Would love any advice I can get on this. I read the excellent Leerburg article on introducing cats and dogs and just thought I would see if I can get some input from everyone about our specific situation.

We have a 15 year old cat and she is getting up there in years and doesn't move extremely well. She definitely doesn't jump or run or anything. She still walks around but at a pretty slow pace.

We are very much considering getting a puppy and have looked at a great 12 week old Boston Terrier from a reputable breeder.

My concerns are this:

1. I don't want our cat to be miserable and feel like she can't ever be relaxed in our home again. She is pretty old and I also don't want her to feel like she always has to hide etc.

2. I want both the cat and the puppy to be safe and not hurt, chase, or bother each other.

We REALLY want this puppy but to tell you the truth, part of me feels really guilty if we do get him because it will make life harder for our cat.

What would you do in my situation? I am torn.

Thanks in advance.

An old cat can be pretty tough.
Unless this is a super "fraidy cat" , I think she might even enjoy the puppy. It might "get her moving" which might extend her life.

I have two cats that I have had for 15 years, they were rescues, not kittens, unsure of actual age, another cat that is 9. Mine are not slow moving, but they are unscathed by our high drive GSD. Follow Ed's advice and all should be fine.

Has this cat been around dogs at all before?

I actually think a puppy is a better choice than an older dog when it comes to cats. That way you can train from the very beginning for them to respect, or at least ignore the cats.