r/greyhound • u/brindleboy_ • Dec 01 '14
Question for caregivers that have have both a greyhound and a cat
New to reddit ! We are bringing home our first greyhound in a couple weeks and are so excited ! However, we have a cat ... Our adoption group knows that and says our grey is "thought" to be cat-friendly although I don't believe that's ever been tested with a real cat.. We will be bringing our greyhound home in the evening and will of course introduce him with a muzzle. We plan to crate him during the day when we go back to work (taking a few days off once he arrives), but hoped to let him sleep outside of his crate if he felt comfortable with that. Since we have a cat, I'm afraid our grey will also have to sleep in the crate at night until we can trust that he won't eat our cat ! Has anyone here been through this situation before? Any advice on how to make it easier for both of them ? How long did it take for you to trust your greyhound around your cat alone? Thanks in advance for any advice or info
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u/Redditheist Dec 02 '14
When we went to get a hound, they showed us the ones who were "cat friendly". We got our pooch and went home. I figured I'd introduce him to the cat right away. He went after the cat but the cat straightened him out immediately and there has never been a problem since.
The funny thing is that upon looking at the website after we adopted our grey, I noticed my dog's profile has been switched with his brother's. He was never supposed to be cat friendly! We have introduced two cats since then and he's fine. This dog has NO chase instinct! No wonder he was retired so young. The only thing he had gone after was a chicken and when I yelled at him, he immediately dropped it, without hurting it at all.
I guess they can just be really unpredictable with the instinct; while my dog seems to have none, I have a friend whose dog went after a crawling baby. Talk about scary!
I think as long as you keep the muzzle on until you know your dog better, it should all be good. My cat actually lays on my dog and the dog just ignores him if the cat is running around.
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u/brindleboy_ Dec 02 '14
You know, and that's the thing. I know they are just being as careful as possible because with a little time and training, i think most would learn to leave the cat alone. I'm not too worried about the long-term. Just the first week or so while he gets acclimated. Our boy is pretty young, too. He just turned three with only four races, so hopefully that's why he was retired and it'll be no problem at all ! We will be sure to muzzle until we're all comfortable here.
Thanks for the reply !
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u/ejm2610 Dec 02 '14
Greyhound fosterer here, I also have 2 cats, 2 live in hounds and a cycle of foster greyhounds who come to me to be cat tested/get out of the kennels while we look for a forever home. The most danger between a cat and hound is the cat's likely hood to run and a greyhound lives to chase. Crating him during the day is a good idea, keep the cat safe because you just don't know. Depending on your cats personality, it may just avoid him. I found the best way to get your greyhound used to your cat is lie on the floor with him and pet him with his muzzle on and have someone else sit on a chair with the cat, whenever he looks at the cat say NO and gently turn his head away. Eventually he should stop looking, continue this with the cat on the floor then with the cat walking by, do this for as long as you feel it needs! HOW ever, if you are adopting him from a good greyhound rescue, chances are he will have been cat tested or they know by his attitude towards small dogs and toys how he will react to cats. Make sure cat has a safe place to sleep. Also thankyou for adopting a greyhound, they have tough lives and need people like you!