Cat and dog question
 

I have an 8 year old female Akita who did grow up with an older male dog until he died a few years ago. Now we're thinking of getting a cat or kitten.

Not knowing if my Akita will get along with a cat or kitten (Akitas don't really get along with other animals as it is). What is the best way to find out?

Don't pay too much for the cat, let nature run its course.



I'm only half joking, I'd find a free cat!

LOLOL You ever seen what a 80# dog can do to your house chasing a cat :confused59: :RunninDog::lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

Ever seen what a 10# cat can do to an 80# dog's nose! :whistling:

Get a Schipperke and call it good, they act similar to a cat.......only they appreciate you like a dog. Great watch dog, very sharp long range senses. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schipperke

I had 2 labs and 2 Persians, they pretty much ignored each other. Now I have 2 Aussies and 2 Maine Coons. They will all lay in a pile and nap but if one of the cats gets startled and runs, the dogs chase. If a dog gets too close and the cat is moody (as they often are) then a nose will get swatted. My oldest Aussie has an ear licking fetish and will hold the cats down and lick their ears until their whole heads are wet.

What you are asking is impossible to answer. Every dog is different and every cat is different. You may or may NOT get a perfect match the first time. HEAVY supervision on the intro and very firm re-enforcement on the dog's reaction should tell him what is expected. If you are nervous, the dog will be nervous and probably act out. 99% of the time, a well socialized dog will readily adopt a cat. 100% of the time, the cat will be a d!ck... but eventually relent to being social.



Jeff-

scene an episode about this on the Dog Whisperer a couple weeks back (on Netflix, if you got it)...

basically they made sure both animals were in a submissive state of mind you had to remain VERY CALM, and introduced the cat in a cat carrier/small kennel. He said it would take likely days/weeks of this repetitive action for them to finally get over each other. Might be worth hunting down that episode for some tips.

It can be done..I had the most beautiful Large Female Husky, Tequila, and she was a Cat killer....Any ferel cat or Kitten in the field was fair Game..

But my three cats ? She knew that my scent was on them, and she knew not to touch them..She tried to be the Alpha in the Family and I would not allow it..I am the Alpha and she was smart enough to know it...Had she killed my cats, she would be put down and I told her so..Because the cats were there first.

Maybe I just got lucky but that Dog was very smart...

She used to stand straight up on her back legs and look me in the eye and shake her head aggressively trying to intimidate me... Blue eyes that looked right through you..I just laughed at her, but I knew she could kill me if she wanted to..

Good Luck....Sounds crazy but talk to the Dog and tell her what you expect and the consequenses if she kills the cat..

Like Ketzer says, A LOT OF SUPERVISION at first....

Thanks guys, this is all very good info

I had a girlfriend one that tried to introduce a baby rabbit to my mini dachshund. It was kind of cute how he stretched his nose out to smell it while I held him back. The bunny moved a little closer and CHOMP! No pawing, no licking... just chomp. That dog knew what that animal was. Dinner :bunny:

That's just sad but funny at the same time