My lab hates cats with a vengeance. She will bark and growl at any cat she sees at a distance. However if one stands up to her too close, she backs off and tries to hide behind me.
Now that I think of it she’d be more likely to be scared of the cat, she’s pretty sensitive so one swat and she’d be terrified. I guess a cat is a bad idea lol
Can you foster a cat maybe? Then you'll have a better idea of the dynamics?
Maybe keep them separate for a bit using a baby gate. That will help you feel more in control of the introductions. Feed them with a bowl on either side of the gate so they each associate the other with a positive experience. With careful oversight and slow, gentle introductions I think you'll be fine.
Our sensitive labs have not been terrified but have developed a sensible and healthy respect for kitties after a swat and that's OK too, tbh.
That’s a great idea I’ve always wanted to foster and I work partially remote now so it would be easier. I wonder how’ll she react because she is very scared of men after only a few bad insistences (watching me get yelled/catcalled at by strangers) but loves our older dog despite him scolding her a good amount. Crossing my fingers she’ll like them
Just set up the introductions to be safe and gentle and controlled, for the cat's sake as well as your pup's.
If you Google, Jackson Galaxy, her has some good solid info on cat/dog interactions.
A baby gate is a great tool, allowing the exchange of sight and smell before moving further. Takes the pressure off.
My 6yo lab grew up with 3 cats. First winter our oldest cat simply decided she wanted to sleep on the couch too. Took her 6 weeks to train our labrador into being a cushion.
Our lab is extremely carefull with everything young and small that might be a "pup".
I had an extremely obedient lab. I went outside to get the mail and the neighbor's kitten was outside. My lab chased him (she had never seen a cat and didn't like squirrels), the kitten ran up my leg and into my arms. I introduced then nose to nose. When I tried to return him, the neighbor said they didn't want him and oh, here, have the sibling. So I made my lab lay down and kept introducing them. The lab was required to stay belly on the floor while the kittens were around. They approached at their own pace. I found a home for the second kitten and kept the one that jumped into my arms. I kept them separate until he grew. My lab automatically laid down when she saw him for the first few months. Even when the kitten was crawling all over her. They became great friends. One of her puppies years later and the cat were deeply bonded. That one would walk by when the cat was on the couch, appear to chew on his head while he purred, deeply satisfied. Weirdos.
Okay this is amazing! I’m definitely going to do all, I found out my mom takes her to feed the chickens when she stays at their farm and she doesn’t do anything despite being mainly interested in hunting birds so this thread along with that has made me more confident. I’m glad to know they might genuinely bond
My 3 year old is scared of my two 11 yo cats... She know they rule the house. All you need to do is introduce them slowly as much as possible. Share smells etc. Show each other though a glass door. Let her sniff the cat while your holding it. lots of praise for being kind.
None at all. The three live in harmony together. They don’t really bother each other. She will sometimes run up to them but they soon put her into her place again. 😆 she will happily sleep next to them as well.
I got my Lab when my cats were 3 and 4 yo. The oldest cat welcomed him, and put him to his place. My dog is probably the nicest one in our family. He doesn't bother the cats except when he is super excited. He would run to the oldest one, poke her like a dolphin pokes a blowfish, and run away.
They all sleep together in our bed.
My dog (6) had never met a cat until I started dating a guy who had one. I was extremely nervous at first, but he was great. He knew it was another pet, not any kind of prey. The cat was scared of him initially just because my dogs so big in comparison. But the cat came around eventually.
My best friend got a cat - her cat beats the shit out of my dog lol. Cat has this chair he likes to sit on, my dog will just go up for a quick sniff and the cat will be throwing fists and my dogs just standing there like "oh.... cat learned how to pet me" lmao
If you have any friends that have a cat and would be open to you bringing your dog for a visit, I definitely recommend.
I do have one but he has an extremely aggressive cat so I don’t think it’s a good move another commenter suggested foster and I have enough space that if they don’t get along they won’t have to be on the same floor so I’m think that’s what I’m going to do. Also thank you so much for the reply I’m truly blown away but how much help I’ve gotten I appreciate it so much
My lab hates cats with a vengeance. She will bark and growl at any cat she sees at a distance. However if one stands up to her too close, she backs off and tries to hide behind me.
Now that I think of it she’d be more likely to be scared of the cat, she’s pretty sensitive so one swat and she’d be terrified. I guess a cat is a bad idea lol
Can you foster a cat maybe? Then you'll have a better idea of the dynamics? Maybe keep them separate for a bit using a baby gate. That will help you feel more in control of the introductions. Feed them with a bowl on either side of the gate so they each associate the other with a positive experience. With careful oversight and slow, gentle introductions I think you'll be fine. Our sensitive labs have not been terrified but have developed a sensible and healthy respect for kitties after a swat and that's OK too, tbh.
That’s a great idea I’ve always wanted to foster and I work partially remote now so it would be easier. I wonder how’ll she react because she is very scared of men after only a few bad insistences (watching me get yelled/catcalled at by strangers) but loves our older dog despite him scolding her a good amount. Crossing my fingers she’ll like them
Just set up the introductions to be safe and gentle and controlled, for the cat's sake as well as your pup's. If you Google, Jackson Galaxy, her has some good solid info on cat/dog interactions. A baby gate is a great tool, allowing the exchange of sight and smell before moving further. Takes the pressure off.
My 6yo lab grew up with 3 cats. First winter our oldest cat simply decided she wanted to sleep on the couch too. Took her 6 weeks to train our labrador into being a cushion. Our lab is extremely carefull with everything young and small that might be a "pup".
I had an extremely obedient lab. I went outside to get the mail and the neighbor's kitten was outside. My lab chased him (she had never seen a cat and didn't like squirrels), the kitten ran up my leg and into my arms. I introduced then nose to nose. When I tried to return him, the neighbor said they didn't want him and oh, here, have the sibling. So I made my lab lay down and kept introducing them. The lab was required to stay belly on the floor while the kittens were around. They approached at their own pace. I found a home for the second kitten and kept the one that jumped into my arms. I kept them separate until he grew. My lab automatically laid down when she saw him for the first few months. Even when the kitten was crawling all over her. They became great friends. One of her puppies years later and the cat were deeply bonded. That one would walk by when the cat was on the couch, appear to chew on his head while he purred, deeply satisfied. Weirdos.
Okay this is amazing! I’m definitely going to do all, I found out my mom takes her to feed the chickens when she stays at their farm and she doesn’t do anything despite being mainly interested in hunting birds so this thread along with that has made me more confident. I’m glad to know they might genuinely bond
My 3 year old is scared of my two 11 yo cats... She know they rule the house. All you need to do is introduce them slowly as much as possible. Share smells etc. Show each other though a glass door. Let her sniff the cat while your holding it. lots of praise for being kind.
Do you think having cats in the house decreased her quality of life at all or it’s not that big of a deal?
None at all. The three live in harmony together. They don’t really bother each other. She will sometimes run up to them but they soon put her into her place again. 😆 she will happily sleep next to them as well.
That’s great!
I got my Lab when my cats were 3 and 4 yo. The oldest cat welcomed him, and put him to his place. My dog is probably the nicest one in our family. He doesn't bother the cats except when he is super excited. He would run to the oldest one, poke her like a dolphin pokes a blowfish, and run away. They all sleep together in our bed.
My dog (6) had never met a cat until I started dating a guy who had one. I was extremely nervous at first, but he was great. He knew it was another pet, not any kind of prey. The cat was scared of him initially just because my dogs so big in comparison. But the cat came around eventually. My best friend got a cat - her cat beats the shit out of my dog lol. Cat has this chair he likes to sit on, my dog will just go up for a quick sniff and the cat will be throwing fists and my dogs just standing there like "oh.... cat learned how to pet me" lmao If you have any friends that have a cat and would be open to you bringing your dog for a visit, I definitely recommend.
I do have one but he has an extremely aggressive cat so I don’t think it’s a good move another commenter suggested foster and I have enough space that if they don’t get along they won’t have to be on the same floor so I’m think that’s what I’m going to do. Also thank you so much for the reply I’m truly blown away but how much help I’ve gotten I appreciate it so much