Getting a puppy when I have 3 grown cats?

[nikkig101]

I was considering getting a puppy, but i currently already have 3 grown cats. Two of them I know would have no problem with it they mind there own business do there own thing. Its my oldest one that I would be concerd abotu he is about 4 yrs old and 22 pounds hes a big boy. He had a pervious experince with his last home where he lived with a dog for a short time but then they got rid of him because he always attcked the dog... The dog was a big lab.
Anywayz I was just wondering if i got a puppy and intorduced him to the puppy just being little if it would elimante some of the problem my cat had with a full size dog???
Does anyone have any advice for me?

[Ritz459]

With some introduction your kitty and a puppy may get along well. Some cats just don't like dogs, just like some dogs don't like cats. I personally have never had cat that went out of its way to attack a dog (just dogs that went out of their way to chase a cat).

Does your cat only dislike large dogs, or small ones as well?

[Cassiepeia]

I'd make sure I very carefully set things up before I brought a puppy home in your circumstance. The biggest thing is boundries. You need to make sure the puppy has a "safe" place from the cat and that the cats have a "safe" place from the puppy. That way both can escape when it gets too much.
A puppy will harrass your cats. It's up to you to train/teach it not to.
You should also make sure you don't spend any less time with your cats (especially the one who isn't too fond of dogs) when the puppy arrives. They should know that the puppy isn't going to change your affection towards them.

I wouldn't give up on the idea of adding a puppy, just think carefully about introducing the pup and the living arrangements and keep the cats in mind. It might also be a good idea to think about what kind of breed would be suitable to put up with cats. There are breeds (although exceptions occur within the breeds) that do not tolerate cats as a general rule.
If you do your research you should be ok. It still might be a bumpy road to get your cat to love (or at least tolerate) your dog, but it's not an impossible task.

Good luck!

Cass.

[mainesheltie]

I brought a Sheltie pup into our home when my three cats were 16. He herded them, they hissed at him, but I sincerely believe the cats lived longer (2 died at 17, one is still going strong at 18) because he perked them up and was better for them than any toy. They raced around and played. (Take a look at Seniors who are engaged in life instead of just laying around and sleeping all the time.)

Like you, I was concerned. But I'm glad I got the dog and I think the cats, after all was said and done, were too.

I wish you all the best.

[Anneke]

i think it depends a lot on the cat. ive always had cats but we recently got a puppy because we got broken into and wanted security (although the security still needs time to grow). I have a very dog-like cat, a purebred Bengal (he even plays fetch). so he and puppy get a long quite well. they love playing together. i think the more playful the cat, the more likely they are to get along with a puppy.
the cats will eventually learn that dogs cant climb like they can and will find a nice high spot to retreat to when they need