Dogs and cats, living together?

[Freedom]

I have baby gates blocking off rooms with cat food, so the cats have places to escape and be dog-free, and the dogs can't get to the cat food.

Litter boxes are down cellar, the door is always open and a gate across the short hallway to that door.

Lots of ways of doing it. As long as the dog does NOT get the cat food or cat "tootsie rolls," all is fine.

Ed is making this place HIS home, I see! That's what I got from your descriptions.

[pomtzu]

Litter boxes are down cellar,

:

OMG Sandie - you just took me way back with that. I haven't heard, or used that term since I left RI many, many moons ago! Here we say "down in the basement".


As far as the dog/cat issue in this house-------the cat's dry food which is left out for them to free feed is in a corner of the family room which is off limits to the pups. The litter box is in a small sitting room off the family room, so no problem there either. Occasionally Sparky sneaks in there to root for "kitty treats" tho. YUK!!! The cats also split a small can of wet food in the evening, and that gets put on top of the washing machine, so there's no way for the Fuzzbuttz to get at that.

[kaycountrygal]

I have LilGirl dog and Luke cat living in same house. Annie is an outside dog. Overall the situation is ok ... but I have to make sure of the following:

1. Put Luke's cat food in a chair (he sits on stool to eat) and make sure no cat food is left out or dog will eat it. I wait when I feed both dog and cat. I KNOW dog will eat cat food, not sure if cat will eat dog food. Both of them have a water bowl which works out ok.

2. Keep tabs on Luke cat or he will "stalk" LilGirl dog and corner her. He doesnt hurt her but he scares her. He loves to hide behind a door or chair and jump out at LilGirl dog when she walks by. Luke can't help it; he is a CAT. When I see him doing this, I warn LilGirl and I think she knows when I say "Luke is waiting for you" and I get up and block him. oh yes, we have fun LOL.

3. Then sometimes LilGirl is very brave and barks in cat's face especially when cat wants to jump on couch where LilGirl dog is. She can act very ferocious but then again very wimpy. It varies.

4. For litter box I put litter box inside a big deep cardboard box which is a good idea whether you have a dog and cat or not. When cat scratches the litter, the cardboard box catches any litter he knocks out. Also being high, dog does not bother it.

Once in awhile, I'll find the two of them lying close together on couch. I had visions of them being best buds but I dont think that will ever happen. I've had LilGirl for 3 years and Luke cat for 10. When LilGirl was a puppy she wanted to be near Luke cat and on a few occasions she slept on top of him and he let her. I wish they were cozy with each other but dont think it's going to happen.

Good Luck. 7:02pm

[dehlers43]

I once had 2 dogs and 2 cats (all are RB now) at the same time. Dogs liked the cats better than the cats liked the dogs but all got along OK.
The only reason I don't have a dog now is because I'm away from home so much.....

[kuhio98]

Glad to hear that your little family is getting along well.

My sister had a husky-mix who came down with pancreatitis from "snacking" from the cat box and eating the cat food.

She solved the problem by putting both the cat box and cat eating station in the laundry room. Then she installed a cat door in the laundry room door so that only the cat could come and go.