Adopting puppy and a kitten together?

[Julss05]

Anyone brave enough to do this? My cat of 11 years died from cancer in January and I'm just now at a point where I've healed enough to add new animals to our family. DH and I really want a dog but we also miss having a cat around too and would like one of each. Yet I know it is difficult to introduce another animal into the home when one has already been there for a while which gave us the idea of adopting both a puppy and kitten at the same time.

[maxandmolly]

I say go for it. They're more likely to get along well if they are both young and adjusting to their new home at the same time. But it really depends on the animals involved.

[Tonysweetie]

awh! Get a pup and a kitty, how fun is that!!! I say go for it just keep an eye on them the first few days. Best wishes!!!

[Sue]

A puppy AND a kitten?! You are a brave, brave person... Have you had either before?

[kam]

I was thinking the same as Sue. Cats aren't much work but kittens are. Puppies are even more work. While they'd be cute together, make sure you have the time, research and patience backing you up.

[Kristen78]

I don't think kittens are much work at all. They usually come litter box trained. I had 2 kittens at the same time and although they were playful and got into things, they weren't a ton of work. Puppies OTOH are a ton of work!

[Sue]

I don't think kittens are much work at all. They usually come litter box trained. I had 2 kittens at the same time and although they were playful and got into things, they weren't a ton of work. Puppies OTOH are a ton of work!

You had 2 and they occupied each other (which is why most rescues rec. adopting 2), it's a lot different having 1 AND a puppy.

[pocket]

Have you considered spacing them by a few months? I think it could make a huge difference to your peace of mind and they would still grow up together. I would get the kitty first and then add the puppy when kitty is older. I have a dog and cat and they get along really well. Mazzy (tortie) is 6 and Ari (lab ridgie mix) is 1 1/2. Nothing warms the cockles of my heart liike seeing Mazzy and Ari sweetly nuzzling the tips of each others' ears. They play together, share a water dish and Mazzy likes to nibble on Ari's food, but just for dominance. I think their relationship adds a lot to their lives.

[Cricket4]

However you do it, one thing I'd recommend is adopting from a place that lets you introduce animals to one another before adoption. I work at a humane society that has special little enclosures just for that sort of thing.

I learned the hard way a few weeks ago that one of our cats doesn't like dogs. I was holding the cat, and one of the dogs came bounding up to us, and the kitty crawled UP MY FACE in order to escape the dog. Sharp kitty claws!!!:eek:

[pride&prejudice]

Just from personal experience, I'd adopt the cat first and them the dog. Space it as an earlier poster stated. It worked out better for us this way, since the kitten grew a little and wasn't a little fluffball that would easily wind up under the dog.

FWIW, both animals have been together for about a year, and the cat was 6-7 months when we got the dog, and they are fine together.

ETA: What cricket said is excellent about letting the animls be introduced. The breeder that we got the dog from allowed us a trial period with the dog and cat together.

[Julss05]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!

I have had a kitten before that I had to litter box train because she was not when I adopted her and got her trained in a few days without accidents so I don't think that will be a problem. I have had a dog, not a puppy, but DH has. He might be able to help me with taking care of a puppy because I imagine that requires more work and training. We keep saying if we can raise a puppy we'll probably do alright with kids;).

All in all I think the suggestion to get a kitten first and then introduce a puppy later before either gets too old is an excellent idea. As it is we want to get a midsize dog which I think we don't have adequate backyard space for and may have to wait until we move into a bigger house anyway.