If you have a dog AND cat.......

how do they get along?

I have 2 young cats (between 1-3yrs). We are CONSIDERING getting a dog when we buy a house!! I am wondering if anyone can share their experiences introducing a dog to a cat. Did they eventually become friends? I am TOTALLY open to the idea of getting a dog but absolutely will NOT get one if it will ruin my cat's lives....... make them constantly afraid, etc.

Any input? TIA

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

When I was growing up we had a BIG German Shepherd that was my mother's work dog, so it was trained in bitework and protection (he was a mush at home) and we had this orange striped cat that when Lex was laying down, the cat would curl up against the dog and go to sleep with him.. we have a lot of pictures of them like that. It was very sweet..

Message edited 7/18/2009 12:08:27 PM.

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

When we first got our house, within 6 months or so, we adopted an old "Momma cat", a young cat (around 1 year or so), and a 50lb dog. For the first few months, nobody got along. I had to cut a cat-sized door in one of the spare bedroom doors so the cats could escape from the dog. At night, there were times when I had the dog in our room, the older cat upstairs, and the younger cat in the basement.
Fairly soon, the younger cat realized that it was 2nd in command behind the Momma cat, so they got along OK. After numerous whacks on the dog's head by the older cat, and us reinforcing that the cats were higher up in the chain, eventually the dog fell into place. They were never "friendly", but they all realized their place, and were OK with it. The older cat would often sit on a chair, and when the dog walked by, she would smack his head.... just for the fun of it...

When we had rats for a little while, the rats would dominate the cats, and the cats would dominate the dog....

Our house rule was, if you can eat someone else, they are higher than you, and we will enforce that.....

Now, only Darwin is left, and he's roughly 14 or so, so he just lays on his favorite blankets in the corners of various rooms. He's finally the head of the animals in the house.....

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

Posted by PennyCat

how do they get along?

I have 2 young cats (between 1-3yrs). We are CONSIDERING getting a dog when we buy a house!! I am wondering if anyone can share their experiences introducing a dog to a cat. Did they eventually become friends? I am TOTALLY open to the idea of getting a dog but absolutely will NOT get one if it will ruin my cat's lives....... make them constantly afraid, etc.

Any input? TIA

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

we have a cat and a dog.... the cat will be 10 next month... they get along great!! the pup warmed up to the cat WAY faster than the cat warmed up to the dog... it took our cat a good 4 months or so to finally be at peace with the dog

every now and then, the cat needs to remind the dog whos boss and slaps him in the head with his paws... but he has NEVER EVER EVER taken his claws out -- ever!!

now they get along so well, they will lick each others face and the cat rubs up against the dog in a loving manner... its too cute!

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

Message edited 7/20/2009 12:43:22 PM.

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

Posted by anonttcer

Posted by MeeshMosh



every now and then, the cat needs to remind the dog whos boss and slaps him in the head with his paws... but he has NEVER EVER EVER taken his claws out -- ever!!

OMG this made me LOL!
So typical of a cat!

I also think a lot has to do with the temperant of your cats.
My last cat- NO WAY IN HECK would she have been ok with a dog. We just knew it- she was skittish, could be nasty at times, and would freak out over everything.
Our current cats- they would probably be ok with it.


You know your cats best- so if you feel they are more social, not very skittish, etc I think they would do great eventually!

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Message edited 7/20/2009 1:04:18 PM.

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

OMG they are SOOOO cute.
They look like siblings- they match!

Yeah it's a tough call... it will be stressful for the "scaredy" cat for sure... but like everything, they usually will get used to it...

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Keep us posted!

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

This depends on the temperament. We attempted to introduce our dog to a cat but this resulted in a corneal laceration and over $300 vet bill.

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

We got a dog when we bought a house. We had two cats that were 7 & 9 years old when we introduced our 75 lb dog.

It was rough for a while, you have to give it time. Unless, it becomes obvious it is a dangerous situation.

The cats hid in the beginning. There was hissing and barking. Then the cats would come out but stay away from the dog.

One cat took about 3 months to come around to the dog. It was really funny, he was deciding whether to attempt to sleep next to the dog but he was afraid. After about 15 minutes, he nestled in and have been friends ever since.

The other cat hissed for about 1 year before he came around to the dog. But now they are buddies. They sleep together occasionally, look out the door together.

The cats clean the dogs head.
If the cat is sleeping on the big dog bed, my dog will go and sleep on the little cat bed as not to disturb the cat.

My dog is a big mush.
You want to make sure the dog isn't cat aggressive. I don't know if you can ever get past it.

You want the dog's first reaction to be indifference or interest. Not going right for them.

Message edited 7/22/2009 10:45:59 AM.

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

Posted by PennyCat


Your dog sounds so funny! Would you mind telling me what breed he is?

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Message edited 7/23/2009 4:59:19 PM.

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

aww!! They're ADORABLE!!!! I hope I am as lucky as you, if we get a dog!

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

Excellent question.

My DH is DYING to get a dog. I told him to let me master the whole "having a child" thing first

I feel that our cat would get along really well with a dog, though--he's always looking for someone to play with, and my mom's cat is old and cratchety and not much fun.

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

we have two cats and two dogs and they get along fine. The cats will tease the dogs and the dogs will try and play with them but the cat will definately show him whose the boss! lol
They do really love each other though!

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

We have a dog and 4 cats. One of the cats doesn't like him and runs away when the dog tries to go near him. Another one can't be bothered and pretty much just ignores the dog. One of the cats waits until the dog is laying down and then practically molests him rubbing all over him and the 4th cat just kinda hangs out and lays with him and we tell him to give her kisses and he'll lick her head.

Re: If you have a dog AND cat.......

I had 2 cats when I adopted my dog who was about 4 y/o at the time. She is big too- about 70lbs.

I don't know how helpful this is for you but it just worked out for me. First I took the dog as a "foster" so it was temporary if I wanted it to be- b/c like you I would never jeopardize my cats' saftey or happiness even.

The dog just liked them. One cat REALLY liked the dog back and the other one eh well she gives the dog dirty looks now and then but they never had any problems and well that cat is a bit of a b*tch to everyone haha (well except for me of course).

A few yrs later we got a kitten and at first I thought the dog was gonna step on her or something or maybe even bite her b/c she was SOO curious and a little too rough. After a week or two the dog got over it and they became bffs. The kitten still sleeps with the dog and she's about 8 months.

The other cats never got THAT close but they will all sleep on the king size bed together- just a few feet apart. It worked out well.

I'll also say that my dog wants to chase and kill stray cats... So, even though she has a "prey drive" it doesn't happen in the house. Thank God.

Message edited 7/27/2009 3:26:00 PM.