Questions for cat owners.

[ccharles000]

I am thinking about getting a cat but have some concerns. We have two dogs and I don't know if they would be ok with a cat. How are your experiences with cats?

[some guy]

1. ?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7909391

[jobycom]

4. !

:popcorn:

[ccharles000]

6. ...

I have just decided if I get a pet it will most likely be a cat.

[jobycom]

8. But two dogs is more than no dogs.

One thread says you have two dogs, one says you've never had pets. :shrug:

[ccharles000]

10. I don't own any pets.

My sis owns a dog and my mom owns the other.

[jobycom]

11. You, sis, and mom in the same house, then?

Not trying to badger you or anything, it's just an amusing combination of posts, and at four in the morning, an intriguing mytsery.

[ccharles000]

13. ..

Yes we do I am 19 and have yet to move out (hopefully it will be soon).

[jobycom]

14. Ah. All makes sense, then. In that case, I vote cat! nt

[some guy]

15. alrighty then.

If you're going to be moving out soon, probably you'll move to an apartment. Cats are a better choice. Dogs need yards to run around in.

My personal opinion is you should get two cats, so they have someone for company while you're away. Don't choose animal companions lightly. Once you adopt one (or more) companions, you're responsible for them for as long as they live. My cats are sisters, and will be 20 years old in Spetember. It's a long-term commitment. My sister had a siamese that lived to 22.

If I were in your position, I'd wait until I moved out before getting a cat(s). Either they won't have to be stressed by the dogs, or they won't have to be sad (if they bond with the dogs) when you move out, and they "lose" their friends.

[some guy]

9. ??

"I have never owned an animal..."
"We have two dogs..."

Are you not part of the "we" you refer to?
Are dogs not animals?
Do you just make shit up out of boredom?

[jobycom]

12. Maybe we haven't properly considered the word "owned" here.

Many pet owners, including myself, are hesitant to use the O word to describe the relationship we have with our beastly compadres... :rofl:

[jobycom]

2. It's not usually a problem.

By the way, why do you have George Clooney in your sig pic? :hide:

I've had cats and dogs most of my life. They fight and chase each other some, but I've never had a problem with anything serious. I've seen cats attacked and hurt (and killed) by dogs outside of their families, and I'm sure it happens sometimes even in the same family, but in general dogs and cats know that they are part of the same family and aren't supposed to fight.

You do have to give them both a little time and room to learn this, though. Keep them separate, or closely monitor their interactions at first. Once both of them learn that they both belong, they'll get along, or at least not try to kill each other.

What kind of dogs, btw? That could make a difference. My mother just got a Dachsund, and he integrated fine with her cat, because he really couldn't hurt her, anyway. I imagine a much larger dog could be more of a problem. There's less room for error with a bigger dog. I've had German Sheperds and cats, and Chows and cats, with no problem, though, aside from barking/hissing battles.

[ccharles000]

5. ...

We have a collie/chow mix and a pure chow.


About that george comment.:spank:

[Lil Missy]

3. Oh, get the cat. The dogs will be fine. It's the persnickety

cat you have to deal with. After a week or two it will work out fine.

[astral]

7. Cats and Dogs generally learn to actually be friends

They'll snuggle up to each other, clean each other's ears, even sleep together. It doesn't always get that snuggly, but I think usually it does.

[conscious evolution]

16. Nine dogs and four cats

in my co-op.
The cats have trained the dogs pretty well.Sometimes a dog will forget its training but either Mama cat or Other cat will 'retrain' them.