can a cat and a chin live together?

[lauralynne]

Hey everyone, so we got 2 cats back on June 4th and we introduced them into our living room very slowly. First we started with fencing off the area where our Chin is and let them get used to it and then the past couple of weeks we let them run around with no fence and they haven't bothered the chin that much. If we catch them fixating too much on him then we give them a squirt with a water gun and they lose interest. A couple times we've caught them peering into his cage which we've removed them immediately but Lewis doesn't seem bothered by it. Not once has he barked or made a defensive noise.

Whenever we have him out the cats are ALWAYS locked up though and I intend to always keep it this away to avoid any accidents.

I just wanted to give you guys an update on how it's going.

I've attached two pictures of our kitties as well. The one in the red collar/white face markings is Chai and the one in the black collar/no face markings is Oscar. They're four months this weekend and a handful but we love them. But our Chin still comes first

Cute kitties.

The thing is...cats (and other species) can carry diseases that are deadly to chins (bordatella, pasteurella, etc.). So, it is not only a matter of chin being at risk from an injury from the cat, but could also catch something as well.

That is another reason they should not be allowed in the same room together.

 

[LongTimeLover]

Even if they're indoor cats and are never exposed to any other animals?

 

[Laurie]

I have cats and chins and my cats are not interested in my chins at all. My chin cages are up off the floor and my cats can't reach the cage. You have to be very careful with predator animals with your chins. My chins are in my bedroom, my cats also sleep in my bedroom but the chins and cats are exposed to each other outside of the cage. I have had my cats for 10 years and they know me and understand me. They know I love my chins and know they are not to go by them. Actually my cats are afraid of the chins, which is a good thing. But I also would never allow my chins to roam outside of the cage with the cats present as you do not know what could happen.

If you notice your cats paying attention to your cats in a predatory manor you need to rethink having cats and chins together.

BUT I love your kitties, they are very cute!

 

[Rickman]

I've had many cats in my life, and have learned no matter how much you think you know them, you just never know what opportunity they'll take advantage of, when not being watched!
Had one overturn the handmade rocking cradle with my daughter in it, when my wife came back into the room!
I'm sure there was a 'curious thing' involved, but the cat knew she didn't belong there, and jumped off the edge!
Thankfully, no one was hurt, [Erica was 2 wks. old] but it was very scary!

 

[scamperlittletika]

we have a cat and she is best friends with our chins. we let them out with her around and she loves to cuddle them and the chins chase the cat around.

we also had a chihuaha who adored scamper. they were best friends. still are when he comes to visit.

everyone on here is going to think we are nutso but, as long as you are always supervising it is possible for a chin and other animals to get along as long as you direct it and know your animals well.

 

[Essentia]

we have a cat and she is best friends with our chins. we let them out with her around and she loves to cuddle them and the chins chase the cat around.

we also had a chihuaha who adored scamper. they were best friends. still are when he comes to visit.

everyone on here is going to think we are nutso but, as long as you are always supervising it is possible for a chin and other animals to get along as long as you direct it and know your animals well.

Worst advice ever. I'm sorry, but cats/dogs and chinchillas should NEVER play together, no matter how well they "get along".

 

[starleomach]

we have a cat and she is best friends with our chins. we let them out with her around and she loves to cuddle them and the chins chase the cat around.

we also had a chihuaha who adored scamper. they were best friends. still are when he comes to visit.

everyone on here is going to think we are nutso but, as long as you are always supervising it is possible for a chin and other animals to get along as long as you direct it and know your animals well.

I have had my dog in the last 14 years get a hold of 2 chinchillas both times she pouncd on them trying to play killing them and we had a cat kill 1 all accidental escapes there have been escapees that the dog ignored and such it just is not worth the risk. This quote is horrible horrible advice and some idiot is now going to try it.

do you know how traumatic it is to have one pet kill another? even if you know your animals dogs and cats are preditors chinchillas are prey. You can know your animals well but they are still animals not people in fur coats and can and will do unpredictable things

 

[ticklechin]

If you know your advice is "nutso" then why share it? Animals are animals, no one knows what your animal is capable of, not even you.

 

[tunes]

Erica - Here's the thing. You go ahead and do whatever you want with your animals, because we cannot stop you; however, being sarcastic and posting dangerous and really bad advice is not going to happen here.

Cats and chins do not belong together, I don't care what excuse you or anybody else makes. I don't care if it "works" for your family. I know of people who beat their dogs because it "works" for their family. I know of someone who keeps their non-spayed female dog tied up in the yard with a chain and no fence, and allows her to get pregnant over and over again from stray dogs because it "works" for them and they don't believe in spaying.

Just because you think it works for you does not make it smart or right. One strike of a claw from your cats and your chin can be infected with a disease that can kill it. One slip, as in, leaving the room to answer the phone, and your cat could decide that your chin looks like a tasty meal today.

 

[menagerie]

One slip, as in, leaving the room to answer the phone, and your cat could decide that your chin looks like a tasty meal today.

You don't even need to leave the room, if the cat decided to turn on the chin it would be too late by the time you realize that anything is going on.

 

[aznmexaggie]

Seigfreid and Roy played with big cats all the time. Nothing ever happened. Then, one time, the tiger's predatory instincts kicked in and Roy was severely injured. (Or for those who believe the tiger was just carrying Roy like a cub, the tiger still inflicted serious damage.)

Sure, your cat may not hurt your chinnie 99 out of 100 times... but that one time his instincts kick in or he doesn't realize his own strength may be the one time your chinnie is killed.

 

[Becky]

I cleaned this thread up due to rudeness to our long-term members. This will not be tolerated.

 

[Dragonflye]

Seigfreid and Roy played with big cats all the time. Nothing ever happened. Then, one time, the tiger's predatory instincts kicked in and Roy was severely injured. (Or for those who believe the tiger was just carrying Roy like a cub, the tiger still inflicted serious damage.)

Sure, your cat may not hurt your chinnie 99 out of 100 times... but that one time his instincts kick in or he doesn't realize his own strength may be the one time your chinnie is killed.

Excellent point! :thumbsup:

 

[3CsMommy]

Personally I'm between a rock and a hard place with this issue. I cannot keep my cat out of the room with my chinchilla entirely or she'd never be safe from the child that lives here (and my room is the only one in the house entirely off limits to the little hellion). So, she's being taught not to touch the cage, and the cage is loosely covered to keep her out of it and make Crash feel that much safer. She is shut out of the room when I'm not home, and while he's out every night to play. I do this because I do not have the money, the time, or the intestinal fortitude to handle one pet killing another, accidentally or otherwise. A cat playing with a chin is not a risk I'm willing to take with the pet I love dearly.

 

[Laurie]

Really great point Sumiko about Siegfrid and Roy--and the thing is and no one knows better than Roy, the tiger was not trying to kill Roy or even attack him. He was trying to keep him from what he believed was harm to Roy--and he ended up very injured. Just as dogs don't necessarily mean to kill smaller creatures when they grab them by the scruff and shake as if they are a toy--what happens is they break their necks and they die.

As with all animals you just never know--I've had more small yip-yip dogs bite at me than a large dog. I have had my cats bite me for no reason other than you stopped petting them--we can handle these types of accidents, a tiny rodent can not

 

[ticklechin]

Chinchillas can't even be trusted with each other, they can turn and kill the cage mate for no reason after being together for years, how can you possibly predict another species with them?

 

[ruoc]

The chin is NOT playing with your cat, he/she is trying to appear larger and more aggressive then they really are. A small animal that backs down when they cannot run is a dead animal, basic instinct. Our cat does not seem interested in Kiwi whatsoever, but never in a million years would I let them loose in the same room, no matter how closely I watched them. Just my opinion.

 

[Bostongirl'sChin75]

Personally, I have 2 cats, and when I am home there is no problem with keeping the cats away from the chins. I don't have a chin room per se, but they are all in the main living space with me and I can watch the cats religiously. When I am gone, however, the cats are in a locked room ( I have a cat who can open unlocked doors ) and when I am gone for a few days, the cats are in cages with beds, shelves for them to jump on, and toys and a litter box and their food dishes.

I would NEVER let the cats play with, cuddle with, etc the chins, as I have seen what they can do to a mouse and hamster when it got out while I was not at home! Cats are predatory animals, chins are prey and Predator+Prey= Dead Chin