Anyone have both a cat and a boxer?

[MHopkins2]

Here's the situation... My roommate loves my Siamese cat, but is a dog person at heart. We have talked about adding a dog to the household at length, and are ready to start looking. We're leaning towards a boxer or boxer mix, because of their cuddle bug and good apartment dog reputations, not to mention their dashing good looks. The online research we've done about the breed hasn't raised any major red flags in terms of coexistance with Chopstick.

The plan is to visit both breeders (her preference) and shelters (mine), taking the kitty along to visit any strong contenders to see how they get along. I know there is always an adjustment period any time you add a new family member, but I want to be able to gauge the initial reaction - on both sides.

What tips do you have? Does anyone currently have both a cat and boxer or similar dog? Are we completely crazy? Advice, suggestions, and even flaming (if I've lost my mind and need to know about it) are all welcome.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

My neighbor across the street had 2 cats and then adopted a 1 yr old boxer. They only have one of the cats left. However, after the "altercation" he never did anything to the other cat. He did bite the cable man too. But as he's grown older, he's calmed down.

 

[MHopkins2]

WHAT? Are you saying the dog KILLED one of the cats?

 

[AJKMOM]

Sounded like that was the case.
However, if you get a puppy of any breed, it shouldn't be a problem with a full grown cat. No puppy will mix it up with an adult cat. May want to play, though. By the time a boxer is bigger than a cat, they may become friends. Thats how it worked for us 9 years ago with our puppy dalmatian.

 

[buzzlady]

I have a cat that was about 13yrs old when we brought home a boxer/husky mix. We haven't had any problems between them. The cat doesn't stay downstairs on the main floor of the house much. She prefers to be upstairs where the dog doesn't go to often. But when the dog does decide to come upstairs there still aren't any problems.

 

[longtimeteacher]

We have two cats, a cocker spaniel (13 years old), and a boxer who will be a year old this April. The cats hate the boxer and he is afraid of the cats. He wants to play; however, his size make the cats afraid of him. He is so loving. He loves to stay outside when the weather is pretty. We have about 1/2 acre fenced in for the dogs. He is a wonderful house dog. He trained himself with a little help from our cocker(Lady). Boxers are high energy. They need a place where they can run off some of that energy. He loves to be with his people. Right now he is asleep on the love seat. I guess destroying one of the ferns on the deck tired him out. In his defense, he was just trying to get the lizard that was hiding in it. Boxers are a wonderful breed!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Had a cat then got a Great Dane. Cats rule!
I don't think I would take the cat to "meet" the dog as that will guarantee you won't get the dog I think. Cat was adult, dane was pup. If the dane got too close the cat would spit, scratch and the dog would back off. One fond memory was the cat sitting on kitchen chair. Our dane put her face on the chair. Cat didn't think that was welcome and pawed into the dane's lip. Dane never did that again. They learned to coexist and slept together most of the time.
We had our cat for 17 years. She outlived all our dogs as danes tipically only live about 6 years she went through 2 and then had a couple of "pound puppies" in there who didn't live as long as I hoped.
Good luck, have fun with whatever pup you find.

 

[MHopkins2]

Thanks for the reassurance, guys - especially after the dead kitty post - eek! And buzzlady, your babies are too cute! (I have sigs turned off, so I don't see posters' pets very often.)

TigerLily, the reason I want to take Chopstick along on the "shopping" is that I've seen during vet trips that his reactions to dogs can vary a lot from one dog to the next. He doesn't try to cuddle with any of them of course, but some produce an immediate "Halloween Kitty Effect," and others just a wary glance. I'm hoping for that second option!

 

[chell]

My niece had both and they got along just fine. At first my dog and cat didn't seem like they were going to get along, but in no time they were good buddies.