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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Have 3 Cats, 2 Dogs And A Small House With No Mud Room, Basement…

I have 3 cats, 2 dogs and a small house with no mud room, basement, hallways, separating doors, or dog or cat proof room. Yes, I know it wasn’t very good planning on my part. I am married and my husband goes to work, while I stay home.
I am a novice dog owner and even more novice at keeping cats as well. My bull breed mix is 80-100 pounds and is almost 2, and my rat terrier chihuahua mix is 9 months. Two of the cats are almost 2, and the senior one is 12.
I need help because it is icy and snowing with snow on the ground, and my dogs can no longer stay outside and wait for me to get to them. They’re unhappy inside their crates, and my eventual goal is to have them roam around the house with no issues with peeing or pooping, no issues of running around everywhere, and no issues of them bothering the cats because my husband doesn’t like it.
I can successfully keep them reasonably calm in the living room while I’m there, and I can get a glass of water or something from the kitchen if I tell them to stay. But issues of them just loose without me looking at both of them is that they will get into things and chew or eat them (stuffed pillows or other stuffed things, garbage, etc), eat cat poop, pee, or jump on the mattresses, which my husband doesn’t like.
The winter is much worse than last year, and keeping track of 5 pets is just so much. If they dogs and cats would get along somehow, I think that would help a lot. I just don’t know what to do concerning the litterbox, because my bull breed mix is very adamant about eating stuff from there unless I change it constantly. So when I let him out of his crate, I do change it, but I can’t trust him to roam around while I’m busy with something, or away. The little dog has issues with escaping her crate and peeing, and bothering the cats.

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  1. Carissa Knight

    Time, they will learn to coexist with each other.
    They may not be best friend but they will be able to be in the same room ect and tolerant each other.

  2. Chris Warnock

    We had 3 cats and then got a dog. Get a pet gate that also has a small door in the bigger gate. Approx $60 at pet smart. Use a strap or something to hold the small door open. Depending on the size of your dog if it can fit through the small door get a bungee cord and use it to make the small door smallerUse the gate to give the cats a totally separate space to “escape” from the dog. We did this and put the litter boxes in that room, and also used that room to feed them. It will take a while for the peace and harmony your hoping for. if your cat has claws I can’t help there ours do not, but I will tell you that your sweet little cat will probably make sounds that seem to be coming from the depths of hell towards the dog ours did. Our dog learned to back down from the cats so we didn’t worry about aggression towards the cats. Good luck and remember to pay equal attention to all of them to prevent jealousy.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
For Example, After Coming In From A Walk, Their Feet Are Wet And Dirty. So…

For example, after coming in from a walk, their feet are wet and dirty. So I put them in their crates a bit to dry off. And after a little while, I take them to the bathroom and wipe them with moistened towels with baby wash and also dry towels, but that isn’t perfect because I have to walk them from the living room to the kitchen to the bathroom. And the cat litterbox is by the bathroom doorway, so they feet track the litter too.
I know that washing couch blankets, dog bedding, vaccuming and sweeping a lot and general home maintenance is good, but I’m looking for ideas to make it easier, and quicker, and would allow my dogs to be happier.
(I have 3 cats, 2 dogs and a small house with no mud room, basement, hallways, seperating doors, or dog or cat proof room. Yes, I know it wasn’t very good planning on my part. I am married and my husband goes to work, while I stay home.)

3 Responses

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  1. Annie Yang-Shaffer

    Keeping more litterboxes is a really great idea. I think of part of they kick a lot of litter out of the litterbox may be a territorial thing, since the young female cats don’t like the old male cat and vice versa. So since they’re essentially forced to use the same litterbox, maybe that causes problems? I’m not sure… But I don’t want to confuse my cats, since the I’ve been using the same spot ever since I moved in. (My husband set up that spot back when there was just 2 cats and 1 dog.)
    Here’s the layout of my home for some context: The front door opens up into the living room, and to the right side of you when you walk in are the dogs’ crates. Bones has a wire crate and Coffee has a travel crate. There’s an armchair and 3 cushioned couch to the left, and on the wall parallel to the side where the dogs are is a window that the cats like to look through. Directly forward, a doorway leads into the dining room, and immediately there is a small dining table and chair set to the left of you. A little forward, and a doorway leads into a small kitchen. To the left hand side is the stove and cooking area, a window which allows sunlight onto the stove that the cats like, and the cat waterer, and to the right hand side is the garbage can, sink area, litterbox, and the bathroom. The bathroom does have a door, and it has a sink, a washer, dryer, and a medium sized shower, big enough to possibly bathe two of my small dog (she is 23 pounds) but not two of my big dog. Back to the dining room and past the dining table, there are some stairs that lead into a room that has the pets’ food closet, a sewing machine table and a dresser shaped record player that the cats like to be on, and a mattress. Directly past that is a room with a door that has a more expensive mattress, the computer area, and the clothes closet. The dogs aren’t allowed in this area because of pee accidents.
    My point of mentioning all of this is that I don’t really have many other places to place 2 or more litterboxes. While I could possibly do so anyway, I would like to have my dogs roam around one day, and having a litterbox in almost every area of the room could possibly be way too enticing…
    I’m in no way shutting you down or anything, a lot of people tend to think so.. Thanks again for your help!

  2. Annie Yang-Shaffer

    Keeping both moist and dry towels by the door does help! 🙂 It really saves a trip to the bathroom and prevents the dogs from tracking the cat litter if they don’t even go there in the first place.

  3. Annie Yang-Shaffer

    Both of my dogs are short coated, but I agree that it would be a good tip for having a longer haired dog.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
4 Month Old Puppy Nico Has Been Having Diarrhea I Tested His Fecal And…

4 month old puppy Nico has been having diarrhea I tested his fecal and he is negqtitive for giardia , he drinks and eats well and his energy is good. I’ve changed his food I was doing blue buffalo and now it’s orijen puppy food but I’ve noticed his stools getting darker and darker and today his stool black black like tar looking and watery/mushy and im not sure if I should just wait a few days and let it pass by ? I have done metromidozole and clava

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Used Happy Jack Kennel Stuff On My Cats. I Have Washed It Out A…

I used happy jack kennel stuff on my cats. I have washed it out a day later and one is having trimmer and the other is crying like she is in pat what can I do

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  1. Anonymous

    i’m not sure what those symptoms are, but i would be calling a vet about this as soon as they open, if not sooner.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
For 2-3 Weeks. My Kittens Have Eye Discharge On Can Hardly Open His Eyes, Obvious…

for 2-3 weeks. My kittens have eye discharge on can hardly open his eyes, obvious difficulty breathing, sneezing, decreased in appetite, though they still eat… Sometimes I worry because there breathing get’s so shallow, or when my boy is laying in me it’s like breath is being punched out of him every time he breaths, they both sneese, but the girl is worse than the boy with that, and they sleepn so much. They’ve gotten out more than a few times, but they are indoor cats. I’m trying lycine until I can take them to the vet, but they don’t like it so it’s hard to get them to take it, and I’m keeping food and fresh water. I just so worried. I think maybe, it could be a uri, and maybe some autoimmune disorder because they were born from a feral colony and a lot of them have something going on, but what do I do and how can I help them, until I can get them to the vet. I’m so worried.

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  1. Anonymous

    i would move the vet visit up to tomorrow if at all possible.  

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
Our Year Old Golden Retriever Ate Some Chicken Yesterday Which I Had Cooked And Stuffed…

Our year old golden retriever ate some chicken yesterday which I had cooked and stuffed the cavity with garlic. He didn’t actually eat any garlic but is quite lethargic today and has slept a lot. Should I take him to the vets

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  1. PK Dennis

    I would worry more about cooked bones than the garlic!  It is always better to be safe than sorry — and cooked bones can cause a blockage.  Yes, you should consider taking him to the vet if you are worried.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
My Female DSH Is ~2yrs & Suffers From Allergies. She Constantly Has Lesions On Her…

My female DSH is ~2yrs & suffers from allergies. She constantly has lesions on her stomach. She licks and chews effected skin often. Atopica doesn’t work. for her. I’m hesitant to use steroids for a long period of time. Suggestions?

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  1. Anonymous

    this might sound weird, but have you had her thyroid checked?  a friend of mine had a young cat with excessive grooming habits and it turned out to be thyroid problems.

  2. PK Dennis

    Have you gotten all grains out of his/her diet?  No grains in food or treats.  Find a grain-free kibble that lists real meat as the first 2 or 3 ingredients.  Real meat will be: beef, lamb, elk, salmon meal, etc.  Do not buy anything that lists “by-products” in the ingredients – they could be nothing more than feathers.

    To help the skin heal you can rinse her once per day (short haired dogs, less often for long-haired dogs, you don’t want her constantly moist) with a mix of 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water.  Allow this to dry on her skin.  

    Also if you have been using Benadryl try switching to a generic Zyrtec – it often works better for dogs. 

    For the active hot spots try Witch hazel with Aloe, you can find it in any drug store OTC, pat it on with a cotton pad and allow to dry – you can do this several times per day to help reduce itch and help the spot heal.

    Good luck!

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
What Should I Feed A 1 Month Old Chihuahua Pup?

What should I feed a 1 month old Chihuahua pup?

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  1. julie brader

    Hi Yazmin, have you bred this puppy? One month old is far far too young to leave their mum.

    As for feeding……try a puppy milk formula. Do not give cows milk, puppies and dogs cannot digest it.

    You could also give some runny baby rice mixed with the puppy milk. At one month old the pup should be able to lap. Once a day you could give a tiny ball of minced steak…and I mean tiny, about the size of a peanut to start with. 

    Good luck and I hope the puppy thrives. 

  2. Yazmin Martinez

    Thank you for ur answer I went to tractor supply and got him some puppy formula 🙂 yes he is young buy the momma rejected them 🙁 that’s y he is not with the mom

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Have 2 Siamese Cats, They Both Accidently Ate Raw Rancid Beef On Fri Morning…

I have 2 siamese cats, they both accidently ate raw rancid beef on Fri morning. Since then haven’t eaten, not seen them drinking, looking and feeling sorry for themselves, vomiting and runs, will sit on my knee and quietly purr when petted.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
His Name Is Gizmo And We Believe He May Have Gotten A Bone Fragment From…

His name is Gizmo and we believe he may have gotten a bone fragment from the dairy next door and swallowed it before we took it.

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