Does anyone have experience with introducing a new dog to your cats?

Question

I have two cats, both of which are spoiled rotten. My oldest cat is the dominant one and she was none too happy when we got our newest kitty. My younger kitty, I thought, was a sweetie, but after we got our older cat shaved, she hissed at her for 3 days straight. I'm really scared to introduce a dog into the situation. I want a dog for sure, but am not sure how to do this. Does anyone have any suggestions? We want a puppy, not an adult dog.

Oops my bad. I did not ask for you jerks to tell me not to get a dog. I could have sworn I asked how to best introduce a dog to cats. Hmm.. weird that people are telling me not to get a dog as if they have any right to say so. Sorry again.

Answer 1

I started with 2 cats, then added a puppy (then another)! I told my cats that if the pup ruined their lives, it would go back, then resolved to make it work, as I adored the pup. Dogs will eat cat poop and their food, so you need to figure out where to keep these things away from the dogs. I turned the basement into "Cat Country". At first house, I put a child gate to block the door, but cats could jump over. At this house, my basement door has a small pet door. I kept the puppy on a leash, so it did not get to be bad with the cats. I crated the pup and made sure the cats had my time alone, at intervals. The cats are allowed on the furniture, but the dogs aren't---yet again, I built in a way so cats could get away, if uncomfortable. When potty trained, she was off leash, but anytime she got frisky with a cat, I said "leave the cat alone". We joked she wondered what a "catalone" was. Next time, I'd just say, "leave it". The puppy adored the cats more than the cats adored her. One cat, who hadn't liked the addition of the other cat, had already gone into hiding for the most part. She stayed in hiding for probably 3 yrs. The other one learned to not run when dogs around and holds his ground with them. I added the 2nd dog a few months after the first, which was bad. My brave cat got mysteriously sick and ended up at the emergency vet. The only thing we came up with was he was stressed out from the newest addition. He got better quickly, fortunately. He and my 2nd dog bathe each other a lot. Not sure it's love, as the one getting bathed seems to get annoyed and leaves, while the other looks smug to have won that spot. The cats seem to get along with the dogs better than with each other. I also researched breeds that never tended to get along with cats and though I got shelter pups, I didn't choose any mixes of those breeds. My animals were never left unsupervised til I knew all were safe together. My cats have never had a dangerous moment with the dogs, though the herd dog does, upon rare occasision see the less confident cat (who's also a squawker) and will suddenly run at her, apparently delighting in seeing her scurry while shrieking. She also bends her head down to look that cat in the face and wags her tail furiously---after 6 yrs., she's still trying to get that cat to like her. Good luck. You can make it work, but it does take planning and work.

Answer 2

Are you looking for an inside dog? Will it be around your kitties all of the time? If so, I would go with a small breed. Large breeds are harder to handle, even if you get them as puppies. That said. Kitties will be mad at first. You need to introduce the puppy just like you would introduce a new cat. Remember though, dogs get rougher than cats do. They will step right on a cat and not even think about it hurting. I have a Pomeranian and 11 cats. My cats love my dog and they all play together. And NO my cats are not de-clawed and never will be. That is a cruel and unnecessary operation. In fact when my cats and dog get rough, the cats don't scratch her they bite her, but usually she starts it. They do not hurt each other, they just get rough playing sometimes. Anyway, this is my long winded opinion.

Answer 3

my brother is actually experiencing this problem these days, except with one cat and an alaskan malamute. The dog doesn't seem to mind that the cat is there, the cat, on the other hand, being the territorial type, she got used to living in my brother's house alone, along with my brother and his girlfriend. When my brother got the dog (approx. 4 months at the time), the cat ran upstairs, and refused to come down. They tried to get the cat used to the dog, or at least comfortable with having the dog there, not necessarily tolerate it, they put the two in the dogs cage. The cat would just be annoying and would hiss, and smack the dog (declawed!!). The dog just wants to play, yet the cat feels threatened.
Honestly, i don't think there is a way, since cats are very territorial, but if you find a way, please let me know!! My brother and his girlfriend could use the advice...

Answer 4

I have two cats too, and got a puppy about a year ago. My cats were 3 and 5. The puppy was very excited to see something his size to play with, ran right up to them.

The older one hissed and swatted at him - dog learned his lesson. The other one rolled over and started wrestling just like she does with the other cat.

They are best friends now, the cat gives him baths! The older one and the dog are tolerant of eachother but in no means friends.

Anyway, just let them do what they do and it will workout fine. It'll be cute to watch.

Answer 5

Wow, I can't believe that anyone today still advocates getting cats declawed...

In my experience (I've had many dogs and cats) cats are less upset by a new dog in the house, than they are when you bring in a new cat.

Some cats will be horrified by a puppy, some cats will be fine. Give them time, they will eventually accept the dog as one of the family. Just be sure to give the cats plenty of attention and keep their routine as regular as possible. Try to give them some 'puppy free' time when you can, even if that means shutting the puppy out of a room for just a few minutes.

I'm sure everything will be fine and before too long you will be one big, happy family!

Answer 6

i just had to do this a few weeks ago. my cat is 9 yrs old the other is 5 yrs old. they are both spoiled rotten. when i got Precious Mariah was 5 yrs old, she did not like it one bit. She hissed and smacked Precious but, after awhile they got used to each other. They still smack each other but, in play. When i brought Abby (the dog)home. The girls wow they hissed smacked her. but, slowly introduce them c how they do. they might not like it at first. the cats may run and hide might smack the dog not right away. But, intime everything will b ok. my older cat sounds just like urs. my older cat is a big baby and she thinks that shes queen of the house...lol. which of course she is :)

Answer 7

Do NOT get a husky if you have cats. Ask an expert if the kind of dog you want is a breed that typically can get along with cats. Also, get your cats de-clawed so they cannot hurt the puppy (some cats are extremely vicious to puppies and adult dogs). I think your idea is a bad one--stick with either cats or dogs; that is safest.

Answer 8

Forget about it! Older cats especially Persains do not like kids, other cats, or dogs. I let my neighbors' dog to come up to visit my cat, and she had a hissy fit.

If a kitten and puppy are raised together, and get to know each other at a young age they are friends for life.

If you introduce a young animal to an older cat you have a war!

Answer 9

well my dear, as you know, cats and dogs have quite different nature; dogs like company,cats are very independent.my nature is pretty much like the cats', and my advice is to let your cat(s) give themselves some time to begin socializing with your puppy. do not forget that your puppy is a complete stranger to cats.

Answer 10

most dogs get along pretty good with cats but do not get a jack russell