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We are thinking hard about adopting a Labrador puppy. However we are very inexperienced with how to introduce a dog with 2 existing cats? I presume a puppy is better than getting a fully grown dog? We have quite a chilled male cat but it is more the female I am worried about. When we have people staying she tends to spend a lot of time outside and when they leave she returns. Obviously female cats are generally more highly strung and am trying to find some techniques to help with this and to be sure we are doing the right thing.

Hi Emma, I remember the time I introduced two wire-haired jack russell pups into my (then) household of 10 cats, and this is what worked for me:

Admittedly the cats were used to a dog about the house; till recently I'd had an Alsatian, an old and ailing lass who'd slept all the time. The pups were going to be a real culture-shock!

I too thought puppies might be better; I'd tried to introduce a young rescue dog and it didn't work out; he just barked at the cats and the largest cat attacked him. However, since he'd been on death row and went on to a no-kill shelter, his stay with me, though another hiccup in his history, did save his life; he was a lovely dog. So I thought puppies might be more submissive and less threatening - and also more likely to back down if swatted by a cat; from the beginning they would have to learn 'no' about chasing/roughnecking and that the cats were boss, although every moment with the cats would be supervised.

The house I lived in then was an average end terrace, but we were lucky to have a huge dining room, a separate kitchen and a porch, so the kitchen became the 'kennel' when I wasn't about. The garden was secured, and to give the cats space, I made a makeshift low 'fence' a third of the way down that the cats could jump over and the puppies couldn't, so the cats could have some peace without being chased. The cats had the run of the rest of the house; the pups stayed in the dining room and kitchen. And no rules about cats NOT getting up on work-surfaces/tables to be out of the way of pups.

The pups had grown up with a cat too, and had learned to respect it, I think.

This is over 20 years ago and although it was hard work, all the housetraining, training, supervision etc, I don't remember any real trouble. Reactions were mixed, varying from disdain to a seal-pointed jack russell sharing the novel cereal and milk breakfast and curling up on the beanbag between two little hot water bottles! I had a ginger tom (I've almost always had a ginger tom!) and one of the pups would 'cuddle' him, her tail going nineteen to the dozen (condition of sale - those pups came with their tails!) He'd just purr.

However, this is just my story - and they are all different, so nothing's predictable.

Do hope you get your puppy though, and that the cats accept it - all the best

I have to say a boisterous Labrador puppy turning up in their house would almost certainly be my two cats' very worst nightmare, especially my 13 year old girl, and I suspect would make them very unhappy and stressed

an older dog known not to bother cats might work, given time, and enough space to keep cats and dog apart, but without meaning in the slightest to be unkind, I really think you need to think this through carefully, and ask yourself if your cats are likely to be as happy post dog as they are now

I agree that no cat can ever be quite as content after the introduction of a dog as they were and yet so many do it, and so many seem to cope. I have 2 friends who have introduced a puppy or dog after cats, one of them being a springer spaniel and are so happy together. In fact one of the cats was run over a couple of weeks ago and the Springer protected the cat and went to tell the owner.

I know it can work for some, but there's no way any of my would have coped with a dog of any variety, and I wouldn't dream of putting them through it. It depends on the cat, the dog, and your own abilities. Only you can judge. Can't offer any other tips I'm afraid, but others on here do have both, and may be more helpful than me. Just don't assume "everything will be fine". It will take a lot of work, with no guarantees.

Believe me, I am under no illusion that it will be a walk in the park...excuse the pun! It has to be the hardest part of bringing a new addition to the family. So much for wanting a houseful of animals. Problem is we think about things too much sometimes amd probably more than the avergae household.....it's how we are and then it gets overly complicated because we cannot make a decision. We were due to adopt a new cat a few weeks back but they were adopted before we had a chance to take him because of holiday commitments, however a dog seems a whole different kettle of fish.