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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

1721.0. "cats in a dog house" by FSTVAX::WIMMER () Wed Aug 31 1988 13:25

    I looked through keywords and didn't find a topic -- please point
    me in the right direction if this question has been answered
    already!!
    
    I am a caniner.  I have two dogs, a 9-year old Lhasa Apso, and a
    4-year old airedale.  I would really like to get a cat as I grew
    up with cats.  I know many many people who have both cats and dogs.
    Would like to hear about how to introduce a cat into an all-dog
    household.  Am I crazy, or is it possible?
    
    Thanks,
    Diane
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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1721.1No problem... (usually)JAWS::COTEAre you with me, Dr. Wu?Wed Aug 31 1988 13:3311
    Sure, totally possible, and even easier when the dogs are big
    St. Bernards, Collies or the like.
    
    Little dogs (chihuahuas, liitle poodles, etc.) just seem to be
    too jittery and you end up with a problem *with the dog*. The
    cat will probably care less...
    
    We once had a dog that JEALOUSLY guarded a new litter of kittens
    whenever mom-cat went for hike...
    
    Edd
1721.2Do the dogs LIKE cats ?FDCV03::FRANCISCOWed Aug 31 1988 13:4813
    We first had two cats, added the dog, lost one of the cats, and
    added a kitten.  Although the situation is different (Barley, our
    golden retriever, has been brought up with cats since we got her)
    it probably won't be a problem, depending on your dogs temperaments
    and exposure to cats.  
    
    Barley took very well to the kitten (Punjab) and used to hold her
    down and give her several baths a day.  Apparently Punjab didn't
    realize that she wasn't supposed to like dogs.  The two of them
    together provide for hours of entertainment.
    
    If you don't think your dogs would consider the cat "lunch" instead
    of "buddy", give it a shot.  The more, the merrier !!
1721.3AIMHI::LLEBLANCWed Aug 31 1988 14:367
    The cat should be no problem since I also have a cat and a dog.
    My dog is a golden retriever and is very calm and gentle but if
    your dogs have a tendancy to be nervous and jumpy, they may go crazy
    over a cat.  
    
    I would say that it depends on the temperment of the dogs.  Good
    luck!!
1721.4CNTROL::STOOKERWed Aug 31 1988 16:599
    A funny story.   My brother owns a dachsund (?sp)/irish setter mix.(ha
    ha--funny looking dog). He also owns a black cat named Panther.   This
    dog and cat gets along really well.  It was really funny to watch
    Panther go up to Phydo (the dog) and demand to be groomed.  The
    poor dog could not get away from the cat.  She followed him everywhere
    until he just gave up and groomed the cat.  They were raised together
    so I think that really makes a difference.
    
    Sarah
1721.5Bring them on....DRFIX::IVESWed Aug 31 1988 17:0514
    I second the motion of big dogs and cats. Our household not too
    many years ago consisted of 3 Saint Bernards, and three cats.
    
    When the cats would come in from outside one saint took it upon
    himself to inspect every inch of that cat to make sure it was
    okay. Those big noses do a wonderful "nuzzeling" job. The cats
    really enjoyed it as it was like having their back rubbed.
    
    The could be a problem at first but a stern no, and a nice kitty
    with pats to both, it will work out real soon.
    
    Let us know how you do.
    
    Barbara
1721.6Hyper dog = Neurotic catFSHQA2::RWAXMANWed Aug 31 1988 18:5833
    This is a comical topic because it brings to mind my parent's new
    dog, Casey, a Shih-Tzu, and their four cats (who were raised with
    BIG dogs).
    
    Well, Casey is almost a year old and had a tough life before mom
    and dad adopted him.  He is a little TERROR and one of their kitties,
    Tabitha, has decided to live in my dad's office closet since Casey
    joined the household on June 26th.  Casey has this awful habit of
    chasing the cats around the house wanting to play.  Unfortunately,
    TJ is the only kitty who will play with Casey.  Taffy is old and
    "can't be bothered with kid stuff" and lets him know it, Fluffy
    prefers to spend all of his time outdoors only coming inside to
    eat, and Tabitha is scared to death of Casey and is now living in
    my dad's office.
    
    My mom is at her wits end with Tabitha.  She has scolded Casey time
    and again (to no avail; he is HYPER).  Tabitha has always been rather
    neurotic being the runt of the litter when she was young and will
    not come out to eat or see anyone unless Casey is outside or being
    taken for a walk.  She has her own litter box in dad's office because
    she was using the corner of the closet ever since Casey arrived
    on the scene.  Luckily, my dad works in his office a lot so Tabitha
    gets plenty of love and attention when he's there.
    
    Does anyone have any suggestions for my poor mother?  She asked
    me to post a note in here but I never got around to it.  She really
    loves Casey and wants to keep him (no one else wanted him; he was
    returned to the shelter 3 times due to his hyperness) and Tabitha
    has always been her favorite cat.
    
    Thanks,
    Roberta
    
1721.710490::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, & Holly; in Calif.Wed Aug 31 1988 19:132
    How about tuckering Casey out?  Lots of playing in the yard, etc.
    
1721.8how to make the best entranceFSTVAX::WIMMERWed Aug 31 1988 21:1211
    My major concern in bringing in the cat is not the larger dog. 
    The airedale doesn't seem to take much notice of cats.  The lhasa,
    however, likes to chase cats.  She is not all that hyper, just lies
    to chase cats.  She doesn't seem to want to hurt them -- has come
    to an understanding with those in the neighborhood as far as I can
    tell.  So the questions are -- should I think she will calm down?
     A friend tells me she won't chase "her kitty".  And....what is
    the best way to introduce the cat into the household?
    
    Diane
    
1721.9INDEBT::TAUBENFELDIlza EgkThu Sep 01 1988 12:4710
    
    We have a dog named Casey (all Irish Setter) who was so hyper he used
    to bounce off the walls.  This was tolerable until his hyperness caused
    him to bite through a few hands.  My parents got him neutered and now
    he's a completely different dog, still a little hyper but not to the
    extent as before.  Maybe your parents should consider it...
    
     
    
    
1721.10I'll bet it works fine!BRUTUS::SOBEKThu Sep 01 1988 14:3825
    We have two dogs and two cats.  In our case the two Siamese, now
    18 and 16 were there first.  About five years ago we introduced
    Bandit, a cat chasing stray that my husband rescued and loves to
    pieces. A year later I added Chip, a Blue Merle Sheltie puppy. 
    It didn't take long for Sheba and Sity to convince Bandit that if
    anyone chased anybody around here, they were going to do the chasing.
    The all get along fine, but She occassionally will hide behind
    something and wait until Bandit is feeling secure... then she'll
    jump out in front of him with back arched, hair on end and a blood
    curdling yell!  Poor Bandit! Sheba struts around looking proud for
    hours. They have never hurt each other, though, and it really is funny
    to watch. When the dogs are in the house I put up gates that will
    admit the cats, but not the dogs.  One is on the bathroom so the
    dogs can't get at the cat food or litter box. One is on the living
    room unless we are in there with the dogs.  It works well for us..
    It gives the cats a place to escape if necessary.
    I would suggest confining the dogs when you bring the cat(s) in.
    Let them get used to each others scent.  Then let them loose but
    with a gate between them that will let them see each other.
    All the dogs I've had in the past ended up as "cat sitters" , washing
    their ears, providing a warm cushion and protecting them against
    untold evils!
    Good luck
    Linda
    
1721.11FSHQA1::RWAXMANThu Sep 01 1988 15:2210
    RE:  .9
    
    Casey IS neutered!
    
    RE:  Linda's reply
    
    My mom has a gate that she uses to confine Casey in the kitchen
    when the family is out.  I will suggest your method and see what
    she thinks.
    
1721.12The Green-Eyed MonsterBPOV04::FOLEYThu Sep 01 1988 17:5914
    DIANE:
    
    I grew up with dogs and cats and the first thing that comes to mind
    is that dogs seem to get there "nose out of joint" more than cats.
     Every time we got a new kitten, we had to spend time reassuring
    the dog that s/he was still #1.
    
    I will add that I now have a jealous cat.  But it is the first time
    in a long line of cats!  I think that's why god gave us two hands
    -- one to pat the cat while the other pats the dog!
 
    Good luck,
    Anne                                             
    
1721.13Worked for us!STAR::BARTHFri Sep 02 1988 16:2723
    We have two *HUGE* dogs, as well as our two cats.  Both dogs like
    to chase things, and will lunge at the leash trying to get at a
    cat outside.  However they never chase "their" cats, which are 
    indoor only.  They seem to understand that outside is different. 
    
    When we got our cats we only had one dog.  We introduced them by
    carrying the kittens into the house and presenting them to Aisha.
    We petted the dog and the kittens at the same time to make it clear
    to Aisha that they were friends too.  It didn't hurt that Aisha
    was still young, about 6 months old.  Aisha used to carry Tristan
    around when he was little, as if she was his mother.  Our dog 
    breeder was horrified, and thought we were courting disaster, but
    she never hurt him.  In fact, when she put him down he'd purr and
    rub between her legs.
    
    We did keep them seperated when we weren't around for the first
    few weeks, just to be sure.  We gave the kittens one room of the
    house, with toys, litter box, water and food, and the dog got the
    rest of the house.  This way we could supervise them until we were
    certain there was no ill intent.
    
    Good luck!
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing (and Ed, and Aisha and Zowie)
1721.14Could Go WellTOXMAN::MECLERFRANKWed Sep 07 1988 01:2913
    RE: Base Note
    
    We sold a Himmie kitten to a couple who had two Yorkshire terriers.
     The dogs were just a bit larger than the kitten (named Rudie).
     The first day the dogs just loved the kitten and sniffed her and
    licked her constantly.  The second day the kitten hauled off and
    batted the dogs in the head with a paw when she had enough.  She
    is now larger than the dogs and there are no problems.
    
    A caution: we sell our kittens no sooner than 10 weeks, usually
    closer to 12 so the kittens tend to be a bit self-assured.
    
    Frank