Bringing cat to live in house w/4 dogs.....fair or

I have always had cats and dogs togehter.  My current cats came into the picture after my dog was a part of th ehousehold. Gypsy knows that Mom will NOT tolerate her hurting any of the cats. One cat plays with her, one wishes she were dead.  It CAN work; it just requires diligence on your part--and possible crating of BOTH animals until they are used to eash other.

Would it be possible for the cat to be confined to one room (say the bedroom where your sister is going to be staying)?  As long as she gets plenty of attention she'll do just fine.  And in fact she will likely be much less stressed in a confined space.

I can't believe they want to come into your home and tell you to get rid of your dog. Okay, I needed to get that off my chest...

I second the suggestion of figuring out if  there's a room the cat could have to herself. A strategically placed baby gate would help that also.

Then when you're out walking the dog, let the cat run around the main area of where the dog stays. This way they get used to each others scent. Or can you an upstairs - downstairs separation?

dogs kill cats all the time. I rehomed a cat after observing it was going to die in a dog's mouth at some point when my back was turned, and no cats, for their own safety, are ever coming to live here. Unless dogs are raised with cats from young puppyhood they seem to categorize them with squirrels and rabbits- little furry running bits of food.

mudpuppy

dogs kill cats all the time. I rehomed a cat after observing it was going to die in a dog's mouth at some point when my back was turned, and no cats, for their own safety, are ever coming to live here. Unless dogs are raised with cats from young puppyhood they seem to categorize them with squirrels and rabbits- little furry running bits of food.

I agree with you, MP. Shadow grew up with cats when he was a small puppy, learning to respect them. His problem is not always realizing his strength. So, if I had to get another dog, it would probably have to be a little puppy that would grow up learning to give cats their space and distance. Even with growing up with cats, I don't find that to be a guarantee that all will be rosy. I was apprehensive when DW wanted Jade because I didn't want Shadow getting in trouble for being a dog. Just because he grew up with cats doesn't mean he's going to like every cat. In reality, he gets along fine with cats but also, in reality, I try not to make assumptions and would view each case on its own merit.

Shadow's predominate breed is Sibe, which normally finds cats and small animals to be food. But I think that's partly due to the nature of a working dog who might not normally be in a house of other animals. Shadow is a housepet who likes to work but he has been acclimated to small pets, accidently, thanks to his previous owners.

 Someone is coming to live in YOUR house, and wants you to get rid of YOUR DOG? I agree with the previous poster - that's nuts!

If it were me in your situation I would go ahead and let them move in. What are the alternatives? Surely moving in to a house with dogs is more fair to the cat than, say, moving in to an animal shelter because the family has nowhere to live?

That said, if it were MY cat, the cat would be confined to a single room (or perhaps a second story or something, if your house is big enough and set up that way) and would only be allowed to come out when the dogs are confined and/or leashed. I just don't think it would be safe for the cat any other way.

I bet with some dedicated training you could get your Toller to interact well with cats, or at least ignore them, but it is a long process and in general I don't think dogs and cats should ever be trusted alone together. I also think cats need access to a "safe space" at all times, so they can escape if they feel frightened or stressed.

I do think you could make it happen to let them move in, but it certainly wouldn't be easy. That doesn't mean "impossible," though!

It's YOUR house, YOU do what YOU feel is right for YOUR family. I agree with everyone who has posted previously to me. They have all given me some great advice and insight. My dog killed my cat yesterday, so I would definatly take the advice of those that have posted. Keep the cat in it's own room, perhaps the room that your guests will be staying in.

NOT.

This sounds to me like having all the ingredients for major drama and heartache. Considering your sister's DH state of mind about the respective importance of your dog -whose home it is- and his cat, heaven forbid that something would happen to kitty while they are staying with you. The idea of trying to restrain kitty to a single room does not seem completely realistic to me, especially with so many people (kiddos included) in the house. All it takes is one kitty escape and a minute ! Grab, shake, dead kitty !

Would there be any kind of animal organization in your area that could foster the cat if your sister and her DH were willing to "sponsor" their own cat (paying for his food, vet, etc) while in foster ? If a clear agreement is signed, they could be reunited with kitty once they move out of your place. Just an idea.

 There is no way I would get rid of my dog. You are being very nice letting them stay with you all and they suggest you get rid of YOUR dog?!! NO WAY. They could go stay somewhere else for all I cared.

I have dogs and cats. They get along. Except Joker my new pup. He is very rough with my kitten who was here before I got Joker. Joker doesnt understand cat lanague very well so when he is outside I put the kitten up in the sunroom so he doesnt get harrassed by Joker. Joker doesnt want to kill the kitten he wants to play. But like I said he doesnt know when enough is enough.

I would not get rid of my dog. They should be happy that you are generous enough to let them move in and have a roof over their kids heads. To suggest you get rid of your dog is just wrong. Very wrong.

 Yeah, I mean, honestly? First they want you to get rid of the dog. Then maybe they don't like the way you clean the house. Maybe they think you ought to be making different things for dinner. Whatever. To me, the suggestion that you get rid of your dog is a HUGE warning signal that maybe you don't want to be living in close quarters with them for an indefinite amount of time, you know? If it were me in their position, I would be bending over backwards being grateful, apologetic, and accomodating. Not expecting my generous host to bend over backwards to accomodate *me.* Big red flag for me! Hopefully it's just the stress in their lives talking...

Yeah...I hear you all. Believe me the only reason they are moving in is because I can't turn my back on my sister and the kids. I'm not impressed by the DH to say the least.

We're going to attempt the basement only idea for the cat, but she WILL be behind a bedroom door in the basement, plus be behind the basement door itself.

I happen to own a big dog that's terrified of stairs, so this just may work out...he won't go down the stairs for nothing....at this point.

We're going to try it, but I told them the cat's wareabouts are totally their responsibility, if they forget to close her up in their room downstairs and he gets her, I'm not responsible.

The only reason we're attempting this is the big dog IS afraid of the stairs, and utterly refuses to go down them...for now.

Getting rid of our dog is NOT an option. But, I don't want the kids coming here and immediately taking a dislike to him because of this.

 http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+2053+663&pcatid=663

 Would something like this work? When I got my cat during college, my mom got one of these for me to have her in when I came home. It kept her safe and let the home pets not get in trouble. It was kept in my room, and she was let out when I was in there, and kept in the cage while I was gone. There was also a pet gate across the door to keep them form terrorizing her in the cage. She never minded it. She actually would lay on the upper perch and chatter at the birds through the window.

 I hope it all works out.

Amy

I agree with the cat crate.  They are really nice and you can often find them on sale on Craigslist for about nothing.  My friend rented rooms in her large house (which she purchased mostly for the big yard).  One time one of her renters did cat rescue.  She had a couple of big cat crates in her room and it worked very nicely - think she lived there for two years with up to seven dogs in that house (hers, my friend's four, and one or two that belonged to various renters of the other room).

Do explain to your sister that the dog CAN kill the cat in a matter of seconds, and it's impossible to predict when this might happen.  Ie, they might seem okay when there are people around, but the dog suddenly takes a notion to have some fun when no one's looking. 

I had a German Shepherd/Doberman mix who was 18 months old.  I took him to the groomers at PetSmart and walked him by the cat adoption area.  I opened the door because I wanted to see how my dog would respond.  He has never been introduced to cats and I've had him since he was 9 weeks old.

There was one cat who approached my dog going nose to nose.  My dog had walked very gingerly in towards that cat.  Another cat hissed and swatted at my dog from inside it's crate.  My dog leap three feet in the air and high-tailed it out of there.  We then took my dog in a separate room to walk freely with the cat that was friendly.  The cat I chose was raised with dogs and showed no fear.  Now, my great big protector of a dog hid behind me, whined, and ran from the cat.  I was sold.  LOL

When I took the cat home, my dog, who had previously went after any other dog who approached his food bowl, stood behind me and whined while the cat stood in front of his food.  Hahaha.  I didn't even have to keep them in separate rooms when I left them alone together for the first time.  I simply said, "There better be a live cat when I return."  Because my dog was so fearful of the cat, I felt it was safe.  Now it's been 4 years later and they sleep together.  The dog does occasionally chase the cat only for the chase aspect when the cat runs.  Once the cat stops so does the dog.  He doesn't quite know what to do afterwards.  Though my cat is pretty dog savvy.  He knows not to run in the middle of a group of dogs as I also do rescue work.  I have since adopted another dog (chow mix) as a puppy and he also does fine with the cat.  I will say, though, my Shep/Dob still has a fear of small animals in cages.  I take him by the birds, ferrets, rabbits and he whines and tries to go around them. 

There are instances where dogs do fine with cats even if they aren't raised with them.  That may be the exception but it can happen.  I'm probably just lucky.  Although, I do foster a lot of dogs who are mostly Rotts/Pits/Dobs/Shep's and I've only had one dog that couldn't be put with the cat.  I wouldn't recommend Huskies, for instance.

That being said, I would probably recommend to put the cat in a separate room for the time being - maybe a bedroom - until a more permanent arrangement can be made.  It's what I had to do when one of my fosters had a problem with my cat.  I alternated times, though.  When I was gone, the dog was in the cage while the cat roamed free.  When I was home, the cat was locked up while the dog roamed free.  I felt better about it.