Dog Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums
Status
Not open for further replies.

Will it ruin my cats to introduce a dog?

Jump to Latest
2.4K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  Luananeko  
L
#1 ·
I am considering adopting a puppy but already have two cats, brothers that are almost 8 yrs old.

They are strictly 100% indoor cats and my dog would be an indoor dog .The dog does not have a history with cats . My cats have distinct personalities with one being more cautious of the other.

They have had limited interactions with dogs. Once a friend came by with a chihuahua. This chi lived with two cats, knew the score and was a perfect gentlemen in our house:) One cat ran and hid, the other cat sniffed cautiously and went about his business.

The other interaction was less positive. A neighbor's Yorkie came in when the neighbor was at the door and tore about the house like a maniac , on two occasions, leaving the house in chaos.

I intend to make the transition as smooth as possible without anything like that going on. No chasing, a safe haven for the cats and their food and their usual spots as a non option for the dog so that they do not feel displaced.

My concern is for the long term. They have the coolest personalities. I don't want an irreversible change to take place.

I posted about the dog that I am looking to adopt on another thread , and he seems to be mostly pug with some chihuahua thrown in the mix so they won't be dealing with a massive dog. I don't intend to allow chasing to go on and will monitor their interaction closely from the beginning.

But I am just curious if they will come to accept the change in the house or will they really freak out permanently? Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated:)

tia
 
#2 ·
My experience with many cats and dogs, is that they can usually work something out. Its great if you have an "escape route" for the cat. If the dog comes as a puppy, that is best, as the puppy grows up thinking of cats as members of the family, rather than prey!

We've had cats that always have the upper hand with dogs and also cats that are always wimps around dogs. It really depends on the cat's confidence and experience level with dogs. But on the whole, no one got hurt, and most of the time they become friends at some level!
 
Save
Like Like
#3 ·
Tess said:
We've had cats that always have the upper hand with dogs and also cats that are always wimps around dogs. It really depends on the cat's confidence and experience level with dogs. But on the whole, no one got hurt, and most of the time they become friends at some level!
Click to expand...
I'll echo that. We intro'ed a 2-yo, high prey drive dog that never took to the cat (after 3 months of trying). The cat got chased constantly any time she'd try to come out of her safe spots on her own. She was totally fine after we rehomed the dog. I think especially with a puppy, the dog can learn better how to behave around the cats, so I wouldn't worry as much, especially if you're getting a breed with a low prey drive.

Great idea on the proper intro. Here's a similar post on that if it helps you. :)

http://www.dogforum.com/dog-behavior/introducing-puppy-cat-4516
 
Save
Like Like
#4 ·
Usually the only time cats will permanently change personalities because of a new dog is because the transition was not monitored properly and/or the new dog is very prey-drivey with the cats and therefore terrifies the poor things. Since the puppy you're looking at is pretty much the same size as the cats, they'll probably see the dog as "that crazy weirdo" and ignore him, worst case. Best case, they'll become buddies :)

I have two cats, one of which is pretty cautious, and recently brought home a new dog myself. It's been about 5 weeks since we got the dog, and the cats have pretty much adjusted and gone back to their normal habits and personalities. One of them even comes up and rubs on the dog a bunch, while the cautious one just ignores her and tries to steal her food ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Dog Forum
posts
839K
members
76K
Since
2008
A forum community dedicated to all breeds of dog owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeds, training, puppies, food reviews, service animals, and more.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Dog Training and Behavior General Dog Discussion Dog Health and Food Dog Breeds Dog Pictures and Videos