Need your thoughts...

[aligator79]

I'm trying to decide what to do about the cats and dog.  I lost one of the new kitties last month (10 months and was OK with Skeeter until she started to chase Melvin) so I only have Taz who only stays downstairs and Melvin- 14 months old who only comes up when the dog is not around (at daycare for the day usually.)  Melvin needs more interaction than he is getting but he runs when he see's the dog (Skeeter).  She tends to chase him. We all hung out in the kitchen together for a few minutes but I was feeding the dog treats for not messing with the cat and Melvin was on my lap.  Since then I've tried baby gating Skeeter in the living room and playing with Melvin in the kitchen but as soon as he sees her he runs.  

I've been wondering about getting a little kitten- 2-3 months old to see if we can get the dog used to the baby then move back on to the older ones.  Skeeter does really well with small dogs and puppies at the dog park.  She seems to understand that since they are smaller she needs to be gentle.  She will even let them take her ball but will sometimes grump at the older/bigger dogs when they try.

Am I nuts for even considering it?  

[CML2014]

Eh! I would say YES!!!
Skeeter is a one dog /dog.  Getting another cat would seem counterproductive. I mean poor Melvin is Terrified by Skeeter, and Taz is sequestered downstairs so as not to get in Skeeters way. Now what happened to the 10 month old kitten you had --well I am afraid to ask.....I think you should find  a new loving home with no dogs for poor Melvin so he can enjoy his life and forget about bringing another poor cat into a home with a "Skeeter". If Taz is ok downstairs and is used to skeeter fine, but if Taz is a prisoner of the basement "because of Skeeter" ...be kind and find a loving home for Taz too.
Just my opinion.
CML

[zodiacqueen]

I can tell you one thing.  A 2-3 month old with an active 14 month old is NOT a good idea.  That young of a kitten would not do well at all.  They could get trampled by Melvin or the dog.  IF you do decide to get another kitten, I'd say get an active cat around Melvin's age.  Too tiny of a kitten would be in danger of getting hurt.

How old is Taz and Skeeter?

[aligator79]

Skeeter is 18 months.  Taz is 14 and is a lazy bum and always has been.  I haven't found a toy that he will play with more than a minute or two.  All he does when he is upstairs is sleep or sleep or wander outside.  I'd love to make him an inside cat but with the dog door I can't stop him.  

[trishk5187]

Does your cat have high places where he can observe room activity, and, the dog, from a safe place? Do you have a
'cat tree'? There are platforms you can attach to a wall, that will allow your cat to 'hang out' in a safe plate. Animal Planet has a series called "My Cat from Hell". It stars Jackson Galaxy, who is a cat behavior expert. I have learned a great deal from him.
One practice that might help, would be to attach a small amount of material which contains your cat's scent to your dog's collar. Just rub a piece of cloth on your cat, or, leave it in his/her bed for a few days. Then attach to the dog's collar - or, leave it in the dog's bed.  
Do you know that an outside cat has a 2 year life expectancy? An indoor/outdoor cat has a 7 year life expectancy, and, a strictly indoor cat has a 12+ year life expectancy. I have 2 Maine **** cats that are 12 1/2 years old. They are brothers, and, with no health problems, I expect they will be with us for at least another 5 years.
I hope you are able to find a happy medium for your animals.

[zodiacqueen]

What kind of dog is skeeter?  How is he around the cats?  Is he obnoxious around them?

At 14, Taz doesn't need any kittens jumping all over him.  That wouldn't be fair to him.  The stress just might shorten his life.  I know you love cats and wouldn't want that.

[AnnieBrooke]

Could you clarify again the age of the cat(s)?  You said somewhere 14 months, and someone else said 14 years, and you said "14 and a lazy bum and always has been" as though you were not talking about a young cat.

Taz, a cat, is ____ months or years old and stays "downstairs"
Skeeter, a dog, and is ____ old and is in a more main area (is "downstairs" a basement?)
Melvin, a cat, is ____ old and can't be kept inside because he goes out Skeeter's dog door?  Does Taz also go in and out the dog door?

Have Skeeter and Taz always known each other?  Were they puppy and kitten together?  

I sure would not add a new kitten to this roiling pot of stress until things get worked out a bit more.

[aligator79]

Taz is 14 years and stays in the basement.  Skeeter is 18 months old and I got her at 6 weeks.  Melvin is 14 months old.  Taz also goes out the dog door and has since he was a baby.  

The story from the beginning is I had 3 cats when I got Skeeter last summer. Lucy (13) died in March from cancer- she didn't mind Skeeter when she was around but she tended to hide (we didn't know she was sick until the day I had to put her to sleep.)  Oliver died in August at 16. He antagonized Skeeter and got her in trouble.  I had gotten Skeeter and Oliver to sleep on the bed with me peacefully the week he died.  Skeeter had been a "this is my mommy" dog until then.

In September when I got Melvin and Morris (died in November) the thought was to get one older kitty to hang with Taz but who would come up and hang out with us and Skeeter. I thought Taz was lonely since he grew up with Lucy and Oliver.  I didn't know that cats that don't grow up together don't really become friends.  Had I known I wouldn't have gotten another kitty like I did.  

The problem with the dog door is that there is a step to the landing that the door to the fenced in yard is.  My father can't do that step to let her out when I am not home.  :(  I didn't want another indoor/outdoor cat but was stupid enough to think I could keep them from going out the door.  I have a dog door that locks and only opens when the dog is close enough with the thing on his collar but haven't gotten it in yet.  I have to get my brother to do it and we have to replace the door in order to do it.  

I just totally messed up when I got Melvin and didn't get him and Skeeter introduced correctly.  I had him in his own room with all his stuff and was going to do the slow intro but that got derailed.

I have decided that if I can't get some improvement by the 1st of the year I am going to let Melvin go.  

Skeeter should be the one to got because Taz was here first but she is the only reason I leave the house other than work.  We go to the park, Frisbee club, are starting agility in the spring, etc.

[CML2014]

Hi Ali,
I think you have the right idea. You have been a good cat mommy since your cats have lived to a ripe old age.
Kittens and dogs are tough if you are not around constantly.
I know you will find Melvin a GOOD home. Try to find someone you know will be a good mom to Melvin.
Try not to just surrender him to a rescue.

Good luck
CML

[AnnieBrooke]

I think re-homing Melvin makes more sense than letting Skeeter go or Taz, since they are used to each other.  You never know, Taz might be more outgoing towards Skeeter if the two of them are the only animals in the house.