New cat with claws defenseless dog!

Hi all,

I am new to this site but very concerned. My sister who usually takes care of my 22 lb Westiepoo when my husband and I go on vaction for 1-2 weeks has just got a male nuetered cat that wears Soft Paws/Soft claws. He seems to be a nice cat but she has only had him for 2 days. He is around 3 years old and has his vet records. She does not know much else about him. I do not feel safe leaving my little dog who has grown up with de-clawed cats. My sister does not even know much about this new cats tempermant. he does wear claw coverings! When I was 25 My OWN cat was 9 years old attacked me and my mother after we had a new puppy in the home for about a month. I covered the puppy with my body and my cat of 9 years tore me to shreds! I still have scars! I was protecting my puppy. Please give me advice, is my 8 year old westiepoo safe wirth a unknown cat with claws but wearing soft claws safe?
Please help, I am extremley worried!!

My post was a little "chopped" I meant to say that I had a cat my self for 9 years that was neutered but not declawed. When we got a puppy this cat tried to attack the puppy so I covered her with my body and my own cat attacked me and caused a lot of pain and damage to me with his claws!
Do I need to be concerned about this male cat with claws burt wearing Soft Paws?
Thanks again.

No you cannot just leave any cat or dog unattended with a new cat that no one knows his temperament. Even when people bring new animals together, there is an intro phase, keeping them separated until you know how they will react to one another.

Hi Pami,
Thanks for your fast reply. I would have to leave my dog from March 7-14 with this new cat! My sister just got the cat Dec 13th. It has claws, but wears soft paws. They are telling me it will be fine. I do not want to take a chance with this.

and welcome to TCS!
Your dog doesn't sound all that small, probably much bigger than the cat. I wouldn't worry too much really. They might not even taken an interest in each other at all.
I have a cat with claws around my Chihuahua every day. And I also own other dogs. They play together, sometimes rough, but no one ever gets hurt. The cat doesn't even have claw coverings, but I do groom her nails every single week, cutting them short and filing them down. My friends and family also own cats and dogs inside together, and the cats have their claws and they don't even cut their nails every week and everyone is always fine. One of their dogs - a Chi- is really tiny, only 2-3 pounds.

3 months is plenty time for a proper introduction, I would think?
Please do not request your sister to declaw her kitty. Soft paws are quite nice and should protect some; however it falls periodically... so... Make sure they are comfortable with each other before you leave... I wouldn't be that worried...
I understand you had a traumatizing experience with a cat - but so did many people with dogs (much more than with cats actually)... Cats and dogs can be VERY good company to ea other... Anyway: Good Luck!!! I will leave it to the experts for the best way to introduce them - I don't know much about it...
Welcome to the site!!

Hello and Welcome to TCS!

Please advise your sister not to declaw the cat, it's not a nice experience. Good luck with the decision you do make, let's hope it works out for you all!

You've got 3 months to settle the cat in and introduce him in advance to your dog. If things don't work out between the 2 of them, you have time to find another option for your dog. It's a shame that you had such a bad experience between a dog and cat in the past, as I've found that's not the norm. I've had dogs and cats peacefully coexist for 20 years now.

Welcome to TCS!

Hola y bienvenido a TCS, ...Catulina

y Milky

te saludan!!!........

(Translate: Hi and Welcome to TCS, Catulina and Milky say hello to you!!!... )

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