SO and I have been in the process of adding a cat to our household for a few months now. After many e-mails with the foster person, we went to visit her cats. We already knew which one we wanted. After spending a few minutes with all the cats and the lady unable to get "Sweetheart" from her hiding place, we decided perhaps she wasn't the best fit. Another cat, "Dori" came up to both of us and meowed and climbed and played and was just all around adorable. So we decided to take Dori home for a test week.
Long story short, Dori hated Gwen. Gwen was terrified. We muddled up introductions but it was pretty much doomed no matter what we tried. Dori would stalk Gwen, attack her when she got the chance. (We put her in a crate, another room, on a leash.) Dori was a doll with SO and I but we can't handle the 'crate and rotate' lifestyle.
The foster lady was very understanding and appreciated our experience. She said she would test any cats we were interested in with a dog to see their reaction.
We were interested in a couple of cats. She used her son's terrier to test the cats and these were the results she got:
"Cassie (Manx) hissed and growled and puffed up a bit. Spit once? She went up on the shelf and kept her eyes on the dog.....low growl while watching.
Baxter the declaw stopped, looked studied for a moment and decided food was more important.
Willow the small grey and white looked at Bocci and walked up like she knew her, sniffed noses....as if to say...hello and welcome. No negative reaction ......must have been around a dog before."
Cassie is my absolute favorite. I really, really want this cat. She's playful, beautiful, unique and sweet. But, I worry about her response to the dog.
Baxter is a nice cat. He's very easy going. SO really liked him. But he was just another nice tomcat to me. His reaction to the dog is nice, although not ideal.
Willow was very playful but I'm not sure SO or I had a connection to her. Her reaction was very surprising.
(I thought there was a 'fight or flight' condition and cats normally chose the flight. Dori never chose flight. Is that a load of BS or does it have some merit?)
My real question is: If a cat's reaction to a dog is negative (puffing up, hissing) is the relationship doomed from the start?
I realize that a random meeting with a dog is not the best indication of how that cat will do with Gwen, but it's better than nothing. (Right?)
I don't want to subject Gwen to torture but this will also by my cat. I don't really want to settle on a cat. (Kind of like the "Dog for my dog" thread. I want a little of both.)
Input/advice would be much appreciated
Long story short, Dori hated Gwen. Gwen was terrified. We muddled up introductions but it was pretty much doomed no matter what we tried. Dori would stalk Gwen, attack her when she got the chance. (We put her in a crate, another room, on a leash.) Dori was a doll with SO and I but we can't handle the 'crate and rotate' lifestyle.
The foster lady was very understanding and appreciated our experience. She said she would test any cats we were interested in with a dog to see their reaction.
We were interested in a couple of cats. She used her son's terrier to test the cats and these were the results she got:
"Cassie (Manx) hissed and growled and puffed up a bit. Spit once? She went up on the shelf and kept her eyes on the dog.....low growl while watching.
Baxter the declaw stopped, looked studied for a moment and decided food was more important.
Willow the small grey and white looked at Bocci and walked up like she knew her, sniffed noses....as if to say...hello and welcome. No negative reaction ......must have been around a dog before."
Cassie is my absolute favorite. I really, really want this cat. She's playful, beautiful, unique and sweet. But, I worry about her response to the dog.
Baxter is a nice cat. He's very easy going. SO really liked him. But he was just another nice tomcat to me. His reaction to the dog is nice, although not ideal.
Willow was very playful but I'm not sure SO or I had a connection to her. Her reaction was very surprising.
(I thought there was a 'fight or flight' condition and cats normally chose the flight. Dori never chose flight. Is that a load of BS or does it have some merit?)
My real question is: If a cat's reaction to a dog is negative (puffing up, hissing) is the relationship doomed from the start?
I realize that a random meeting with a dog is not the best indication of how that cat will do with Gwen, but it's better than nothing. (Right?)
I don't want to subject Gwen to torture but this will also by my cat. I don't really want to settle on a cat. (Kind of like the "Dog for my dog" thread. I want a little of both.)
Input/advice would be much appreciated