I have a very spoiled 15 year old kitty at home who has been my only furbaby for about the last 6 years (well except for the 2 neighbor cats who think they live here!). I have been thinking of getting a puppy, but I am worried about how it will affect my Kitty. When he was younger I had other cats and an older dog and he was fine, but I worry that now after being an only furbaby for so long that he will be hurt and jealous if I bring home a puppy? My kitty has been there for me though thick and thin so I don't want to do anything thats going to hurt him or stress him out! Any thoughts, experiences...???
Question for all you animal lovers
- Thread starter Bonne
- Start date
syzygy314
Cathlete
That's a tough decision! My kitty grew up with dogs in the house. I would love another kitty, but Simon, my orange tabby, is the type who gets very stressed out when there is change. He gets UTIs. I wouldn't introduce any new pets around him because of this.
If your kitty is pretty laid back and not like mine (a stress freak!), I would think it would be fine to bring in a new pet. Of course, your kitty is much older. I think you, knowing your kitty so much better, would be the only one who could tell if you thought he could handle it. It is a very emotional and stressful thing to bring change into his life.
Good luck with your decision!
If your kitty is pretty laid back and not like mine (a stress freak!), I would think it would be fine to bring in a new pet. Of course, your kitty is much older. I think you, knowing your kitty so much better, would be the only one who could tell if you thought he could handle it. It is a very emotional and stressful thing to bring change into his life.
Good luck with your decision!
fit44
Cathlete
I don't know anything about kitties, but I do know you can train your puppy to leave the cat alone(when you want him/her to). Your cat should be alpha because she is senior in the house. That is how it will be when we bring our pup home to our 8 1/2 year old dog.
I also wanted to say that I've seen a few Cesar Millan episodes where the cat in the house was the only true pack leader! LOL
The cat had more control over the dog than the humans in the house!
I also wanted to say that I've seen a few Cesar Millan episodes where the cat in the house was the only true pack leader! LOL
The cat had more control over the dog than the humans in the house!
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ITA. Since your cat has already lived with other animals, it shouldn't be a problem. There may be an adjustment period, but as long as you train the pup to leave kitty alone and make sure the cat has his "safe" place to go if he doesn't want to deal with the puppy. For my cat, that's usually under our bed or in a basket of towels in the laundry room.
kathryn
Cathlete
Some cats like dogs, some hate them, some can learn to tolerate them. It's very individual (like the way cats feel about other cats), though from my experience, most cats take about a 2-week adaptation period to settle into how they are going to interact with another pet (my cats Simon and Pete are exceptions: they have accepted other cats pretty readily and quickly).
The only animal I would get your furbaby would be a dog about his/her same age. Your cat might be jealous with a younger one.
I have two cats and I thought about a dog too, since they are 4 years old, I would adopt a four year old dog. Otherwise, my cats would not be nice to a animal younger than them. Years ago, my Siamese didn't like the Irish Setter puppy. the cat was mature and felt that the puppy was intruding on her territory.
I have two cats and I thought about a dog too, since they are 4 years old, I would adopt a four year old dog. Otherwise, my cats would not be nice to a animal younger than them. Years ago, my Siamese didn't like the Irish Setter puppy. the cat was mature and felt that the puppy was intruding on her territory.
janie1234
Cathlete
My 6 month old puppy is a beast, . . .and I know I would never bring in another pet into our house without introducing them first to see how the whole family would get along.
I don't want to scare you but taming and training my puppy for the past 3-4 months has been an absolute nightmare. Then again I've met other dogs in town that have been able to teach my monster a thing or two. I think animals learn from each other, . .you just may be able to find that perfect match.
I don't want to scare you but taming and training my puppy for the past 3-4 months has been an absolute nightmare. Then again I've met other dogs in town that have been able to teach my monster a thing or two. I think animals learn from each other, . .you just may be able to find that perfect match.