Since Friday, we've been looking after my father in laws cat, Cassie, while he is in hospital for the next 3 weeks. He is going into sheltered accommodation and they haven't worked out their pet policy yet so this could end up a permanent thing if he's not allowed pets.

We have 3 dogs already, a 15 y/o half blind JRT, 4 y/o weirdo Parsons JRT and a 3 1/2 year old Yorkie.

Cassie settled in right away, settling on the couch on Friday night next to my husband. We've put her basket and food try in the spare room and litter tray at the bottom of the stairs out of the way. She has stayed in the spare room since Friday night, wandering in and out occasionally (the door is kept open). We pop in every now and say hello and give her a fuss that she likes, shes not skittish or nervous of the new place and new people.

The Parsons , JRT and Cassie have largely ignored one another, but when Cabbage the Yorkie sees Cassie she starts yapping. This makes Cassie hiss and sometimes she has jumped down and chased Cabbage. This make Cabbage yap and dart even more until either me or my husband shouts "oi" at them. Cassie isnt scared of the yappy thing, but i think Cabbage is a little bit scared of Cassie which is why she keeps barkng in a high pitched kind of stressed way.

Do you think they will eventually calm down and accept each other?
Or will it just be something we have to accept?
Is there something I can do to help Cassie and Cabbage accept each other?

Any advice?

Early days yet but doesn't sound like any murderous tendencies they just need to get used to each other really. I would give it more time and I have a feeling could all work out well,

Thanks molliepops

hahaha murderous tendancies

I think it might be ok, Cassie has been happy in the back bedroom, popping her head out every now and again to say hello. We've put Cabbage downstairs with McGee and she hasn't seem stressed out that there's a cat in the house, only when she has spotted Cassie, then its a yap fest but Id have thought Cabbage would know Cassie hasn't gone away.


I think you're right they may just get used to each other. Do you know how long this is likely to take or is it dependent on the animal?

What I dont want to happen though is it go the other way, where instead of getting used to each other, it stresses them out more or make either one frightened.

I think if you give them time, they might all come to tolerate each other, as long as Cassie has got places which are hers where the dogs can't reach her, or somewhere high to jump to get away from them if she comes downstairs.

It could take weeks or months, but don't try & rush it.

You'll soon know if she's stressed, her behaviour will change. ie not weeing in her litter tray, cowering in the corner, refusing to eat, excessive grooming etc. Have you got time during the day to give her some attention ? If she chases your Yorkie, she doesn't sound timid

I have 2 cats that were brought up from kittens with a dog and 2 that weren't.
The ones that had never seen a dog won't accept my dog after nearly a year. They hiss and try to keep out of the way, which makes the dog try to go after them sometimes. The other two are friends with the dog. Did Cassie ever spend time with a dog as a kitten? It also depends on the type of dog, whether it's a softie, or one that wants to chase.

Maybe putting a baby gate up that the cat can get through but the dog can't would help the cat feel safe.

She's a rescue albeit young, maybe about 3 years old, so I dont know if she has been around dogs.

She seems to be able to stick up for herself and un fazed by the dogs but she backs off when the deed is done. She just seems to be stopping the dogs coming into the back room which it seems is now HER room (yep there's places up high as there's a bunkbed in there, but she seems to prefer the chair. Her food is off the floor though where she can get it and the mutts can't).

Last night her ladyship strolled into the front room and surveyed her subjects. McGee wasn't there, Ren ignored her. When Cabbage saw her she (dog) jumped down and trotted towards her, Cassie arched her back, and Cabbage just stopped. She didnt yap or yell, just paused, so I called her over. Cabbage came to me and clearly bored, Cassie turned and went back out of the room to her Palace.

Ren stays in our room and during the night, the Tsarina kept popping in to keep an eye on the serfs and didn't seem to care there was a dog in the bedroom.

So maybe I was just over reacting on Friday, things look ok already

Sounds like she is being her rule the way she wishes to go on Dogs will get used to being her subjects in time

She sounds as though she's slowly getting the whole situation under her paw ! I think it's always a good idea to keep an eye on them all for a while, just to make sure Cassie doesn't have a go at the dogs, or vica versa !

Yes I would say that whatever animal you add to the family, when we get a puppy or new dog we don't leave them alone for ages. Always keep an eye on the situation.

Daisy, no real advice but just to say I love your dogs' names.

We have a rescue pup, 5 mth old staffy/JRT cross and whilst staff is a known quantity, this is my first brush with the JRT-ness. We have an elderly cat and seem to have acquired a cat a cat hoarding neighbour left behind when she moved. (She only comes in the house when it's cold so she has been in a lot).

Had pup since she was 9 weeks but she is STILL chasing the pussies. No murderous intent - a lot of tail wagging, excitement, and just wanting to make them play with her like littermates (they hiss, slap her in the face, generally show they think she's an idiot). My last staffy was smacked once by the cat and ever after treated her with respect. But this one just doesn't get it that the cats don't love her.

So am in the same boat as you. When pup is tired, she will sleep next to a cat without trying to stand over it or force it to play. She does seem to genuinely like them but if they run she will chase. (My last staff chased cat in the garden, never hurt her just chased her but in the house they were best friends).

I'm hoping as pup grows up and stops expecting the cats to play with her, things will settle down.

After she wandered round the bedroom for ten minutes (getting right up to Ren, with no fuss from either of them!), then lying on the pillow, purring near my head for 20 minutes before retiring to the boudoir, half jokingly said to my husband that its not us getting Cassie used to our house, it's Cassie, slowly introducing herself to us, making sure we are comfortable with her round the house and easing us in gently


Thank you Ren - as in Stimpy coz she was skinny when she was found. McGee - I was watching a lot of NCIS and I thought he was bright and Cabbage, well because i liked it
And yeah theres no malicious intent from Cabbage so I hope the little tinker can learn the easy way

I took a rescue cat in in November and I have two dogs, a choc lab and a German Shepherd. The lab has bee no problem at all, but it's taken up till now for the Shepherd to accept her.we put up a stair gate so the cat could have somewhere to go, but she prefers to be downstairs with us. The dog will still chase her if she runs, but she holds her ground and tells them off.they're all settling down together nicely, it just takes time.