New cat. Getting along with an OES.
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Carefully 
It'll be more of an issue with the cat in many cases ...like if you've got a happy go lucky dog. It took our cat SIX MONTHS before things got better. Just time, a little separation at first b/c the cat couldn't handle this new terrible smell/beast in the house, and then just monitoring them. However, if your dog has a high prey drive esp for small things then it may be a problem. I think it's better to introduce one that is a puppy/kitten than both being older. While my dog has a high herding drive, she's not out to kill. She'd chase the cats but the cats know how to defend themselves. You'd be amazed how many times the cats win over the dogs (almost always). However, I'd have a water spray close b/c I'd hate to have my dog scratched in the cornea by a cat. Mine are declawed. We've watched dogs that did have a high kill drive, and to be honest... I'm not sure it would have ever worked out. |
| Make sure each animal has there own defined safe space and monitor their time together. You should be able to get an idea of how they will react to each other within a few months. As the previous poster stated, if your sheepie has a high prey drive than you need to be extremely watchful over both animals for an extended period of time. I know many hunting dogs (none oes) that want to eat anything that moves but that do learn to live in a house with smaller pets. In all cases the owners have had to spend considerable time and effort getting the animals used to each other.
Another thing to watch for is jealousy. I know that some people say that animals do not get jealous but I have a hard time believing this. When I first brought my oes home (as a puppy) my cat was MAD. And now that Jackson is full grown she has a hard time leaving me alone when she sees me petting the cat (and visa versa). I deal with this by just trying to share my time between the two and, if one animal or the other seems to get very agitated by the other I sometimes seperate them (Jackson outside for some exercise, Skinny under the bed with a new mouse toy). |
| Baby gates are wonderful for making a "safety" zone for your cat. Just cut a small hole in the bottom of it and the cat can zoom through (and then laugh at the dog from the other side of the gate).
I have a rather large group of cats of all ages. Some are fine with our three OES and play with them, others ignore them. One of the cats, who joined us when he six years old is declawed....and he terrorizes the poor dogs. Whenever we yell at the dogs, he comes out and is ready to swat the "heck" out of the dogs 
So...what I'm trying to say is that how the two get along depends on the dog and the cat. However, give them time and they'll most likely work it out. Jennifer, Baxter, Cassiopia and Abby |
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