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Cats/Maine coons and dogs

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Expert: - 8/21/2009


Question
Hi
I have a nine year old full bred Maine Coon (boy) and a 13 year old (girl) shelter cat that is part Maine coon. Both long haired beautiful cats.
Question is My husband and I have been contemplating a dog. We kind of need a protective dog...
we also have two kids. We love our cats and was wondering what are the concerns I have to deal with in bringing a dog into a cat ruled house?  I don't want their personalities to change at all.
I read the post about bringing kittens into a house of dogs...what is the reverse. thanks for your help..


Answer
Holli

Maine Coons are pretty dog friendly, but I would avoid breeds like Pit Bulls, Rotweilers, Great Danes, and other breeds that are often bred to be aggressive (you should also check with your home owners insurers to see what breeds they will refuse liability insurance for).

Ideally, a puppy who has grown up with cats would be a good fit.  The Maine Coons will need something no bigger than they are to begin with, so they can "train" the puppy.  There is never a guarantee that they will all get along.  Further, there is no guarantee that the personalities of the cats will not change.  At their respective ages, they will not tolerate major change very well.  If the cats will stand their ground and not run from the puppy, all will probably be OK. If they do run, the puppy will probably give chase, and the cats could really freak.

The other problem you could run into is that dogs often consider cat turds like candy and the puppy might even get into the act every time one of the cats does its business. This could cause problems with litter pan habits.   So, the litter pan would need to be somewhere the puppy cannot get to.

It is easier on the cats if the puppy were isolated first, so the cats could tell there is someone new without having an encounter, initially! I would also consider crating the puppy at night until it is both housebroken and "trained" by the cats,

Good luck and best regards... Norm.

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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