dog

[gilby]

i currently have a 5 year old cat but we would also like a dog. do you think it is fair to have them both. i have many friends that have both and they get on fine. we were thinking of a collie or something of that size

[indie_chick5]

My cat is 5 too but luckily she grew up with dogs and we also had a dog when we got her as a kitten. Sure, my dog would chase her but it was always playful, my cat knew when to hide and my dog knew when my cat tryed to whap her with her paw that it was time to leave the cat alone. We are in the process of getting another dog since the above mentioned dog died :( We are a little nervous about how our cat will react, so we are thinking of introducing them slowly. We are going to try to keep them apart so my cat can smell the new dog and the dpg can smell the cat. Then we will introduce them. If anything goes wrong then at least we will be there to stop it. The dog is big but only 9 months old so hopefully she will mature. If the cat is not used to dogs and the dog is not used to cats you may want to be careful but collies are very intelligent so I doubt you will have a problem. Good luck and sorry for my long-winded reply! xx

[benjiesmum]

If you get a puppy dog then the cat should be fine with it. A big boisterous collie may upset your cat if he has not been used to dogs. I have a dog (Golden Retriever) and a small cat who came into the home as a kitten They are inseparable!

[amonty1144]

Whether cats and dogs get on is usually dependent upon the individual animals. My lab gets on fine with cats but my gsds I couldn't trust, consequently the cat gives them a wide berth.
Before you get a collie, ask yourself if you have the time foe one, they can be a little mad, hyper and need lots of exercise and stimualtion and then they get bored, Goes for all dogs but collies can be alot worse, can be prone to tail chasing and chewing, .

[kaylamay]

slowly introduce them, i would start with a young pup and not a full grown dog who may already have established dislikes regarding cats. Make sure your cat has safe places she can go or hide, high places are good, so she can feel safe if she wants to get away. NEVER leave them together alone. Make sure you give cat a lot of love and reassurance as she is the boss and will not want to feel she is being replaced or demoted. Do not allow the puppy to chase or harass the cat even if people think it is funny(which is certainly isn't for the cat) Your cats initial response may not be favorable, but they should get used to each other and settle down. Make sure you get the puppy fixed as soon as age permits especially if male to help curb any aggression that may arise.
Good Luck
Mikala(aka, Cat Woman)