Should I Bring a Dog into a Home with Cats?

I volunteer at a local animal shelter once a week, and I get this question a lot. It’s either from people with cats who want to bring a dog into the mix or people with dogs who want a cat. The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Your answer is going to depend on the breed of the dog, the age of all of the animals, and where they are coming from.

To start, certain breeds are better with other animals (and children) than others. Research your breed or talk to the breeder where you got the dog. If you’re dealing with very young animals, the answer is almost always a positive. For example, if you have cats that are both under two years old and you want to bring a puppy into the house, that’s usually fine. They will grow together and form their own pack. But, if any of your animals are older, it might be a little more difficult. They aren’t as likely to take on that new puppy as one of their own. Whether or not you have problems in that situation will all depend on the personality of the cat.

I have a dog and two cats, and they met in an almost ideal situation. The cats were about a year and a half old and I brought Wanda in as a puppy. Sure, the cats objected a little at first, but they quickly got used to each other. Now, they’re really close. They even seem to miss each other when they’re apart. It’s very sweet.

The best advice I can give on this topic is this: If you get cats and plan to eventually get a dog, bring a dog (any dog) around the house as often as possible. If the cats get used to having another animal around, it’ll be much less traumatic for everyone later on when you decide to get your own pup.

Also, you should have time to spend at home with the animals while they're first getting acquainted. If you're a busy lawyer and you're away from home for more than eight hours each day, you may want to reconsider this arrangement. On the other hand, if you're an administrative assistant who can come home at lunch time, it's not so bad.

The bottom line is that cats and dogs can get along splendidly or they can fight like, well, cats and dogs. Check out the video below for a cute example of a cat and dog who obviously do get along, but are now arguing over their sleeping arrangements.... (tee-hee!)