2 cats + new puppy = bad idea?

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Ally_F

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Hi guys,

I would love some advice, I am desperate for a puppy - it was the one thing I promised myself I would get when I moved into my own house .... but then we got two cats instead.

My boyfriend has said we can start *thinking* about having a puppy after we have been away this week - but it will be a definite no no if the cats are going to have a brake down, as they came first.

I have thought about borrowing my friends dog who is cat friendly to visit a few times to get them used to the idea of a dog, but I think as its not the breed I will want (and much bigger than a puppy!) that this may be pointless as they will get used to this dog only.

Does anyone have any experience with cats and dogs living together?

And please be honest - does anyone think that I should just be dog-less, seeing as I do work full time (but would be coming home for lunch with puppy) and do have the cats to love and play with?
 
What kind of breed are you looking at?

Some cats and dogs get along just fine although a lot of puppies will torture cats :p
But reared together properly, I don't see a huge problem.

Would you consider a slightly older rescue/rehome who has been cat-proofed? Might be easier if you work full-time? FI there is a kennel I know looking to sell a 6mo male who hasn't made the grade for showing, but is cat, horse and chicken friendly, so they are out there.
 
We got our cats before our puppy. They were coming up to a year when we got him and they also were the number one priority. He certainly put their noses out of joint initially but they soon all settled down. He's a border terrier and had been used to cats from birth. We always make sure the cats have a safe dog free zone and if play time gets a bit rough they make a quick bee-line for that! He's now two and a half and they seem to keep each other company!!
 
I would love to have a Jap-spitz as breed of choice (so this is what I would have if I got a puppy) but it's down to the dog its self if I got anything older.

To be honest I don't really want a puppy - I would be counting the days until it was old enough to do full grown dog stuff (run with the horse, go jogging with me - not pee everywhere ...) but I have always read that dogs brought up with cats would be better than bringing in a full sized dog - so assumed puppy was my best option?
 
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I did it the other way around. I had 4 whippets and got a kitten. All my dogs were serious rabbit killers and I was worried they would kill the kitten. 3 didn't bother to lift their heads from the fire-side. One whippet came to have a look. She seemed to realise that he was just a new addition to the family and more importantly someone to play with. Those two played non stop, rolling around the floor, with the cat wrapped around her head like an Alien. They chased each other around the sofa. The cat came for walks with us and followed us for miles. It was great. Then some A***hole ran him over !

Your cats will be miffed about the puppy then they will accept him. The puppy will get his nose scratched a few times and he will learn not to jump on the cats.
 
We got our last bitch at nine months, we didn't get cats until she was over a year and she was delightful with them.

There are plenty of places you can get an older pup/youngster or adult dog, rescue/rehoming centres, breed rescues, as mentioned, breeders who kept a pup to run on but who didn't make the grade etc, you just need to put feelers out :)

Agree a 'time out' zone for both dog and cats is a good idea.
 
I think you can make it work. Things that will help you out is choosing a breed of dog that does not have a chase instinct (my German Spitzes are pretty disinterested in little things that run, whereas the JRT has had to be taught that chasing the cat is the worst sin he could commit), introducing them slowly and always under supervision, and allowing both animals their own space, but especially the cats should have areas they can escape to.
 
Its really easy to introduce a puppy to be honest as long as you give the cats plenty of escape and keep the puppy from pestering, that becomes your job to occupy the puppy, but cats can get up a height anyway and out of the way, and aslong as you use a crate to train the puppy then they can be seperated when u are not there and cats can have some time out, and they can eat their food seperatley without scrounging from one anothers bowls, the puppy will show initial interest but will sharp get over it and the cats will become yesterdays news.
I would not introduce a friends dogs to see what happenes as this will definately put your OH off, as cats will automatically go spackey and hide if they are not used to dogs, they are temperamental animals and they hide away when not happy, so if te dog is hyper or not used to cats either the reaction between them would be alot different to a new puppy that would possibly not even noticw the cats are there till they are literally in front of it's face, I have covered introducing cats and dogs in my puppy guide for the rescues I rehome, so again if you think it would help give me a shout and I will e.mail you it:D
 
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I am absolutely no expert, having just got my first ever puppy 4 weeks ago. But we do have cats. One older cat who's been with me for 10 years. Her nose is seriously put out of joint and she hisses and growls a lot, and stays out of the way, but then she's always been a bit of a grumpy bu**er! And a younger cat who was a sort of rescue (mother abandoned the litter so she's been with us from 2 weeks old), who is VERY dependent on us. She plays with the puppy. Pops chews her legs, tail and ears. Rosie tolerates it, then plays - they jump on each other and roll about. When she's had enough, she puts her claws out lightly and bashes Pops on the nose. Pops yelps and leaves her alone. (No damage caused I hasten to add!!)

I'm also a full timer, but come home at lunchtime. I am very lucky though - I can bring Pops into work with me in the afternoon. There have been a few days though, when she hasn't been able to come in with me, and she's been fine at home. She has the cats who she can adopt as her "pack", and she seems to cope well. Maybe not ideal, but hey, there could be much worse homes!

The only thing we do try to do, is that if she's alone most of the day, we make sure one of us is there all evening. It takes a bit of organising but we muddle through.

Anyway, as I said, I'm no expert and don't pretend to be, but I am in a similar situation and wanted to say that yes, it can work :)
 
Thank you so much guys! I really hope this works out :) I have been reading any dog training thing I can find and have my puppy fund all ready - "just in case" :D

Thank you!
 
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