I have a cat and I'm getting a dog.. few questions.?

Question

I've had my cat for about 1.5 years and he is, I would guess, about 3 or 4 years old. He is the best cat I have ever had. He is a bit larger than most cats, not fat, just big boned. haha. He is declawed in the front (I adopted him like that, I'm not cruel) and he is kind of like a dog. He loves to be petted everywhere and he liked his belly rubbed. He knows his name and comes when called. He tends to sleep alot, unless I'm not home, then he waits up, or unless I'm playing with him by running around the house, then he chases me around. I'm thinking about adoping a year old pomeranian that doesn't bark much.

I was wondering how you all thought my cat would react to it. I know he might be jealous at first but I don't want him to feel unloved. How can I make it easier on him & how long will he be jealous for.

Also, whats a good way to introduce a cat to a new dog?

Answer 1

Introduce them to each other slowly and show love to both of them. If the cat is scared let him be alone for awhile. Try again later with your sitting on a chair holding you cat and petting your new dog. I hope they like each other!! Good luck!

Answer 2

Sounds a lot like my cat when I got her 13 years ago :)

Anyway, just like a young child who suddenly has a new baby sibling, your cat is gonna be jealous of the attention the puppy gets at first. Make sure that you pay special attention to the cat so he doesn't feel like he's being replaced.

When your cat and dog meet each other, they'll likely be a bit hesitant. DO NOT TRY TO FORCE THEM TO BE FRIENDS. Eventually your cat may "adopt" the puppy and play with it. Your dog might even start to display some cat-like behavior!

Answer 3

Introduce them slowly.. Perhaps put a gate between two rooms so that they can sniff each other.

I have a dog and cat, the cat was nervous of him at first, but now they are best friends. I also have a puppy, but he trys to play with her and is very rough, so she dislikes that.. So it might be a bit harder if your dog is younger.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Make sure that the dog doesn't bark at the cat. I have three cats and three dogs, one being  very loud, needless to say the only dog the cats don't get along with is the loud one. As for the intro,   keep the dog in a crate and let the cat come up to it.

Answer 5

Introduce them slowly don't force the issue -  eventually they will become good friends. It does take time unless they are like my dog and cat -  

if I walk up to my house and look thru the window they will be laying on the couch together in a ball (so cute) as soon as I open the door she (cat) is attaching the dog.

Answer 6

Make sure you don't give your cat any less attention and love than you always have, or he will get jealous.

Keep them in separate rooms for the first few days, then maybe visiting while one is in a crate, then definitely some supervised visits for a few minutes at a time.

Keep their food in different rooms and make sure the cat has a place or two to go rest/hide when he gets tired of dealing with the dog.

The key is time. Don't expect them to get along at first sight, and they may only learn to tolerate being in the same house together after a while (worst case scenario). Also, even after they get along, they still might have tiffs.

Answer 7

It might take a long time and it might not. But when you introduce them, make sure you have the dog a leash (because you don't want either one getting hurt) and introduce them SLOWLY! If it doesn't go good the first time, keep them apart and just let them smell something that the other one was laying on or playing with and once they get used to the smell try a face-to-face meeting again. Depending on the dog's personality and the cats it could take a very long time before you can trust them alone together. The one thing you have to make sure you DON'T do, is rush it or push them (try to force them) to like each other.

Answer 8

Go for it.  Actually this will give your cat a new playmate.  It might take some time, but they will have fun and get to know each other.  I think it will be fine.  If you don't try you'll never know.

Answer 9

begin with keeping the dog to a few rooms (for example, let your cat keep your room as the 'safe' room) so that they can be kept separate and get used to each other's smells for the first few days.... your cat maybe curious or more likely will avoid the dog and hide.

whatever you do, do NOT try to pick up your cat and carry her across a room where the dog is, or to bring her close to the dog... my mom accidently did this and got pretty badly bitten/clawed by our cat when she freaked out and tryed to escape.

your cat will probably outwit the dog. no offense to the dog.... my dog and cat get along fine these days, although by no means 'like' each other but my cat enjoys jumping out at my dog and will purposely run by to annoy my dog..

as long as you make the introduction gradually (for example, have the dog on a leash and let them be in the same room for a while to see how it goes, a kitchen or living room with multiple exits is best, let the cat go as he pleases)

hope some of that helped, mainly it will take time and patience!  the cat will probably swat the dog a few times until they settle each other out (as long as they don't actually fight or bite each other it's normal) don't expect them to be buddies, but they will eventually after a few months be able to be in the same area, get slightly annoyed but not scared/angry at each other.

i also would advise you to make sure they are in seperate rooms when you leave the house, at least for the first few months to avoid any confrontations while you are not there to step in if needed.  be careful coming between two tense animals, but be ready to seperate them if needed.  good luck!