Newfs & Cats

[lmfoltyn]

Good afternoon everyone:

I know I might be crazy...well forget that thought, my husband says I am...LOL. I know several of you have a mixed family with newfs and cats. I am thinking of getting a Norwegian Forest Cat and am wondering how you all handle the cats with the dogs. Have any of you had problems bringing a cat into the home after having dogs? Is it a huge mistake to take on? My group is a lab 7 years old, a newf 5 years old, and a newf 2 years old. To be honest, they bark at everything that presents itself near our house whether it be a car a bike a person or a cat or another dog. They are super friendly dogs and love people and other dogs but have never been exposed to cats. Let me know what you think...

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

I guess a lot would depend on the prey drive of any of your dogs. Snuffles old family brought in a kitten. At first I think they were both afraid of each other but became very friendly to each other. And I had seen Snuffles try to chase several cats when I had him. But I also found out if the cat did not run, Snuffles was passive to the cat. Now the neighbor pit bull I walk now of days, VERY high prey drive and goes for the kill.

 

[shellyk]

We have 3 cats, 2 Newfs and a Lab. Some of them get along and some of them don't. We have a series of gates that allow safe space for the cats where the dogs can't go. One of the cats goes where the dogs are on a daily basis. That being said there are still times when the dogs will forget he is their friend and lunge at him or bark at him. This cat even used to even sleep on our bed with the dogs on the floor until one of the Newfs got jealous and chased him out. Both cats and dogs have to be socialized to be with each other. If it's done when they are kittens and puppies it is the easiest. When it happens with older pets it takes more time and patience. In our experience it was easier to socialize the dogs than it was the cats. I think you will be ok as long as you can provide some safe space for the cat if they don't get along.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Mixed house here and the cat came after the dogs. The outside cat took to Zeke instantly. (they all come up to him, even my squirrel used to get close-he was around ferrets as a pup) Myra is the complete opposite, the cat taunts & teases her like nobody's business. (never trusted her enough to be around the ferrets) So my thoughts are it all depends. Are you getting a kitten or an adult cat?

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

I would be super cautious.

We had cats before we got dogs. Maggie was pretty chill with the cats after a while, but would chase them when we first got her. When her hearing went, she started chasing them and growling at them if they would startle her while sleeping. She was too slow to do any damage but it was annoying.

With Ruby, she is very reactive to everything. She's super sweet and loves to play, but loves to chase things. Since she's been here, the cat has lived upstairs. He recently decided he hates that and is venturing down. It's been rough to say the least. We are slowing introducing them by having the cat in his crate and letting Ruby sniff, etc. She tries to jump on it and play with him. If he's running around while Ruby is crated, Ruby barks and goes bananas.

I'm not really concerned that she would bite the cat aggressively, but more that she was injure him by stepping on him, or snap at him in play.

Also, the furniture casualty. She will jump over anything and everything.

Our plan is to keep up what we are doing and hope it gets better over time. Keep introducing them safely and reward her for ignoring the cat.

 

[Senea]

Mixed home here. 2 Maine Coons, 2 Newfs. We have baby gates giving the cats safe zones, as well as keeping the litter box newf free. There is some chasing, but full disclosure, Rolan will come back and run by again if no one chased him. For the most part it's been pretty painless.
Both the newfs were puppies when they we're introduced to the cats.

 

[shellyk]

Senea reminded me not only do you have to keep the dogs out of the cat litter box - they will eat the cat poop if allowed access. We also have to keep the cats fed separately. The dogs will always eat the cat's food.

 

[lmfoltyn]

Well, it sounds like a lot of effort to keep them separated...I was going to get a Norwegian Forest Cat. They are beautiful cats and I was going to get a kitten. But maybe I will have to wait until my gang is a bit older for this...Thank you for all your input.