>I'd like to rescue a dog, but unfortunately, Lizzy's bio from
>the shelter said "no dogs" on it. Does anyone have any
>experience with introducing a dog into a house with a cat that
>doesn't like them?
I have no experience with this particular situation, but I volunteer at a shelter where cats are kept together in big rooms, and there are definitely cats that love the companionship of other cats (the minority)--they will snuggle with any other cat that allows it, play, and wash other kitties. Then there are cats (the majority) who will tolerate other cats, or even "kind of" like them after they've been around for a while. These may even have a special cat pal they bond with. Then there are the "cat hatin'" cats. They may love people, but they cannot stand to be within a foot or, for some of them, even three feet, of another cat without growling, hissing, attacking (and I'm talking here about cats who are together for maybe a month or more before I judge their "cat tolerance"). If your cat is to dogs as these "cat hatin'" cats are, she will NEVER tolerate a dog within her personal space (which can vary from 1 foot to who knows how much: cats CAN have a very generous idea of their space!).
If the shelter said "no dogs,' they probably had a good reason, though it may be hard to judge how cats will get along with other animals until they've been with them for at least 2 weeks.
Now on to TMI (quit reading now if you are already bored!):
My one cat, Simon, is a cat lover. From day 1, he's never hissed, growled, batted at (except in play), or given the "evil eye" to any of the cats I had when I adopted him, or any of the new cats I brought in after he was here.
Scooter is middle of the road: he hisses at newcomers and gives them the "evil eye" when I pay attention to them during the first two weeks, but tolerates all his kitty companions after this break-in period, and has a close play relationship with Simon (he has limited tolerance for Bobsie's daily washing of his head, but he goes along with it up to a point).
Bobsie is 80% cat-lover: I once thought she was a full-fledged cat lover, because she's even greeted stranger cats in a friendly manner when we are outside together, and she was very friendly with the other cats at the shelter, BUT she and Mandy don't get along (mostly Mandy's vibes!). She has made some friendly overtures towards Mandy, but ...
Mandy is about 60% cat hater. She has no interest in the other cats, will jump off the sofa if another cat comes up, and sometimes will attack one of the others (but not to the point of causing damage: just a few boxing whacks with her--sadly, declawed ;( --front paws). Mostly, she just intimidates them with "the look" when they are too close. (Poor Simon is at least twice her size, in overall size and in girth, but he is the emotional baby. When she gives him "the look," he'll just back off, slink away, and try to avoid trouble!)She tends to be an "avoider" rather than an "attacker."
