Dog Then Cat Or

[kiesha09]

In the distant future I would like to have one dog and one cat that I raise from a puppy/kitten. I've never had a cat before so have never done any kind of dog/cat integration. So I thought I'd do my first poll here and ask your thoughts on what works best and why.

[GregW]

In the distant future I would like to have one dog and one cat that I raise from a puppy/kitten. I've never had a cat before so have never done any kind of dog/cat integration. So I thought I'd do my first poll here and ask your thoughts on what works best and why.

one strike of the claw from from our cat to Zoe when she was a pup was enough to show who was boss.

I think if it was the other way round a kitten dealing with a new home and a highly active young dog would have been highly stressful and would spend most of its time hiding and avoiding any place the dog was.

doesnt mean it cant be done just my experience : )

[The Spotted Devil]

My preference is for kitten first and then introduce the puppy once the kitten is grown. From the beginning my dogs are taught that "cats rule". That's not to say my adult cats are permitted to bully the dogs (because they like to sometimes) but any interactions or play (as has developed between Dizzy and the 2 dogs) is on the cats' terms. The dogs know that the Burmese girls are happy for some gentle sniffing but not to go beyond and the cats are all very relaxed and confident around the dogs. The dogs love my foster kittens and are always introduced before the kittens leave.

Edited September 20, 2012 by The Spotted Devil

[kiesha09]

Thanks for the responses!!

Makes sense TSD to wait until the cat is bigger before introducing a puppy.

Edited September 20, 2012 by kiesha09

[Teebs]

I vote cat first as well.

Up into recently I had 2 dogs and 4cats

Always found it easier bringing puppies In to the house over kittens

I find the current cats know how to get away and all the hidey holes. They don't stress as much as a cat who has never been in the house and has no idea how to get away

[westiemum]

My gorgeous cat came to me as a six year old and then a month later the first westie arrived - also as a six year old - and they got on fine - the cat was boss and one swipe across Mac's nose and the pack hierarchy was well and truly established! :)

[noisymina]

When our cat passed on and DH wanted another one, we already had the dog. Dog, admittedly, was somewhat used to cats. But he went to a rescue organisation here and they actually matched him with a dog friendly cat!

I've never seen a cat sook up to dogs like this one does! As soon as she arrived here, the dog shoved her nose up to the crate and the cat tried to rub up against her. No hair raised, no hissing - not a thing! She just walked on out after a couple of days of dog socialisation/introduction and she was done. *shrug*. Cat become boss of dog.

Dog has since passed on and the new dog and cat play tag together and lick each other. Again, after a period of carefully supervised socialisation. The cat chases the dog or tries to ambush her as she runs past. All good fun! Mostly, tho, she treats the dog with the sort of disdain only a cat can show! :laugh:

[percyk]

we have had dogs and introduced kittens and vice versa...cat then pup

it's about the breeding and the nature of the cats

we have had really chilled out cats ...the latest two are ragdolls and they were brought in to a pack of indoor dogs...a=two spaniels and a shihtzu

later as we lost the older dogs...we had a new dog who accepted the cats well..unless they ran ,,,then hed chase

but

when we moved to the new house...i had the cats put into a cattery/ cat run on the side of the house and whenever we brought the cats inside, this dog would chase them as if not recognising them or maybe he became territorial cos they were no longer part of the household scene on a daily basis

he still wags his tail at them through the cat run fence and i have had them in the enclosed breezeway with him but i know now that attitudes can change even if theyre brought up as pups with cats...

good luck..it is gorgeous when theyre all together living in peace and thats how it has been with us for the most