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#1
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Responsible cat/dog intro?
Looking for advice from those of you
who have experience with a combined dog/cat household. My husband is wheelchairbound and loves interacting with animals but is not interested or able to do any training. Our dog Angel is very "Terrier" not interested in pats and cuddles, and not intereted in people who don't do fun things. So she pretty much ignores him, even though they are home alone together a lot. I'm thinking about finding an affectionate cat for Per. I'd like to "rescue" an adult cat of known temperament. I can afford the cat's food and medical care; it would need to be an "indoor cat." I have no problem with taking car of cat sand and so on - I'm already picking up after both doggy and hubby, after all. My questions: Is it possible that Angel, a typical terrier about cats, too, could make friends with one individual cat? Vice versa, am I likely to find an adult cat willing to become happy housemates with a dog? How would I go about determining potential competability and and introducing them to each other? Is this even feasible? Polara and Angel in Oslo |
#3
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"polara" wrote:
Is it possible that Angel, a typical terrier about cats, too, could make friends with one individual cat? Vice versa, am I likely to find an adult cat willing to become happy housemates with a dog? How would I go about determining potential competability and and introducing them to each other? Is this even feasible? Possibly. I'd start by talking to rescue groups and shelters about it. They can help find you a cat with your special needs - at ease around dogs and physically affectionate. They should be willing to try an introduction first. Even if Angel initially wants to go after the cat, that doesn't mean that it couldn't possibly work out. It will take patient supervision and conditioning, though, and possibly for a very long time. After a year, my cat can finally interact with my dogs without being harrassed, though they will still chase him if he runs. For at least the first six months, I couldn't leave them in a room together unless I was supervising. If they used their mouths on him instead of their paws and noses (they like to poke him), I'd still be closing him in his room when I wasn't there. I once had a dog who wanted to bite my new kitten. Though I had his two brothers interacting with the kitten safely in a few days, he took three weeks of careful interactions using a muzzle before I could even safely let him off leash when the cat was in the same room. And again, it was months before I could leave them in the house together alone. But these guys actually developed a decent relationship. You can also go through all of that, and end up with two animals who always have to be separated. It is a risk. Canine Action Dog Trainer http://www.canineaction.com My Kids, My Students, My Life: http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html |
#4
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"polara" wrote:
Is it possible that Angel, a typical terrier about cats, too, could make friends with one individual cat? Vice versa, am I likely to find an adult cat willing to become happy housemates with a dog? How would I go about determining potential competability and and introducing them to each other? Is this even feasible? Possibly. I'd start by talking to rescue groups and shelters about it. They can help find you a cat with your special needs - at ease around dogs and physically affectionate. They should be willing to try an introduction first. Even if Angel initially wants to go after the cat, that doesn't mean that it couldn't possibly work out. It will take patient supervision and conditioning, though, and possibly for a very long time. After a year, my cat can finally interact with my dogs without being harrassed, though they will still chase him if he runs. For at least the first six months, I couldn't leave them in a room together unless I was supervising. If they used their mouths on him instead of their paws and noses (they like to poke him), I'd still be closing him in his room when I wasn't there. I once had a dog who wanted to bite my new kitten. Though I had his two brothers interacting with the kitten safely in a few days, he took three weeks of careful interactions using a muzzle before I could even safely let him off leash when the cat was in the same room. And again, it was months before I could leave them in the house together alone. But these guys actually developed a decent relationship. You can also go through all of that, and end up with two animals who always have to be separated. It is a risk. Canine Action Dog Trainer http://www.canineaction.com My Kids, My Students, My Life: http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html |
#5
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"polara" wrote:
Is it possible that Angel, a typical terrier about cats, too, could make friends with one individual cat? Vice versa, am I likely to find an adult cat willing to become happy housemates with a dog? How would I go about determining potential competability and and introducing them to each other? Is this even feasible? Possibly. I'd start by talking to rescue groups and shelters about it. They can help find you a cat with your special needs - at ease around dogs and physically affectionate. They should be willing to try an introduction first. Even if Angel initially wants to go after the cat, that doesn't mean that it couldn't possibly work out. It will take patient supervision and conditioning, though, and possibly for a very long time. After a year, my cat can finally interact with my dogs without being harrassed, though they will still chase him if he runs. For at least the first six months, I couldn't leave them in a room together unless I was supervising. If they used their mouths on him instead of their paws and noses (they like to poke him), I'd still be closing him in his room when I wasn't there. I once had a dog who wanted to bite my new kitten. Though I had his two brothers interacting with the kitten safely in a few days, he took three weeks of careful interactions using a muzzle before I could even safely let him off leash when the cat was in the same room. And again, it was months before I could leave them in the house together alone. But these guys actually developed a decent relationship. You can also go through all of that, and end up with two animals who always have to be separated. It is a risk. Canine Action Dog Trainer http://www.canineaction.com My Kids, My Students, My Life: http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html |
#6
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"polara" wrote:
Is it possible that Angel, a typical terrier about cats, too, could make friends with one individual cat? Vice versa, am I likely to find an adult cat willing to become happy housemates with a dog? How would I go about determining potential competability and and introducing them to each other? Is this even feasible? Possibly. I'd start by talking to rescue groups and shelters about it. They can help find you a cat with your special needs - at ease around dogs and physically affectionate. They should be willing to try an introduction first. Even if Angel initially wants to go after the cat, that doesn't mean that it couldn't possibly work out. It will take patient supervision and conditioning, though, and possibly for a very long time. After a year, my cat can finally interact with my dogs without being harrassed, though they will still chase him if he runs. For at least the first six months, I couldn't leave them in a room together unless I was supervising. If they used their mouths on him instead of their paws and noses (they like to poke him), I'd still be closing him in his room when I wasn't there. I once had a dog who wanted to bite my new kitten. Though I had his two brothers interacting with the kitten safely in a few days, he took three weeks of careful interactions using a muzzle before I could even safely let him off leash when the cat was in the same room. And again, it was months before I could leave them in the house together alone. But these guys actually developed a decent relationship. You can also go through all of that, and end up with two animals who always have to be separated. It is a risk. Canine Action Dog Trainer http://www.canineaction.com My Kids, My Students, My Life: http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html |
#7
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"polara" wrote:
Is it possible that Angel, a typical terrier about cats, too, could make friends with one individual cat? Vice versa, am I likely to find an adult cat willing to become happy housemates with a dog? How would I go about determining potential competability and and introducing them to each other? Is this even feasible? Possibly. I'd start by talking to rescue groups and shelters about it. They can help find you a cat with your special needs - at ease around dogs and physically affectionate. They should be willing to try an introduction first. Even if Angel initially wants to go after the cat, that doesn't mean that it couldn't possibly work out. It will take patient supervision and conditioning, though, and possibly for a very long time. After a year, my cat can finally interact with my dogs without being harrassed, though they will still chase him if he runs. For at least the first six months, I couldn't leave them in a room together unless I was supervising. If they used their mouths on him instead of their paws and noses (they like to poke him), I'd still be closing him in his room when I wasn't there. I once had a dog who wanted to bite my new kitten. Though I had his two brothers interacting with the kitten safely in a few days, he took three weeks of careful interactions using a muzzle before I could even safely let him off leash when the cat was in the same room. And again, it was months before I could leave them in the house together alone. But these guys actually developed a decent relationship. You can also go through all of that, and end up with two animals who always have to be separated. It is a risk. Canine Action Dog Trainer http://www.canineaction.com My Kids, My Students, My Life: http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html |
#8
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"Leah" answered Polara: | I'd start by talking to rescue groups and shelters about it. They can help | find you a cat with your special needs - at ease around dogs and physically | affectionate. They should be willing to try an introduction first. Even if | Angel initially wants to go after the cat, that doesn't mean that it couldn't | possibly work out. Yes, I will definitely talk to some cat people. | It will take patient supervision and conditioning, though, and possibly for a | very long time. After a year, my cat can finally interact with my dogs without | being harrassed, though they will still chase him if he runs. For at least the | first six months, I couldn't leave them in a room together unless I was | supervising. If they used their mouths on him instead of their paws and noses | (they like to poke him), I'd still be closing him in his room when I wasn't | there. This is helpful, Leah. At this point I am reconsidering very carefully - if I think two dogs are too much for me, do I have the actual time to provide the careful supervision they would require to be safe? Probably not. | I once had a dog who wanted to bite my new kitten. Though I had his two | brothers interacting with the kitten safely in a few days, he took three weeks | of careful interactions using a muzzle before I could even safely let him off | leash when the cat was in the same room. And again, it was months before I | could leave them in the house together alone. But these guys actually | developed a decent relationship. | | You can also go through all of that, and end up with two animals who always | have to be separated. It is a risk. I'd need to make a "no make friends, no placement" arrangement with the cat people, I guess. If I decide to pursue this idea further. Thanks for your time and effort in answering me. Polara |
#9
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"Leah" answered Polara: | I'd start by talking to rescue groups and shelters about it. They can help | find you a cat with your special needs - at ease around dogs and physically | affectionate. They should be willing to try an introduction first. Even if | Angel initially wants to go after the cat, that doesn't mean that it couldn't | possibly work out. Yes, I will definitely talk to some cat people. | It will take patient supervision and conditioning, though, and possibly for a | very long time. After a year, my cat can finally interact with my dogs without | being harrassed, though they will still chase him if he runs. For at least the | first six months, I couldn't leave them in a room together unless I was | supervising. If they used their mouths on him instead of their paws and noses | (they like to poke him), I'd still be closing him in his room when I wasn't | there. This is helpful, Leah. At this point I am reconsidering very carefully - if I think two dogs are too much for me, do I have the actual time to provide the careful supervision they would require to be safe? Probably not. | I once had a dog who wanted to bite my new kitten. Though I had his two | brothers interacting with the kitten safely in a few days, he took three weeks | of careful interactions using a muzzle before I could even safely let him off | leash when the cat was in the same room. And again, it was months before I | could leave them in the house together alone. But these guys actually | developed a decent relationship. | | You can also go through all of that, and end up with two animals who always | have to be separated. It is a risk. I'd need to make a "no make friends, no placement" arrangement with the cat people, I guess. If I decide to pursue this idea further. Thanks for your time and effort in answering me. Polara |
#10
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"Leah" answered Polara: | I'd start by talking to rescue groups and shelters about it. They can help | find you a cat with your special needs - at ease around dogs and physically | affectionate. They should be willing to try an introduction first. Even if | Angel initially wants to go after the cat, that doesn't mean that it couldn't | possibly work out. Yes, I will definitely talk to some cat people. | It will take patient supervision and conditioning, though, and possibly for a | very long time. After a year, my cat can finally interact with my dogs without | being harrassed, though they will still chase him if he runs. For at least the | first six months, I couldn't leave them in a room together unless I was | supervising. If they used their mouths on him instead of their paws and noses | (they like to poke him), I'd still be closing him in his room when I wasn't | there. This is helpful, Leah. At this point I am reconsidering very carefully - if I think two dogs are too much for me, do I have the actual time to provide the careful supervision they would require to be safe? Probably not. | I once had a dog who wanted to bite my new kitten. Though I had his two | brothers interacting with the kitten safely in a few days, he took three weeks | of careful interactions using a muzzle before I could even safely let him off | leash when the cat was in the same room. And again, it was months before I | could leave them in the house together alone. But these guys actually | developed a decent relationship. | | You can also go through all of that, and end up with two animals who always | have to be separated. It is a risk. I'd need to make a "no make friends, no placement" arrangement with the cat people, I guess. If I decide to pursue this idea further. Thanks for your time and effort in answering me. Polara |
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