Dog adoption into an established cat household?
I am considering, after a home visit from the dog charity, of adopting a dog. However, I already have four Burmese cats and I was wondering if anyone out there had any experience of adopting a dog into an already established cat household. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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1. try to adopt a dog that is used to being around cats already and introduce cats to dog slowly and with you there, dont leave them all alone until you know for sure they will not fight2. My brother recently brought home a dog, and we have two cats. they had a small tussel at first, but once they realize who's top dog..or cat.. everything should be fine. i'd also ask the shelter you're adopting from. try bringing in the smell of the cats to the dog and vice versa. worked for us..
3. At my Dads we brought in 2 dogs (bloodhound/lab cross and retriever) with 5 cats of various ages and temperaments.
We started by keeping the dog in a large crate so the cats could see them, but the curious dog couldn't go after the cats. We then put a baby gate over the kitchen doorway that was high enough for cats to get under, but dogs can't. This way the cats could come see the dog but get away when they wanted. We kept the dog in the kitchen area for a few weeks (unless we were with him elsewhere) and they eventually got used to one another. Now the biggest dog and the biggest of the cats are buddies, and eat side by side, and that was the cat we expected the most trouble from!
As long as the cats feel safe from being chased then they will come and make peace with the dog (since they were there first, they will feel protective over 'their' house), and just make sure to give everyone equal attention.
4. i had my cat first for about 6 months before a brought a pit into the house that was around a year old. my cat was NOT happy. i didn't see her for about 2 weeks. I had taken her out from under the bed and walked her to the food and water. when she was done, i was walking the cat back to the bedroom and my pit starting jumping on me to get to the cat. my cat ended up biting me and it got infected. i decided to just leave them to work it out themselves. it took a while, lots of hissing from the cat but they got used to each other. we all sit on the couch on top of me and they nose each other. but to this day, 4 years later and a second dog, the poor cat is still chased thru the house. the dogs never try to hurt her but do chase her. i make sure she has a place to go where the dogs can't reach her. for me it's on the kitchen counters which i can't stand and is totally gross but the dogs can't chase her from there. just do it gradually and don't expect to see the cat for a while. good luck!
5. We have a moggy cat and had her for a year before we bought our dog...... Although she will only recently after 2 years tolerate the dog shes not happy about her in the house, and the only downstairs cuddles we get with the cat are when the dogs asleep.
6 months ago we inherited another kitty this cat was about 4 months old and completely fearless. Now when I put the dog to bed at night I have to ensure the cats in the room with her and visa vera for feeding petting and playing they are inseparable!!!! completely in love with each other.
So I suppose it depends on the age you introduce animals to each other at or the temperment of the animals.
but then
It really depends on the history of the dog and how tolerant your cats are
6. We had 2 cats in the house before we got the dogs in. They were all puppies over a period of 6 years and the cats hate them at first and do the normal hissing and pawing at them, but they get used to each other. Cats are very adaptable creatures and will surcome to almost all situations.
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