Cat & dog

H1954

A great idea and a good way to ease into it. Our mechanic looks after his daughter's small dog during the day. He calls it Rent-A-Dog

Good point.
Your husband could volunteer at a shelter or something, or for the cinnamon trust.
He may find a lovely dog to fetch home and see how the cat takes to it.

Just been reading these posts with a interest and a thought occurred to me; is there anyone you know living quite local who has a dog but works in the daytime thus leaving dog home alone? Might you consider "dog sitting" , it would surely surely the owner, be company for the dog and get OH out for some excercise too.

Don’t hesitate - your other half will get some exercise and love it too. I wish I could have one.

My dog is 12. I wouldn’t bring another dog or cat in now. He doesn’t need the stress. He would be jealous and he is fairly territorial. But we are all different. You will no doubt decide what you want to do and do it regardless of what others advise ... as we all do!

By now I am sure you know what your cat feels about dogs! Some detest them and will make life very difficult for you and the dog if you inflict one on them, others like dogs and after sulking for anything up to a month will start looking after a puppy, when you are not looking.

Frankly, you can't expect the cat to live very much longer, so wait and get a kitten and a puppy together once your old loved cat dies.

I know someone whose dog makes their cats life an absolute misery.
The cat can't even rest or sleep indoors, and dare not ever stay off the work surface, as its the only place the dog can't reach. The poor old cat has practically moved out, looking all matted and tattered, as it seems to be sleeping rough.

We had 6 cats ( not young) & inflicted 2 young dogs on them. It took about a week for them to stop spitting but a cat will always be the boss.
They finished up best of friends but cats were always in charge.
Dogs know their place!

Years ago when we fostered dogs short term (some stayed years) we where asked to monitor the dogs reaction with cats and children so they could be re -homed accordingly we never really heard of a problem when our charges went to live with a cat.
I would imagine most re-homing centres still do the same so I would go ahead and get your dog,maybe a small Jack Russell would suit your OH as they are very loyal little dogs but bare in mind they do tend to live to ripe old ages my Barney was 17 when we lost him.

I think on the whole, I would agree, get a dogs home,pref a young dog, but past the puppy stage. I would also say that anmals are not v cheap to keep if something goes wrong. My son got one earlier in the year, and it cost £268 I fell off my chair, I got one years ago and it was £25, then its the lead the collar, bed blanket, food, and if sometyhing goes wrong the vet bills for injections, my son has joined one them vet groups that pay the vet bills, injections and the like, and then if you go on holiday or away , who is going to look after the dog. As much as I love my son, he knows, I couldn't look after his, it would take me for a walk, and he gets a 90 minute walk in the morning, before the d .i .l goes to work, and then my son takes him for a walk in late afternoon for around 2 hours before he goes to work, so there is that aspect. So these days, its not just the case of we will get a dog its meeting the needs of the dog to. Food and water, treats and toys. So a lot to think about, really. I have also found that when we had a cat, the dog, was wary at first, but then found the cat in the dog bed with the dog, I think they learn to get on with each other. Lots to think about, a smaller breed, might be more suitable, for yourselves, take your time in choosing, more than ones dogs home. and you are able to take them for a walk a try before you buy. Dont forget to get him microchipped that is now law, but once its in then its done, no more cost involved. I hope that you get a dog but just just take on board what the costs can be, a dog is for life, and it will be your best friend, greet you when you come home, alert you if someone hanging around, try to protect you. My dog moved into the residential home where I was a manager, and he was loved by all, so much so I made the decision to leave him there when I left. as every one loved him, he loved to be stroked, and would sit by people. So if you get one, take your time and enjoy him or her but just take on what folk are saying, who have been there, done it, and come out the other side. Good luck, please tell us all about your friend, if you decide to go a head.

I agree with Chucky. I think that an old cat is unlikely to adjust. Given that the cat is 18, (a marvellous age for a cat!) I'd wait until it died, before thinking about taking on a dog. (A dog might adjust to your cat, but I doubt that the cat would adjust to a dog!)

I would let the cat live its life out stress free.
Even if you got a dog that's good with cats, that wouldn't necessarily mean your cat is good with dogs.

I agree with Anja, go for it but a young rescue already good with cats.
Less stress all around and the bonus of a lovely dog to enrich your lives.

Actually the arithmetic doesn't quite work in the post I've added above (always use preview!) but I do think that with the vet's help and a comfortable life, an 18 year old cat might easily have another another 4 or even 6 years ahead.

A well looked after cat can live into their 20s. We had a cat who lived to 22. The OPs husband will be 74 by then. Just saying..

At that age (18) your cat is very old to get used to a dog entering the household.Why not wait, she won’t live forever and it would be a shame to make her old age an unhappy time.

We've kept several cat and dog pairs and never had a problem. In fact, we also have an elderly but fit cat and are looking for a rescue dog to adopt in the spring.

Cats are usually more than capable of asserting themselves over dogs but they may need help in the first few weeks. Dogs can be taught to respect a cat relatively easily and once the dog understands the pecking order in the house, the cat will always be top dog! Some cats and dogs come to be friends and will play together but that might be a bit much for an elderly cat.

Most rescue centres assess dogs for rehoming as being suitable or not for living with cats.

get an older dog...from a proper dog trust home. or maybe you could foster a dog till it gets a new home.being a foster carer means you get vets bills paid for by the trust....just an idea ?

My dogs and cats have always tolerated or even got on with each other. The cats are always the victor in any of the early skirmishes, so the dogs soon learn not to chase them.

Sorry to inflict a note of caution. Please don't chose a breed because it's said "not to moult" - many of the allegedly non moulting breeds do indeed moult. I have one who doesn't moult but is a mud magnet who will leap into any water given the opportunity. His coat needs grooming six weekly.

Dogs are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They're expensive, they need training, two walks a day and visits to the vet are very expensive. Kennels are hugely expensive.

I love my dogs. Can't imagine life without them.

We got Lhasa Apso dogs as they are good with children, do not malt as both asthmatic, loving and affectionate and don't grow too big so will never need 5 mile walks like a large dog may well do. We walk ours 1 1/2 miles first thing in morning, 1 km mid morning, and 1 mile evenings. At weekends we go a bit further but the dogs seem happy with that. We also have a large garden they can run around in if is not wet.

Or old beloved cat died in February. We were all upset. We had wanted a dog for a long time but I felt it was unfair on the cat. To be honest I was worried the stress of a puppy might finish the cat off. At the end of June we got 2 puppies from the same litter and they bring us so much joy. My son also got a kitten as he missed his old cat so much. They get on OK but in the beginning the cat ruled the roost as but as the puppies have grown and there are two of them, they are now the bosses. This time we had a female cat and i think she is more loving and stays closer to home, than our old cat who was male and went out a lot. Anyway we would not be without any of them. They are adorable and bring us so much joy.

I totally agree with Chucky. We made the mistake of getting a puppy when our cat was nine. He used to bark at her and chase her, and the result was that she took to living upstairs in the spare bedroom. She would never come down or go out into the garden when he was around, and we had to leave the bedroom window open for her and use a litter tray. The dog is now six and she's fifteen, and now they are fine together though she still stays mainly upstairs. I feel sad that the cat's life was disrupted so much, she was fine with our previous dogs and used to sleep curled up with them. She was very stressed for some time after we got the pup, and I never would make this mistake again.

I think your cat will cope fine, they are very superior beings and the dog will learn he/she is a lower creature

Please do not introduce a dog into your household whilst you still have your cat. It would be very unfair to him, especially at this age. He deserves to live out the rest of his life happily and without the stress a dog may put him under. He is, and should be, your number one at this stage of his life.

We bought a lovely golden retriever puppy into the family six years ago and already had an old and grumpy Burmese cat. Always made sure that cat had plenty of spaces to escape to if he felt the need. First time puppy tried to play a puppy bouncing game with the cat he got a firm buff on the nose and much hissing! That established the pecking order and they were fine together. Even when dog was full size he knew where the boundaries lay!

And a dog is the most perfect excuse for getting out and about in the fresh air every day, so don't hesitate.