing is we have just adopted a cat, she is wonderful but is an indoor cat and has never been around dogs.

Would it be a terrible idea for the puppy to come and stay? He is a gorgeous but very high energy/high maintenance cockapoo.

I don’t want to let SiL down but I also don’t want the cat to be upset and scared in her own home, especially as she’s new to us.

Am I being too precious about her or this a bad idea??

That sounds like a really bad idea to me. A cat that has never been around dogs andis still settling in plus a high energy puppy seems like a recipe for disaster to me. If you end up with a stressed out cat urinating and scent marking in the house it can be a hard habit to break.

Incredibly bad idea. The poor cat could end up quite traumatised. Not yet settled in, dog arriving on scene... just no. Poor cat.

Let your SIL know asap so she can sort something else. Please.

My cat moved into my mum and dads house (they have a dog), cat couldn't go out as it’s near a busy road and he was only there a few months. They love each other. He loves her when she comes to visit. Too a bit of them getting used to each other but after a few days it was fine.

Puppy? How old?
If the dog isn't used to cats and the cat isn't used to dogs then it's an awful idea. If the cat is indoor only then it can't escape.
If you take on a pup you don't go away.

Thanks guys, hmm that’s pretty much what I was worried about 😕

She’s settling in really well, I don’t want to ruin that.

Just talking to DP about it now, he’s going to tell her we can’t do it

I read that Maine Coon cats, which she is generally get on with dogs ok. But that’s when they’ve been socialised from a young age.

It could work out ok, but there's just no way of knowing until it happens and that's not a risk I'd be willing to take, not for someone else's dog, anyway. I think you're doing the right thing by cancelling.