Even though you have a cat ...if you could would you have a dog as well?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
April 1, 2007 6:39pm CST
I've had cats all my life...yet to be honest I really wish I could have a dog as well. Thing is I don't know how my two cats would take to a dog--perhaps if I was interested in a small dog it might not be a problem...thing is my passion are your larger type dogs...I really don't care for small little dogs...If I ever was to have a dog my heart would be set on a husky--just love them as they remind me of wolves which I have a passion for
6 people like this
31 responses
@mickidmw (992)
• United States
2 Apr 07
We were raised with cats and dogs. We had 4 Great Danes and 1 German Sheppard and 3 cats. They all got along great! The german sheppard mothered EVERYTHING! If you get the dog when it is a puppy they will all get along great. Cats being what they are will have total attitude about it at first but will eventually get over it.
So don't shy away from a big dog if you have the room for one... get it as a puppy.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Sounds like you love big dogs too! Yes cats do seem to have attitudes, don't they? Actually if I had the room, I'd have a virutal zoo here--cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, the works--LOL
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Our cats mostly just try & stay away from the dogs, they do like to lean off the table & swat at them, but the dogs are small enough that they miss.
Zoe reached over & licked Taj's head last night, the new roomie was amazed that Taj put up with it, because Taj has a bit of a temper, but Taj is Zoe's kitten, he got his first bath at our house from the dog! Taj was found at 4 weeks in front of my house & by 6 weeks he did need a bath, & wasn't too good at getting himself clean yet. After Zoe bathed him a few times, then Henry decided that the kitten didn't need dog spit on him & groomed him himself. After that, Zoe would wash Taj & Henry would wash him again - he was a clean kitten after that!
1 person likes this
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I do have 2 cats. If I were to get a dog along with the cats it would be a Sheltie. Which for those who dont know a sheltie is a mini collie. I have always wanted a Sheltie and when I get a chance to get one it will be a Sheltie.
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
2 Apr 07
My husband wants one of those weiner dogs. I dont know the spelling of the real name for it. He used to have one when he was a kid and would liek to have another. Personally and no offense to any one who has one I dont care for them too much. I would get one of those tiny Shitzu's before I get a weiner dog.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Are you talking about Dacshunds-they're usually known as the "wiener" dog--LOL
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I lov e Collies too--guess it must be the Lassie complex in me--love German Shepards, Irish and English setters..St. Bernards--big dogs--LOL--athough beagles are nice too.
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
2 Apr 07
My earliest memmories are being brought up in a household with both cats and dogs living together. To me a home needs both a cat and a dog. For years after marriage we kept only cats and then I realised that it wasnt enough to have an active rodent control department, we also needed a guard dog. We went to our local dog rescue home and knew as soon as we saw him, he was the dog for us. We brought him home a few days later. He chases the cat but generally they get on just fine, lol.
blessed be
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
He looks like a real sweetie--and I bet he's in many ways a gentle giant
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
2 Apr 07
i like huskies too-and labradors-big happy dogs.
i miss having a dog sometimes myself.
my cats would never allow it though.i have my hands full with the 5 of them LOL.
my blue will jump on the backs of dogs and ride them..i can't put a poor dog through that ;)
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Big happy dogs--yes that sound like the kind of dogs I'd like---I do wonder if my two cats would ever "allow" a dgo--years and years and years ago, I did bring in a dog--it was a dumped dog--someone must have lived in one neighborhood, came to ours in a car and dumped her--so she was loose, running around--of course I felt sorry for her--so "rescued" her--didn't have her long, literally only one day--the cats I had at the time went bonkers--I mean literally climbing the wall everytime she, the dog came near them....but even though I only had "Lady" for a day, that dog bonded with me something fierce, slept with me...etc...but alas we just couldn't keep her cause the cats acted too wild and crazy--of course, even though she was just a puppy, she was already immense--so sadly I had to give her up to a shelter--felt guilty as hell, but I like to think that for that short time I had her, that she knew kindness.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I did check out your page--that's adorable--the cat is all cuddled up with your dog??? And I just bet your "big" dog is a real baby right?
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
2 Apr 07
We always had cats but we had 2 dogs at different times. They mostly left each other alone. The one dog we had was a puppy and kept trying to play with our cat (who was about 12 years old) and he didn't like that so he scratched the puppy. The puppy learned to leave him alone.
Most of the time dogs and cats get along fine. I have many family members that have had both and my neighbors have a pit bull a tiny cat and they have no problems. They also have a bird.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I've heard this from others who have had both cats and dogs...and the cat always seems to be the master of the house and intimidates the dog no end
@sweetdesign (5142)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I have two cats and a dog. However my cats are bigger than my dog...he is a weiner dog a mini weiner at that. If you want to have a dog I say go for it however since you already have two cats make sure you buy your dog as a young small puppy. The cats will be more likely to accept the pup and as he grows he will have the respect for the cats. Getting a full grown dog would be a disaster. Good luck.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
"Getting a full grown dog would be a disaster..." Tell me about it--I made the comment earlier on that I did bring in a dog--she was a puppy, but a BIG puppy...the cats I had at the time literally climbed the walls in terror everytime she, the dog came near them..I sadly had to give her up to a shelter--there was just too much friction
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
2 Apr 07
We got a dog when we had 5 or 6 cats in the house. There was never any trouble, maybe because the dog was just a puppy and was outnumbered anyway:-)
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
As I just remarked elsewhere, cats seem to rule don't they?--And I love your avatar!
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I have one cat and one dog. The cat I owned for 6 years before I got the dog (who was about 1year old when I got him). My cat is very laid back and had been "cat-sat" by a friend of mine who had a dog and gotten along okay, so I knew he would adapt to the dog. They don't ever snuggle up together, but they do get along quite well.
Perhaps you could borrow a dog for a few days from a friend (preferably a dog that has been around cats before, so he doesn't freak out when he sees yours) and see how your cats react. If they start to settle down after a day or two, they will probably be fine if you got a dog.
If your heart is set on a husky, remember that they are VERY high energy dogs and love to run and chase things, so you may need to keep a closer eye on him, especially if you got a puppy. An older dog may be a little easier for your cats to tolerate, since it won't have so much "bounce."
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Mmmm..I didn't know huskies were high energy dogs....I thought only smaller dogs were high-strung. Still like I said if ever I were to get a dog I'd just love one...a husky that is
@rebelangelseven (315)
• United States
2 Apr 07
we do have a cat and she is great. but i also have three dogs. two of them are big (pits one 70lbs other 60lbs)and the other is a jack russell, the key to having big dogs with cats is get the dog as a puppy and introduce them slowly. my two pits have been raised with the cat and they love her. in fact the bigger one will carry the cat around in her mouth like she is her child. its really great.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Thats what I was thinking--if I did get a dog, definitely at puppy stage and it would be easier for the cats to adapt
@KissThis (3003)
• United States
2 Apr 07
My boyfriend has a brittany spaniel which is a medium size dog. He had 3 cats before he moved in with me[I am allergic to cats].
His brittany when he was younger use to take care of the cats. He would like them clean and play with them.At one time they even had kittens.One of the kittens had some how gotten away from the others.His dog picked it up an took it back to the mother.
I would say that you might want to see what the reaction would actually be.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
That's so charming to hear about that--was the spaniel a female, because maybe she felt like a surrogate "mom" and protective of the kitten
@milkymoon (119)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Well, I've never had a dog AND a cat together (I would really love to though), but I have read that they can live together pretty well if they are properly introduced. I think it's easier if they are young, though. I have a collie, and for no real reason, he just hates cats. So I would never get a cat to live with him!
I love huskies, too, but I've heard that they are not good around small animals like cats. I'm not sure if it would be alright if the husky was a puppy and you introduced them well, though. Good luck!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Its been really amazing to read all your responses and just how many of you do have cats and dogs together! Or at least thinking about the possiblity yourself and it's not just me.
@sweeetkisses2 (269)
• United States
2 Apr 07
well right now i dont need no more dogs i have 2 pit bulls and the older pitbull just had 11 puppies 2 days ago.and i have another little dog its a chiuwaui.so for me i dont need no more lol.but i would love to have a cat.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
2 Apr 07
I don't actually like dogs, I don't feel comfortable around them, we have four cats and to get a dog would be unfair to them and too many animals in the house. I've always had cats, I suppose it's what you get used to and dogs take more looking after and are not so independent as cats.
@ChewySpree (1832)
• United States
3 Apr 07
Oh yes, I have always had both at the same time, and it's never been a problem. Right now we have 3 cats and 3 dogs, but 2 of the dogs live outside in the yard (they're bigger outdoor dogs). So my little dog is in the house with the three cats and they all get along fairly well.
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I have 3 cats and Im happy with just that. I use to have a great dog but she is no longer with us. I have nothing against dogs but you have to be around most of the time to let them out. And you should have a fenced in yard too. So I think my sweet cats are enough for me. Its not good to mix cats and dogs together unless you bring them both up together with each other.
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
2 Apr 07
I think it is important that u either get a puppy or a dog that has been around cats before. i see no problem in having both, many do and they can get along great... I have a friend who has a husky and also a cat. The cat has been with her for years - but the husky is just around a year. The cat had some issues in the beginning, but now they are best friends...
I´d say - Go for it!
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
3 Apr 07
Well I still live with my family, not yet left for college yet. And e have 7 cats and 2 dogs (used to be 4). Sorry to contradict you but you should not get a husky, the one I have is not good with cats at all, shes very violent towards them. If you like the dogs that look like wolves you should try Malamutes, they are VERY beautiful and I herad they have great personalitys, they are just like a bigger version of a husky. But if you want a dog that goes good with smaller animals (cats) I would recommend Great Pyrenees or Bernese Mountain Dogs. They are both beautiful big breeds and studies show they prefer having smaller animals in the house because they like having someting to watch over
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
2 Apr 07
It is possible to have both. I had both growing up and they never bothered with each other. I think that if you are adopting a puppy, they may become more used the cats more quickly. A grown dog may not be so accepting. Also, if your cats are older, they may be a lot less tolerant of a dog. I really don't think the breed of dog matters as much as the age in the overall scheme of things.
