Cats and Dobes

I have 2 cats, both 1 year old. When I brought Reese home he wanted to chase them and put them in his mouth. He never bit down, just covered them with drool. The vet said, and I have to agree, if he wanted to hurt them they would be dead. He wants to play and they just don't like his idea of play. The vet and some members here told me to put Reese on his leash and let him go after them when they walked by. Pop the leash and tell him no. Do it over and over until he got the message. Well, he never got the message. He has a very high prey drive and will chase anything small and fast. I now have baby gates all over my house. The cats stay upstairs or in my bedroom when the dog is out of his crate. A lot of members here have cats and Dobes that get along. It can be done, just apparently not at my house. Good luck and let me know if you figure out a solution that works for you.

My cats and Isabelle never got along. Sasha my old cat has never liked dogs so when we brought Isa home Sasha wasn't pleased. She moved into my mom's house with her dog & cats and is happy & healthy & will turn 16 this fall. My mom had her neo mastiff at the time and Molly wasn't a chaser. So they were fine. Ivan lived with Isa til he died (2 years ago). He had the spare room with a baby gate in the door way. He could come & go, but had a "safe" place too. Also kept the dog away from litter & cat food He would wander abround the house even when she was there he was very sneaky. We also tried the leaving the leash on and it never worked. The cats ran ansd she thought chase. So needless to say it never worked in my house. Isabelle has a very strong prey drive and still doesn't approve of cats! They aren't allowed in her backyard or on the wall or neighbor's rooves basicly anywhere she can see them We have a feral cat problem in our neighborhood and they only time she isn't well behaved on a walk is if she spots a cat. Hope it works out in your home - wishing you the best of luck.

It really depends on the dog SO much. Even though so and so’s Dobe gets along with “x” cat, doesn’t mean yours will. A lot also depends on the cat and their personalities.

For the most part my dogs get along with the kitty great (one had to have some direction when younger) but one Dobe is obsessive, and it took months for him to be okay with the cat, started out always having to wear a leash, and he is okay now, I couldn't tell what his intentions were and didn't care honestly, I wasn’t letting him chase, sit on, punch, put in mouth, annoying, paw, hold down with paws and squish, bark at, get “zoned” on kitty and shake, foam at mouth at, (and I could go on and on), the cat. But now they can groom each other and are okay and have a relationship while I am watching. But I can never leave those two alone and will never be able to, even for a shower or to go outside to get something; I have to separate, just in case.

The cat has places she can run to get away from the dogs, complete with water fountains, kitty beds, heated bed, kitty tower scratching posts, lots of toys, food bowls, and litter box. This also works b/c the dogs want to eat poo out of the litter box, and would eat all of her food in heartbeat if they could. And I worry about the Dobes eating her toys, so they mostly stay in her room. The cat likes other dogs a lot too; she is very social, which helps a ton, she seeks out their contact. She is not fearful and is very bold.

I'm sure you'll be fine with bringing a young pup in the house, then he will be raised with the cats.

I have three dogs (only one dobe) and I have anywhere from 5-13 cats (5 of my own, and up to 8 fosters once, now I'm just down to 3 fosters) and the dogs are fine with them. Occasionally they get a little "excited" and want to chase them, especially if it is a spooked kitty running, but they stop as soon as they are told. I keep a special room as just the "Cat Room" barred by a baby gate that the cats can get over.

It's great to have a cat tree for your guys, vertical space is so important to cats, and they they can get away from a rambunctious youngster


This is Bailey, my most recent permanent addition, he loves messing around with Lexus..... More then once I've seen his whole head and neck in her mouth!

I have 4 indoor only housecats. Males ages 12, 6, 5. Female 2.
I rescued my dobe Rudi when he was approximately 2 1/2yrs old. He hardly has a prey drive unless I entice him to "go get the kitty or squirrel." Rudi and my five year old male black cat JJ, are best buddies. JJ is one fat tough dude and can tolerate most anything. Sometimes Rudi will nibble on JJ's head and sides, I call it the typewriter. When JJ has had enough, he'll tap Rudi on his snout and run away. Rudi hardly ever gives chase. My my male 12 year old tuxedo and white male 6 yo can tolerate Rudi being within close proximity, but if Rudi makes any sudden moves they'll take off under the bed or to higher ground or to the laundry room. Their safest place is the laundry room......Rudi has been taught he is not allowed to go thru the kitchen into the laundry room since I keep the dry cat food out all day and the litter boxes in there to prevent Rudi from tasting the delectible delights in the litter box! My grey female cat 2yo......well I hardly even see her when I'm home. She is afraid of anything.........even me.....I don't know why? Possibly because she was a ferral kitten when I brought her home. Who knows? Crazy kitty! She comes to me on her terms and for treats. Weirdo!
I believe the cats have to have a saving grace spot. Rudi does not get crated, he roams free in the house, so I feel safe leaving his collar on with all of his dog tags on them. When the cats hear the jingle of the dog tags, they know he is roaming the house and can prepare themselves.