All Things Dog Blog

Woof and Meow, Part VI: Considerations Regarding a Second Pet's Adoption

Posted: 06 Nov 2010 10:00 AM PDT

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Mellow and Vic
Relax Together

Kittens and puppies that are raised together can almost always become good companions. Even a larger dog can learn to play gently and remain calm in the presence of a kitty housemate.

Sometimes, though, adding an adult cat to a household with dogs, or vice versa, can present a host of complications for the owners and the pets. If you are considering this, I suggest you think through some possible issues first:

Is the dog a breed or mix with a high prey drive? (certain hunting breeds and terriers may need extra evaluation) Please reconsider for the cat's sake.
Does the cat have an unusually active play style or intense need for attention? Either of these could provoke problems with Fido. You'll have more influence over Woof than Meow, so give this great consideration. A highly-active dog can be separated from the cat, but not so much the other way around.
Does your home allow for some private space for Meow to have peace and quiet? Most cats crave a great deal of alone time. They tend to seek out sunny spots to lie in and often choose high locations. An upstairs with windows could allow you to gate the top of the steps, giving kitty her space, and Fido some boundaries.
Do you have time to work with your dog in socializing him to behave calmly around the new kitty, teaching him to respect her space, food, bedding and litter area? Keep in mind that although I may have given you the impression that all these problems can be solved with barriers, things do happen. Training, as described in Part IV of this series, will be a good preventive. You'll always need a backup plan for two species to co-habitate.
Can you give Meow a higher status than Woof, to allow her a better chance at integrating into the family? While Meow may have sharp claws, a large or agile dog will need to see her as higher on the totem pole than he is, to assure he learns to respect her.

You're probably asking yourself, "How is this last item possible?" The answer depends on which pet already lives in the home. Join me next week and the following, when we'll tackle this topic from both directions. Then, on Thanksgiving weekend, we'll make the big drawing. We'll be giving away World's Best Cat Litter, tote bags, miscellaneous cat goodies, and the grand prize--a Litter Robot. Don't miss it!

Have you missed any of the earlier posts in this series? Here are the links:

Woof and Meow: Can they Coexist Happily?

Woof and Meow, Part I: Stop the Treasure Hunt

Woof and Meow, Part II: How to Win our Prize Packages....and a Sneak Peek at What's to Come
Woof and Meow, Part III: Strategies for Stopping the Treasure Hunt and Keeping the Peace
Woof and Meow, Part IV: A Little Training in Respect
Woof and Meow, Part V: Exploring New Options with the Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter

Have you entered the drawing for our prizes? You can enter at any or all of these sites, as often as you like:

All Things Dog Blog on Facebook and All Things Dog Blog on Twitter

World's Best Cat Litter on Facebook and World's Best Cat Litter on Twitter

Litter-Robot on Facebook and Litter-Robot on Twitter

One last place you can enter is my dogs' blog: 5 Minutes for Fido

Full disclosure: The Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter described in this series have been donated to All Things Dog Blog for an independent review. I have not been paid to provide my opinion of these products, and the opinion provided is my own.