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Cats and dogs?

Discussion in 'Other Animals' started by SaraE, Nov 25, 2020.

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  1. Nov 25, 2020 #1
    SaraE

    SaraE Member Registered

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    Hi

    Ok so my mom , sister and newphew live with me and mom would love to have another cat and asked me if she coukd have one. I said im ok with it but i dont know anything about cats and most importantly cats and dogs together.

    So i wanted to ask here regarding having a cat and dog together. I'll be asking on a cat forum for cat only advice but would be happy to hear from any cat owners here.

    What makes me nervous is the misconceptions that i have about cats , such as they dont love there owners and you are always covered in scratches as they are more aggressive ect.

    But mom told me she never got scratched by her first and only cat and he was very loving to her. So not sure on this. Reading horror stories of cats who attack there owners all the time is a little worrying but mom assures me that if you learn to understand and read your cats body language just like you do with dogs you will be fine and thats why hers never attscked her as she read his body language and knew when not to cuddle him and instead leave him alone.

    She also said there are some cat breeds like rag dolls that are more laid back. Which i quit like the look of ragdolls and i like maine coons who seem to be the cat who is dog like.

    Ive spoken with my berner owner friends who say berners are great with cats provided they have been well socialized with the cat.

    About 4 owners have maine coons and reccomend them.

    The 2 things i wanted to ask other than any general advice you'd like to give is

    1) which should i get first? Most berner friends have said cat first so pup can learn to be around the cat?

    2) do cats and dogs get along are do all just hate each other. Out of the 4 who own cats and dogs 3 said there cats are best friend's with there berner but all 3 of these cats are maine coons again.

    Just looking for advice really
     
  3. Nov 25, 2020 #2
    Hemlock

    Hemlock Well-Known Member Registered

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    My aunt had Maine Coons. They are lovely cats, and mellow. I would say research your cat and dog breeds thoroughly as some are very much more tolerant than others. That gets you off to a good start.
    Cats and dogs don't necessarily hate each other, but in many households there is a state of armed truce rather than friendship. And with some there will never be even that, so can you arrange your home to allow cat his/her own space? Your Mom sounds very sensible and it's good that she is there to give her experiences. Also, you are going to be a great dog and cat owner as you are putting so much into this.

    Cats don't scratch unless they are upset. Most people get scratched when they pick the cat up, so that's easy - don't pick the cat up OR desensitise him/her to being handled. My brother's cats are all rescue moggies, and they don't scratch.

    Do cats love us? Hmmmm. Let's settle for them liking us. Individual cats and dogs will probably love us, but I think it's better if we drop that expectation and just enjoy our animals as the wonderful beasts they are. Too much human emotion is very uncomfortable for many animals.

    Others will be able to give more advice.
     
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  5. Nov 25, 2020 #3
    SaraE

    SaraE Member Registered

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    Thank you Hemlock for your advice.

    I really like cats and have always wanted to own both but i want to put as much research into cats as i did with choosing the berner.

    One of my berner friends showed me a video of her cat ( maine coon) on a lead walking with her berner and they both were so relaxed and happy enjoying there walk and the berner was very protective of the main coon from other dogs.
     
  7. Nov 25, 2020 #4
    JudyN

    JudyN Moderator Moderator Registered

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    Cats often have a habit of asking you to tickle their tummy, then when they've had enough they'll suddenly wrap their limbs round your hand and kick you with their hind legs... which sounds dramatic, but you just learn to give very brief tickles. It's easy to work out when they're likely to scratch (if you need to give one a bath, have the sticking plasters handy...) and manage them.

    A meme I've seen going around is:
    DOG: My owners feed me and care for me - they must be gods.
    CAT: My owners feed me and care for me - I must be a god.

    That sums them up pretty well!

    They certainly can be affectionate - they may or may not like cuddles, or they may show their affection with a simple head butt. But they tend to do things on their own terms and don't see you as a wonderful leader, the way dogs do.

    I love Maine Coons too - they're magnificent. But with any long-haired or semi-long-haired breeds, make sure you get them accustomed to being groomed early on, because if you try to groom a cat who doesn't enjoy it, you're going to need those sticking plasters again.
     
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  9. Nov 25, 2020 #5
    SaraE

    SaraE Member Registered

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    Which do you think i should get first?

    A few cat owners have said get the dog first as its easier to teach a adult dog to leave the cat alone than a puppy who could get too excited and annoy the cat.

    And they said a cat is more likley to be friends with a dog if raised with a dog
     
  11. Nov 25, 2020 #6
    JudyN

    JudyN Moderator Moderator Registered

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    The other side of the coin is that by the time you get the cat, the dog may have become a hardened cat hater. We had a cat when we got Jasper as a pup and Jasper loved the cat (it was very much not reciprocated), but still hates any cat outside the house, and would quite possibly kill one given a chance.

    We did really struggle to teach him to leave the cat alone (he wanted to play chase, and bitey face, and humpy humpy...), but then he was quite a wild pup - and the cat would never stand up to him, but turn and run (Yay, CHASE!!!). If you are getting a more laid-back breed of dog, and are forewarned with the need to make sure he never pesters the cat, it might be much easier.

    So yes - it depends a lot on the personalities of both the dog and the cat, so it's very difficult to know how it will go, either way.
     
  13. Nov 25, 2020 #7
    SaraE

    SaraE Member Registered

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    Bernese moubtain dogs are know to be laid back and chilled and both cats were looking at are also more chilled.

    Just trying to figure out which way we should go cat first or dog first
     
  15. Nov 25, 2020 #8
    RGC

    RGC Active Member Registered

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    We’ve always had the cat first - makes life easier to introduce the dog onto the cat’s territory. Our current intake is George, a rescue from Thessalonika who was here for over a year before we got Mabel from whippet rescue. If anything they’re partners in crime but respectful of eachother’s space.
     
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