cats and dogs becoming friends?

Question

We have just brought home a 3 yr old westie to our 9month old cat after having read lots of reassuring things that they could learn to love each other. Obviously they don't just yet. I know I have to be patient, but how long will it take in your experience?

Hey, my dog and kitten are now in the same room, more or less oblivious of each other. If that's as good as it gets, that's fine with me- but I think they might become friends!

Answer 1

I had a cat and introduced a dog, although he was an eight week old pup, The cat was not allot older and she was not pleased but she came around quite quickly. In your case, the cat is quite young, so it will come around with in two or three weeks. The cat will stamp it's authority over the dog and things will settle down. My act had 6 kittens and went out every day and left the kittens in the care of the dog, who guarded them with his life.

Answer 2

We have two dogs, and decided to get two cats - we sat in the lounge with the dogs on the lead and let the cats mull around! The cats were more standing thier ground than the dogs even though the dogs were thier first!
I think its better if you get cats and dogs at the same time and puppys and kittens are better as they havn't already grown up scared of each other or knowing thier each others enemys!
I would suggest every evening when you sit watching the tv shut them in the lounge with you and keep the dog on the lead and just let the cat wonder around! Pay the dog lots of atention and the cat will wnat some too and gradually come over! Keep traets on you too! For both of them! Ham ! Good luck you'll need alot of time and patience

Answer 3

It won't always happen, it will honestly depend on the personalities of the animals involved. I added a 6 week old German Shepherd puppy to my household, and introducing him to my 3 year old cat wasn't fun! The cat attacked him (he was smaller at the time) and went on to really bully him. Obviously as the dog grew, the cat became less cocky, but there'd still be bullying! The dog was always curious, and just wanted to be friends, but the cat would never allow it...the poor dog ended up being scared everytime the cat walked by...so a relationship from hell basically!

When the dog was 4 months, I got two kittens, and because they were too young to know any different, they adapted to the dog really well, and were known to sleep with him! Very cute! He'd occasionally try and pick them up in his mouth, but they seemed to enjoy it lol.

Answer 4

There is likely to be a few problems at first and even if they don't become the best of friends they'll learn to tolerate each other! I always keep cats and dogs and after an initial period of introduction and a lot of fuss for the resident animal it usually takes about a fortnight to settle! When they become friends though will depend on the temperament of each animal! Make sure you don't leave them unsupervised at first and that the cat can escape if it needs too!

Answer 5

I had a rottweiller/dobermann and a turtleshell tomcat, at first they ignored each other but after a while the cat decided to attack the dog luckily with no reaction off the dog, this lasted about a month and then one day the dog was asleep near the sofa and the cat came up to it and curled inside his body, it was the first time they were near each other and from then on they were like best friends and they play fought and slept next to each other alot.

Answer 6

It is possible. I have two cats and one dog. One of my cats actually sleeps right next to and cuddles up with my dog. Try introducing them slowly I would suggest having either the dog or the cat in a wire type cage and bring the other animal around it. Let them sniff each other and check each other out. Dogs are more easy to train than cats so if the dog starts growling or turning its head to the side just said "no" in a stern voice. Try not to say the dogs name because when a dog hears its name it recalls it as being in a good sense like say "common Bruno lets go for a walk" so the dog will think he is being good and the behavior is being encouraged. Reward the dog for good behavior by giving him/her a part of a treat. If the cat is the aggressor try tapping him/her on the nose lightly with your finger. Cats react better to light physical discipline (such as water bottle sprays or a tap) than auditory commands. Eventually they will learn to tolerate and possibly even like one another.

Answer 7

It's going to take some time. They may not necessarily become the best of friends but they should learn to live in peace.

I adopted a 5-year old cat last May after my old cat died. The new cat and my two dogs still have some issues but it is gradually getting better over time and nobody has gotten hurt. So I think we are getting there.

Answer 8

It is possible that they can become friends. I had problems with older cats warming up to my pit bull, but my younger cat was also 9 months old and has become the dog's friend over time.

After about 4 months of living together they are sleeping together, licking each other, great friends! Though the cat still makes her bleed sometimes from mean scratches.

Answer 9

i would think that an adult dog and a 9 month old kitten would eventually get on, at least the dog would respond to commands to "leave" being older and understand commands. Ive had to day board my 5 month old beagle pup on occasions when one of us isn't around because she doesn't have access to garden for wee wee's and i have a stair gate half way through my kitchen which looks wicked - NOT .....because the pup wants to jump my 14year old cat and the cat wants to scratch the £1000 puppy's eyes out. we tried introducing them early on, both sat either side of my lap for a fuss, it was ok for a while but too unpredictable for my liking.
the cat has the run of upstairs and half of the kitchen (which is all he really needs, - some love and comfort and outside access, and the dog has the living room and a penned area of the garden. we are waiting for the pup to become an adult and not wish to kill the cat, and are building somewhere secure for her outside away from the cat. good luck it has been a nuisance for us and has changed all our plans and expectations of having a dog, but we love them both in their strange ways.

Answer 10

One of my cats and my roommate's dog became great friends pretty quickly, seems like it was only a few days. The other cat kept her distance from the dog the whole time we lived with them (3 months). The cats were kittens and the dog was a year old. It all depends on the animal's personalities.