Lab + Cat?

[SteellFJ]

Well I’ve found myself in a position..

I want a dog more than anything as I’ve said before but had my heart set on a puppy to allow it to grow with the family and the master of the realm, Mickey our owner cat.

However, my cousin took on a Labrador 2 weeks ago that belonged to her best friend who died last year of a heart attack at 25. Harry is a black lab, 4 years old and by all accounts the perfect dog for us.

My only concern is the master leaves us in the house if we took on an older dog. What’s the consensus and experience of this?

I love my cat but he would up sticks and leave for next door given any excuse and I don’t want thus lovely dog to be passed from pillar to post.

[bexVN]

I'm struggling to understand your 3rd paragraph but re a cat moving out due to a dog, very few actually do this, more likely if it was another cat or even a baby.

My friends Labrador never lived with a cat or was brought up with one but when I looked after him he was completely submissive/timid with my cats so they weren't bothered by him.

Any idea how this dog is with cats?

Edited by bexVN on Thursday 20th February 16:27

[SteellFJ]

Thanks Bex,

Sorry I rushed to type that as my lunch finished.

The dog has lived with a cat but the cats never properly met a dog so this was my concern. Think I'll introduce them before committing to take him and see what happens.

The Cat did go quiet when we had the baby in 2012 but he was still an indoor cat then as we had just moved from a flat.

[bexVN]

No problem, I make plenty of errors!

Here is a fantastic link to a very very good website. I would highly recommend the advice given on these pages

http://www.icatcare.org/advice/how-guides/how-intr...

[SteellFJ]

Thanks again Bex, that link is great. I will get a better read at home later.

[bexVN]

I should add they have to warn worst case scenarios and give detailed advice.

I have introduced several dogs and cats together over the years and had few problems (cat to cat is harder imo!) as long as their are places for for cat to get away from dog this is vital!

Edited by bexVN on Thursday 20th February 17:14

[Rich1973]

Sorry, no help whatsoever, but your thread title reminded me of the joke about the lady that takes a dead duck to the vets! Anyone know which one I mean?

[Jasandjules]

Rich1973 said:

Sorry, no help whatsoever, but your thread title reminded me of the joke about the lady that takes a dead duck to the vets! Anyone know which one I mean?

It was a huge bill, and not on the duck.............. But that's what happens you have a CAT scan and a Lab report....

[bexVN]

Jasandjules said:

Rich1973 said:

Sorry, no help whatsoever, but your thread title reminded me of the joke about the lady that takes a dead duck to the vets! Anyone know which one I mean?

It was a huge bill, and not on the duck.............. But that's what happens you have a CAT scan and a Lab report....

[Coco H]

My cat was 11 when we got a lab puppy. The cat is 14 and still looks down his nose at the dog.

[SteBrown91]

my girlfriend has got a 6 year old choc lab (the crazy colour ) and out and about he will try and chase cats (not hurt, but just run after them). However in a closed environment (especially with cats he has met before) he is sometimes interested in them but doesnt really bother them. If he hovers around them too much we just call him over to distract him.

TBH most cats will put the dog in its place (especially something as soppy as a labrador) so it would more likey be the dog is a bit nervous of the cat for a while.

[SteellFJ]

Well after getting my hopes up the OH met Harry today and he is just to powerfull for her slight 5'1" and having never had a dog before she's decided she would like to start smaller.

She had said yes on Wednesday but I told her to meet him first as I know she's no experience with them.

Doing this won me some brownie points as she knows how much i want a dog, but on this occasion, as she will need to walk and live with him i let her win if she couldn't handle him, i cant have her ever wanting to get rid of a dog when we do get one, this is a forever home after all.

I also do not want to bring a dog in that she's intimidated by, thus allowing it to dominate her.

He is hopefully going to a family friend tomorrow so we've not ruined his chances of a good home.

Back to the drawing board.

Thanks everyone for you comments.

[grand cherokee]

SteellFJ said:

Well after getting my hopes up the OH met Harry today and he is just to powerfull for her slight 5'1" and having never had a dog before she's decided she would like to start smaller.

She had said yes on Wednesday but I told her to meet him first as I know she's no experience with them.

Doing this won me some brownie points as she knows how much i want a dog, but on this occasion, as she will need to walk and live with him i let her win if she couldn't handle him, i cant have her ever wanting to get rid of a dog when we do get one, this is a forever home after all.

I also do not want to bring a dog in that she's intimidated by, thus allowing it to dominate her.

He is hopefully going to a family friend tomorrow so we've not ruined his chances of a good home.

Back to the drawing board.

Thanks everyone for you comments.

don't give up on Harry

at 4 yrs old he will still be very easily trained

if you don't want him I'd be vey interested as I've had Labs all my life - both working and as pets

[SteellFJ]

grand cherokee said:

don't give up on Harry

at 4 yrs old he will still be very easily trained

if you don't want him I'd be vey interested as I've had Labs all my life - both working and as pets

Unfortunately i had to concede this one as i would be out working full time and my OH has no experience in training dogs so could not have him regressing in his behavior if she struggled to handle him.

He was taken yesterday by a Family Friend with two older kids who have experience with Labs. He will be well looked after now.

I had to decide as quick as this for his own good.