I got my cat before I got my dog; she was about 4 yrs old at the time. Then my daughter got a kitten and then a few years later I got a small american eskimo puppy (very hyper even now at 1 1/2) In the mean time my daughter also got two kids; one now 5 and the other 4mos. In our house along with the kids we have a 25lb old cat, a 10 pound young cat, a 200lb akita and my 25 lb eskimo. The only issues in all of this was witht the two dogs; when I got the puppy the akita was jealous and it took about a month before he'd even be in the same room with her. Now they are best friends; he preens her, if she has to go out and no one is paying attention he'll come and get you; akita's love to dig holes, now he digs a big hole for him to lay in and right beside that he digs a small one for her. The puppy irratates the cats because she always wants to play but I've also seen the cats tease her as well. It will all work out. By the way; my daughter just brought home a 6wk stray. It'll work out