Cat and dog, together?

[ChaosControl]

Does anyone own, or have experience of, a cat and a dog that live in the same house and don't hate/fight/chase each other? I love both cats and dogs but I'm not sure whether they'd mix. If they're around each other from an early age do you think they'd get used to each other?

[Barbed Lungs]

I have three cats and three dogs in the same house, but in my case it's very easy to seperate them. When they do mix the dog i've had longest and the cat i've had longest get along fine so I guess they've gotten used to each other. With the other ones it's usually the cats who go for the dogs but that's probably because my house is very strange. So in answer to your question, yeah my oldest cat and dog get along fine because they've been around each other for awhile.

[ForeverAutumn*]

I've never had a cat but I know several people who have. A close friend of mine has two kittens and two older cats, and a very large dog. They all get along fine. Same with another friend and a neighbor of mine as well.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both - having them both when they're young, and introducing one when the other is older. Example of this, my cousin had an eight-year-old German Shepard and took home a small kitten; because the Shepard was older, it was more tolerant of small, young animals. However, if you brought a cat and a dog home, both at an early age, they might learn to get used to each other. Or they might ignore each other completely. It's hard to be 100% accurate with animals because they're like people, they have their own personalities.

[Catsrmything]

I have a cat and dog and they get along great! My cat loves the dog and is always trying to play with his tail or lick his fur. My dog just gets annoyed and gets up and walks away.

[St.Vincent]

My friend has two older cats and a puppy. They get along fine, the cats keep the dog "in line". They don't let her come too close. There have been some scuffs, but it's always been the dog who initiated them, got scratched, and backed off. In general, they get along well.

[Fucking Done]

I have 4 cats and they get along with my dog I suppose. They aren't like best buds or anything but they tolerate each other aha. If my dog gets to close to a cat when they want to be left alone they'll just swat her away. My dogs only like 6 months old though so it might get better. When I first got my dog they hated each other and would chase each other but they got over it.

[Briana]

I have two dogs and one cat. My dogs think it's a game to chase the cat out of the room. They do not harm the cat but they love to "play" with him.

I just moved in with my mom's husband and he owned the cat so it will take time from them to get along but its not like they fight or anything.

[Toast]

I've known lots of people who have had both dogs and cats at the same time. I'm sure it would be fine, especially if they are raised together. You could also find certain breeds that generally mix well.

[Grizabella]

My cat was two or three years old when we got our dog. He wasn't thrilled the first week, but he got used to having the dog around. I wouldn't say they love each other, but they never fight. The cat keeps to areas of the house that the dog can't go.

[TheBabyEater]

My dogs just wanna play with my cats, but they're old and dont really want to play anymore.
My old dogs though, could get along fine with my cats on my moms bed. That was like, the safe zone. Once off the dogs would chase the cats. Though to be fair, it wasnt uncommon for one of my cats to sit on the counter and hit a dog on the head. So they got along in a kind of 'chase me!!!' relationship.

[TakeTheLeap]

Hey there!

I have 4 cats and 3 dogs. We don't really have any problems with them all getting along. However, one of the dogs is a new puppy (about 6 months old now) that LOVES to play with the kitties since the kitties are her size. Usually, the cats just end up staying upstairs while the crazy puppy stays down.
Ever since I was little, we've had both living together and have never had any problems. They're all like best friends. It's cute, really - one of my cats will snuggle and fall asleep right with one of the dogs.

Since this will be a new experience for you, I would suggest gettng a dog and cat that are both adults (both are more mellow, less likely to 'play' with one another), and make sure, when you're in the process of adopting to ask the people you're adopting from if they will get along well with other animals (of the same species and not), and what kind of relationships with other animals they've had in the past. Especially if you go to the SPCA or shelter - know the animal's history to know what kind of behaviours you can expect if possible. It's helpful, trust me.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, and good luck!
~Emily

[Gemma =]]

I have two dogs and three cats.

We had two of the cats originally, then we got our first dog as a puppy.
The cats were fine, a bit unsure at first but they came round and now they love him. Our third cat we got as a kitten when our dog was still a puppy so they grew up together and are best of friends.

We got a new dog last week and there have been a few problems but it's all going well.
The cats hated him at first, really didn't like him. But now they are getting on just fine together.
If the dog gets too close then they'll let him know but they aren't fighting or anything

If you are gonig to get a dog and cat, I'd suggest the same thing as Marissa, make sure there is a 'safe' place for the cat to escape to when it has had enough of the dog. The dog shouldn't be allowed in the cat's safe place and it shoould eb available to the cat all the time.
At my house the cats' safe place is my parents bedroom but generally the whole upstairs of our house.

So we've had a dog and cat grow up together and now are great friends, but it is also usually quite easy to bring in a new animal and for them to just get used to each other. It will take time but it will happen

Let us know what you decide

[Melody Pond]

I have a dog but no cat. My next door neighbours have a cat that my dog gets along great with. She just wants to play with them really but now she is older she will just lie down and go to sleep and the cat goes asleep on my dog.

My auntie had a cat and a dog together and they got along great until the dog passed away and then the cat got depressed and stopped eating and passed away too. That is how close they were, one couldn't live without the other.

[xxpaigiexx]

Hey,

I just got a puppy yesterday and I have 4 cats. My cats are really weary of the puppy and keep looking like they're going to go for him so we're keeping him seperate because he's little and they will end up going for him... but I'll let you know what happens lol.

[thegirlnextdoor89]

I think if both are little when you introduce them, it typically goes really well. If you introduce a puppy to an older cat, probably the worst the cat will do is hiss a few times and just ignore them if he doesn't like the dog. But if you intro a kitten to an older dog, the results are typically different. Usually the dog will see the kitten as a chew toy, so you have to keep a close eye on them.

In most situations though, you can usually get them to tolerate each other.

I have 3 cats and a dog living under the same roof and it's worked out pretty well. Right now my cats are ages 16, 4, and 1. And my dog is 5. My dog and the middle kitty get along decently, but the other 2 cats just completely ignore my dog.

[udontno]

I have four outside cats. My dog loves the cats. She has known all of them since they were kittens and enjoys licking them when they tolerate it. She doesn't chase them. She knows the difference between them and a wild animal. The biggest problem is her wanting to eat the cat food!

At first, the kittens did NOT like the dog but they got used to her. I think if you give it time, they should get along. However, dogs are dogs. What kind of dog do you have? If it is a dog like a Jack Russell, then the dog may want to attack. JRTs (Jack Russell Terriers) are raised for fox hunting (I've seen them do it, beautiful sight) and they have the instinct to hunt little animals like that. I've seen them go after anything. As a general rule of thumb, I don't like mixing terriers with kittens. I have seen it successfully done, however.

What sort of dog are you looking into? Are you looking into any particular kind of cat?

[Awakening]

A lot of the time cats and dogs do well together. I have like 5 cats and 3 dogs and their fine except for my lab puppy but hes just playing hes not trying to fight the cats.

[MadPoet]

Your topic title reminded me of the old Nick show Cat Dog!

Anywayy... I think that there are actually a lot of cats and dogs that can get along just fun. There are a few people I can think of in my family who either currently have or who have had both a cat and a dog at the same time, and I never saw them not getting along. When you bring the cat or dog in the house (whichever you are going to be adding to your pet collection, so to speak) just make sure you introduce them to each other and encourage them to get along. Play it on the safe side, in other words, until you know that they're going to be buds. I'm sure it will all be alright, they'll get used to each other. Best of luck

[razors_and_rosary]

when we tried to introduce a dog into the household, with two cats, the dog went for the cats, but the cats weren't bothered in the slightest. if anything they were mocking because the dog barely got two inches before a yank back and a sharp reprimand.
but down the road there are two dogs and a young cat in the household and as far as i know there are no problems there. but you see, it's a young cat.
that's the key, seems to me. the best way to be certain.
=] in a choice, i know you'd go for the cat, so i won't push that.
x

[ChaosControl]

yeah cats are my favourite but I like them both, they offer different sorts of companionship I won't be able to get either until I've moved out and maybe not even then I was just curious to know whether it would be sensible to consider it in the future, so thanks for your help guys

[udontno]

Since the OP seems satisfied with the responses, I shall close this. :-)