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paulz
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# Posted: 17 May 2020 12:15pm - Edited by: paulz
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I've been considering getting a cat and have a couple of questions.
What will out 4 year old dog do if we introduce a kitten into the house? He's normally very friendly, never bitten anyone or anything, but he does chase the neighborhood cats when he gets the chance.
We (including the dog) spend 2-3 nights at the cabin every week. Could we leave the cat in the house at home? I'm guessing it wouldn't want to travel.
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Ontario lakeside
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# Posted: 17 May 2020 03:25pm
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We have two cats. They stay home for max 4 days without us. The key here is that they have each other. I think a cat by itself would be very unhappy for more than a day alone. We have taken them to the cabin. If you were to start taking the cat early it would likely travel in a carrier with no issue.
It hard to predict how a cat and dog will interact. Our dog is a chaser. If anything will run its game on. Some cats he doesnt bother because they dont run, if they run he will chase and bark but wont hurt them.
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paulz
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# Posted: 17 May 2020 04:50pm
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Thanks OL, good info. You hit on one of my main concerns. Our dog is a cat chaser, my fault as I taught him to chase ducks at the pond when he was a pup. The next door neighbor's cat comes on our property and he's off, despite my best efforts to stop him. I was thinking maybe if we had our own cat he would learn to settle it down, and maybe be a companion for him. The main thing I am afraid of is him running into the street after one.
I sure don't want to drag a carrier to the cabin, nor take care of two cats, so I suppose it's not for us.
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Fanman
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# Posted: 17 May 2020 06:11pm
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We have four cats at the moment, and at one point had a dog as well (Doberman). Cats are pretty good at teaching a dog that they don't want to be bothered, a swipe at the dog's nose when pushed too far into a corner and the dog learns when to leave them alone. Biggest problem we had was keeping the dog from the cat food, the dog loved it but it made her fart like crazy.
It's easiest if the cat arrives as a small kitten. Giving the cats some kind of refuge is good, we had our bedroom blocked off by an old fashioned baby accordion gate that the cats could easily get through but the dog couldn't. We kept the cat food in the bedroom, too.
As for leaving them alone, we routinely leave them for a week at a time. If we'll be gone for longer than that we'll ask somebody to look in on them but it's not a big deal, cats can take care of themselves. However, we have a cat door so we don't have a litter box to worry about and they can come and go as they please.
Some cats don't mind traveling but others hate it. Best to bring the dog to the cabin and leave the cat at home for some "alone time".
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 17 May 2020 07:03pm
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We have two cats that we bring back and forth from the cabin. It is a ordeal! We never traveled with them as kittens, I know people who started taking them with them all the time and they travel well.... ours do not. We have to put them in carriers and that often involves blood, they will not go in willingly! We found CBD oil helps calm them a little. Keep in mind we go to the cabin in the spring and return late fall. We did bring them up for the winter with us this year, month and a half. This year we came in March and don't plan go return to AZ until mid January.
We commonly leave our boys for a week, no problem and up to 10 days max. Extra food, water and another cat box. As they have gotten older they get into less mischief when left alone... no curtains down anymore! We wish we would have gotten them used to travel as kittens.
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Ontario lakeside
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# Posted: 17 May 2020 07:29pm
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My mother in law has a cat that will not run. When the dog runs at it it stands its ground. The dog gets confused and leaves it alone.
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paulz
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# Posted: 17 May 2020 07:59pm - Edited by: paulz
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It doesn't sound like a dog and a cat make good companions for each other, one of my other objectives. I see videos of them together but 'tolerate' seem more like it. And even if they did tolerate the dog might still want to chase other cats outside.
I'd most likely get a kitten so perhaps could train it to travel but I wouldn't go looking for it. The dog is in the truck the second he hears the keys rattle.
Last cat I had was 30 years ago but really enjoyed it, it loved to hunt and play. I'm itching to bring one into the house and see what happens but a) nobody is going to lend me their cat and b) I wouldn't want to traumatize it.
Maybe a rabbit...
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ratfink56
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# Posted: 18 May 2020 08:00am
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Cats love to hunt They are hell on wildlife. I love my cats but have a hard time with the hunting. We have many birds which I also love. But they are regularly caught and eaten.
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clintondiya
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# Posted: 19 May 2020 03:58am
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I like dogs but really don't care if someone dislikes them.
Also, there are so many different dog breeds that I think there is a dog to fit just about any personality, but pets are not for everyone, I understand.
Pitbulls are a breed I would never get for myself because they are WAY too high energy and the locked-jaw they can get is scary.
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moneypitfeeder
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# Posted: 17 Nov 2020 05:14pm - Edited by: moneypitfeeder
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Domestic cat lover here, I'd be concerned about adding a kitten to your home, since you indicated your dog is a "chaser." A full-grown, no-nonsense tempered kitty could probably put that behavior in check, but not a kitten. We've had cats since we bought our cabin and have always taken them with us. I don't keep them in carriers when we travel up there (only to go to the vet) but I do keep tracking collars on, in case a kitty manages to get out of the car if we stop at a gas station or for food. We are down to one now, used to have two, and since our cats have always been fed moist food in addition to dry, we don't leave them overnight without us. Plus my cat is completely spoiled rotten, and is super clingy and needy. (Side note as to why a dog that is a "chaser" might not be a good fit: when my kitty was just a young cat [7-10 months], a dog had gotten loose and ran into our yard...I used to tether my cat in her harness outside while sitting out and watching so she could have "outside time." The dog attacked and almost got her, she literally climbed my neighbor's stone house walls to get out of reach while the dog tried to bite at her and get her down. She was bleeding from ripped claws after that. My husband and I fought the dog off, but now she is completely [rightfully so] terrified of dogs. The dog was super sweet and friendly once a cat wasn't in view.)
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Aklogcabin
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# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 09:41am
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I would give it a try. Our family dogs knew who was part of the family and always respected that. Just as when we raise animals for food. When the baby turkeys or whatever’s got loose our Chesapeake would herd them to the house.
Lots of farm dogs out there that have to know what critters belong to the boss man. Our cats n dogs played like cats n dogs. Wrestled a lot. When it would get cold the cats would sleep in the dog house.
I feel that most pets that have been socialized should be ok. Although our current chessy is an all out hunter-retriever and would require more attention twards socializing. Also cats always seemed more loner to me than any other animal and have no problems staring at a wall all by themselves. And experts at finding the warmest place to sleep.
I do enjoy the neighbors having a kitty to police the rodents and I don’t have to maintain it.
Guilt trip warning here ! Lots of good kitties at the pound that will have no chance at life. If you adopted one it would have that chance. Even if it had to deal with the dogs. And would feel really nice on your lap.
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paulz
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# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 10:00am - Edited by: paulz
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Thanks Money, great advice. That's great your cat travels with you! Our dog is a definite lap dog, wouldn't take kindly to another animal crowding his affections.
Just had is annual checkup at the vet, who wants to clean his teeth, $700-$1,000! So I've been reading on doing it myself, going to buy special dog tooth paste today. Anyway I think that has soured me on another pet, one set of vet bills and maintenance is enough.
Funny thing happened yesterday, our harmless little 5yo pooch got in his first dog fight. I was walking him (at out city local) when another dog and owner came along, a tiny Chihuahua thingy. As usual, we let the dogs meet and sniff. I looked away briefly when all of a sudden the barking started. I looked back and the little dog was under mine, I think it tried to bite his weaner! The owner quickly picked up his dog but mine wasn't done, he was jumping up at it in the guys arms and barking furiously. I yelled and he gave up but kept looking back and growling as we walked away. Totally out of character, he must have really been offended. I'm actually king of glad it happened, he needed to learn that every other animal is not dangerous.
Here's my dog Buddy. Might have to change his name to Brutus lol.
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moneypitfeeder
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# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 06:58pm
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That's funny Paulz, I was thinking you might have had more of a larger "bigger jawed" dog, and though your Brutus might be a "bruiser" ... after seeing him, I might be inclined to retract my advice  Teeth problems are the worst! My cats have all been apparently genetically predisposed to issues (let me tell you it isn't from eating a bad diet, my cats eat better than we do). Good luck on the cleaning, I've had to have kitty cleaning and extractions and none of which are cheap.
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paulz
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2021 11:46am
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Neat thing happened this morning. A little black cat came wandering into my garage in the city. Our dog was in the house. I was able to walk right up to it, pet it and even pick it up without so much as a meow. Cutest little thing, probably a kitten, skinny, 5 lbs. at the most, about a foot long, beautiful coat, no collar.
Pretty soon here comes the dog, sniffing around and looking everywhere except in my arms. Finally he sees it and oh boy, he's barking and jumping. Still the cat doesn't even flinch. I brought it into the kitchen, put it on the counter while my wife held the dog back, and poured some milk. Cat didn't want it unfortunately. Finally I took it back outside and it scampered off. Probably a good thing because I was in love.
The dog has not left my side since. I've been wanting to get him close to a cat, hoping he would adjust his tendencies and stop growling at every cat he sees. But I guess it's canine nature.
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