Introducing house cats to bird dogs..... Anyone tried it?

[andersonjk4]

My girlfriend and I have decided that she is going to move in with me if a few months when her lease expires.  Problem is.... she has a cat, and she doesn't want to give it up, and I have two bird dogs ( a 7yo GSP and a 6yo Vizsla). We've talked about it and decided we will try to get my dogs and the cat climatized to each other.  My GSP used to play with the barn cats at my sister's house when he was a pup and wasn't aggressive with them.  But since then everytime we go out there they go straight to the barn to chase the cats.  They don't get agressive with the cats just like to chase them and when they stop running they just bark at them trying to get them to run.  Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?  We are going to give it a shot and if they can't get along then the cat will just go to her parents house or some other home.  But she is set on bringing the cat with her for now.   

[Stilly bay]

I have three dogs and they are only interested in my GF's cat if it runs. I think the secret to cats and birddogs cohabitation is that the cats must have their own area that they can escape to.  we put a baby gate across the door way of our spare room and the cat will come out and socialize with the dogs occasionally, but its always on her terms.

[marty]

My lab hated cats until my daughter brought home a stray kitten now she loves cats!  But she is a lab and they are pretty easy going. 

[vandeman17]

I have a dog and the lady has two cats. When they were introduced, one was not a problem and the other was pretty mean. Just keep your eye on them, give them time and they will work out a pecking order. All it took was a few hisses, a few swats and a few growls and now all of them get along just fine. 

[flinger]

my GSP will walk right by our cats but if the cat decides to run it's GAME ON hasn't ever hurt one but will chase it till it gets to higher ground, then he will sit there and whine and shake for a little while

[BIGINNER]

i tried it,.... i dunno hoe the cat got away alive. 

[sled]

  Our gsp's dont care about our cat but if there is a neighbors cat in the yard,or they see one on a walk they want to chase them!

[ecnclan]

We had two Britneys and one cat. One of the dogs couldn't care less about the cat but the male Britney was always watching.  We would try and keep a close eye on the dog but one day the wife came into a room to see the dog with her cat in its mouth giving it a good shake.   Cat didn't make it and the only thing that saved the dog was the fact that the wife is the one who adopted that dog against my wishes to begin with.  I didn't particularly like the dog but after that day he had a special place in my heart cus I hated that cat.

[Idabooner]

Some thing to think about.  My English Bull let the cats eat with him, then one day a cat took a swipe at him and got an eye, the vet couldn't save it so now I have a one eyed Bull dog    and the coyote quickly got the cat.   

[YellowDog]

We had two Britneys and one cat. One of the dogs couldn't care less about the cat but the male Britney was always watching.  We would try and keep a close eye on the dog but one day the wife came into a room to see the dog with her cat in its mouth giving it a good shake.   Cat didn't make it and the only thing that saved the dog was the fact that the wife is the one who adopted that dog against my wishes to begin with.  I didn't particularly like the dog but after that day he had a special place in my heart cus I hated that cat.

LOL.  At least that unwanted dog earned part of his keep.  (kidding....sort of )

In my experiences, most dogs including hunting dogs have a weird way of knowing which animals are "here to stay" and off limits vs. ones that are strangers.  Slowly introduce them, give the cat(s) a place to escape to that is either a room divider or an elevated perch, and watch them for a while to make sure there are no shaken kitty incidents.  Using your no, leave it, or whatever the normal command to stop is for your dog whenever the dog even looks ready to pounce and they'll probably figure out a workable arrangement.  Oh yeah, make sure the cats nails are kept clipped and get a good squirt gun for the cat in case they decide to scratch your furniture.  I don't mind cats normally but really have no desire to have another one because too often cats decide they can crap in house plants, scratch up the furniture, and hack up furr balls and they really do nothing for me.

[whitey]

My Lab Harley has not one interest in cats. Just stands and looks at them. He is a heck of a bird dog, But not interested in anything but birds.

[carpsniperg2]

Pick the cat up and look your dog in the eyes and say fetch

[bobcat]

Many years ago when I was married to the previous wife, we had a cat, and the cat would sleep on top of my golden retriever. The dog and the cat did not grow up together either. I think my dog was 2 years old when we got the cat. I have pictures of them together, but not in a digital format.

The dog didn't seem to mind at all, but any other cats she across would get chased.

[whitey]

Pick the cat up and look your dog in the eyes and say fetch

My Hunting terriers would love that game, The cat wouldnt.
I hate cates, Unless there a dyed in the wool barn cat. House cats suck..

[Curly]

Many years ago when I was married to the previous wife, we had a cat, and the cat would sleep on top of my golden retriever. The dog and the cat did not grow up together either. I think my dog was 2 years old when we got the cat. I have pictures of them together, but not in a digital format.

The dog didn't seem to mind at all, but any other cats she across would get chased.

That was a cool cat.  It would even retrieve.  (And I'm not too crazy about cats, but that one was one of the good ones).