Which comes first?

stillstending · Feb 8, 2015

I would love to adopt both a dog and a cat. We are currently fostering a dog that I think is the most perfect sweetheart out there, but I'm very biased lol! After doing a lot (and I mean a LOT) of research, I think a Siberian would be the best cat breed for my situation. In your opinion, would you rather have a cat first and introduce a dog later or have a dog first and introduce the cat later?

cat nap · Feb 8, 2015

Can I ask how old is the dog your are fostering and what breed?

stillstending · Feb 8, 2015

She's a 2 year old Doberman

ruaryx · Feb 8, 2015

Hm, I think having a dog first might be nice so that you can build up a relationship with the dog. That way it'll listen to you if you need to tell it to not mess with the cat.

riley1 · Feb 8, 2015

Look up cat to dog introductions on the internet. It is a very careful process. Also, you have to make sure that the dog has not already established a prey drive as it may go after the cat. Curious as well, as the other poster, as to how big the dog is & if he has lived with cats before. I have heard that Siberians are good with dogs, but it always depends on the dog & cat personalities. I think that the best match would be a kitten & a puppy so that they could grow up together, but that is just my opinion. Others here may have deal with this situation as I have not.

kittywhiskers · Feb 8, 2015

I would say a dog first.
Only once the dog has been properly trained and 100% obedient then introduce a cat. It would be much easier to train a dog first without the added distraction of a frightened cat around.

cat nap · Feb 8, 2015

I actually don't think it matters, depending upon what type of breed, and if the dog has a strong prey drive or not.

It really does help if the dog has obedience training, and has been socialized around cats before. (and I do think that there are some dogs that may have too high a prey drive to get along with a cat, but don't know if this can be trained out of them.)

Both Ruaryx and Riley1 made excellent points, in that being able to control a dog is key. As did KittyWhiskers (since I did forget how frightened a cat can get.).

I don't really know much about Siberian cats and personalities, and if you plan on getting a kitten or an older cat?

If it is older, the cat would have to have been socialized with dogs, already, so that the cat does not become the aggressive one, towards the dog.

As Riley1, mentioned, there is excellent info on the internet and also here....under the "Articles" section....http://www.thecatsite.com/atype/45/Cat_Care

And if you read under each tab, there are sections on which breed of dog and cat, or introducing dogs and cats.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-dogs

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/best-and-worst-dog-breeds-to-live-with-cats

I am very partial to black retrievers/labs and any cat,...but I have never had a pure breed.

kittywhiskers · Feb 8, 2015

When I was growing up we had a Golden retriever and a German shepherd before we had cats. They were very well trained by my dad. When we rescued our first kitten I remember that Sammy (the kitten) was very bold and curious of the dogs.
My dad would tell the dogs to stay while Sammy was wandering around and the dogs would sit looking at him. God knows what would have happened if they were disobedient.
It was quite a while before they were actually allowed to be left alone together. That little black cat went on to be the boss and would hold the dogs heads while they were laying down so that he could clean their ears.
We went on to rescue another 4 cats and they were all moggies.

stillstending · Feb 8, 2015

Riley1 said:
Look up cat to dog introductions on the internet. It is a very careful process. Also, you have to make sure that the dog has not already established a prey drive as it may go after the cat. Curious as well, as the other poster, as to how big the dog is & if he has lived with cats before. I have heard that Siberians are good with dogs, but it always depends on the dog & cat personalities. I think that the best match would be a kitten & a puppy so that they could grow up together, but that is just my opinion. Others here may have deal with this situation as I have not.

She's pretty big for a Dobe, probably around 80 pounds.She's also very mellow for as young as she is, but has never been around cats before.

cat nap said:
I actually don't think it matters, depending upon what type of breed, and if the dog has a strong prey drive or not.

It really does help if the dog has obedience training, and has been socialized around cats before. (and I do think that there are some dogs that may have too high a prey drive to get along with a cat, but don't know if this can be trained out of them.)

Both Ruaryx and Riley1 made excellent points, in that being able to control a dog is key. As did KittyWhiskers (since I did forget how frightened a cat can get.).

I don't really know much about Siberian cats and personalities, and if you plan on getting a kitten or an older cat?

If it is older, the cat would have to have been socialized with dogs, already, so that the cat does not become the aggressive one, towards the dog.

As Riley1, mentioned, there is excellent info on the internet and also here....under the "Articles" section....http://www.thecatsite.com/atype/45/Cat_Care

And if you read under each tab, there are sections on which breed of dog and cat, or introducing dogs and cats.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-dogs

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/best-and-worst-dog-breeds-to-live-with-cats

I am very partial to black retrievers/labs and any cat,...but I have never had a pure breed.

I plan on getting a kitten since I've looked for Siberian rescues, but apparently it's very rare for one to be in a rescue since they are a pretty new breed to the US.

riley1 · Feb 8, 2015

You will only find a kitten with a breeder. Kittens run between 800 -1500.

cat nap · Feb 8, 2015

stillstending said:
She's pretty big for a Dobe, probably around 80 pounds.She's also very mellow for as young as she is, but has never been around cats before.
.....
I plan on getting a kitten since I've looked for Siberian rescues, but apparently it's very rare for one to be in a rescue since they are a pretty new breed to the US.

I wonder, then, if you could take your Dobe, to someplace, where there would be cats around, like a neighbour's farm, or shelter, and just observe if she is mellow around other animals, as well.

Also, try calling Doberman Rescues, and see if they have any other foster families that have both doberman and cats. That way you may get more tips and suggestions of seeing if your foster dog, is alright with cats.

Strange thing is, that my dog knows not to bother cats, and not to chase them, but the outdoor squirrels are still being chased. (So, I have to figure out a way in which he does not get all excited when seeing a squirrel. My dog is also 2 years 4mts old...retriever/labrador mix.)

stillstending · Feb 8, 2015

Oh my gosh... squirrels... All of our dogs (my parents and our foster) go CRAZY over squirrels! And the squirrels love to tease them, so I can't say I blame them for wanting to chase em lol

riley1 · Feb 8, 2015

Thanks for the links! The dog breeds knowledge will be very helpful when answering questions at the shelter.

kntrygrl256 · Feb 11, 2015

I have had both first. But usually introduce the new one as a kitten/puppy. There have been times when I got an older cat and the intro took a little more time but as long as the dog will listen and mind there shouldn't be too much trouble as long as it's done slowly.

The older cats I put in a room to themselves and let them get use to each others scent. Once the cat is acclimated to their new home; I would put the dog on his leash and let the cat out to check out her surroundings. If all goes well, it shouldn't take much time before they will set their own terms with each other.

Good luck!!!!

T.

arthursmommy · Feb 11, 2015

Our husky was a couple years old when we got our kittens, and he had never been socialized with cats before. We put the kittens in the dining room and blocked it off with baby gates. That way they could all smell and see each other, but the dog couldn't hurt them. It worked out really well. Our dog is crated when we aren't around anyway, so we didn't need to worry about him hopping the gate. His primary feeling about the cats was intensely insane excitement about the "tiny dogs" we brought for him to play with. He wouldn't leave the baby gate for two days voluntarily, not even to go out or eat.

It also allowed one of the cats to set the boundaries. She sat next to him at the gate calmly. Then she snapped into hissing, claws out, lunge at him cat mode. Then she calmly went back to cleaning herself. The dog was terrified and learned very fast that cats can have consequences.

Eventually the cats were big enough to hop the gate, but by then the dog had gotten used to them for a couple weeks and it wasn't the high drama it was before. They all love each other.

stillstending · Feb 22, 2015

arthursmommy that sounds like a great idea for kittens! Don't you just love dogs' reactions sometimes? Lol "tiny dogs" I can totally picture that!

Which comes first?

stillstending

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cat nap

stand with ukraine

stillstending

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ruaryx

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riley1

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kittywhiskers

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cat nap

stand with ukraine

kittywhiskers

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stillstending

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riley1

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cat nap

stand with ukraine

stillstending

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riley1

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kntrygrl256

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arthursmommy

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stillstending

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