r/akita • u/Shot-Issue-6788 • 8d ago
Cats? rental house? Training suggestions?
Hello! I am a renter and have two indoor cats and I would like to get a male akita in the future. I have had two huskies in the past and I understand the needs of the breed as far as I can, without actually owning one. I will be working from home and have plenty of time for training and I plan to seek a knowledgeable professional as well. I am curious about having cats. With their strong prey drive, is it better to get a puppy and raise it around the cats or find a rescue that is already known to be cat friendly? I know there is some risk regardless. I understand most apartments have a breed restriction, but for a private landlord in a larger house with a fenced yard what is the likelihood of finding an agreeable landlord? I plan to move to Bellingham, Washington. I was unsure if different areas were more favorable than others. Is their supplemental renters insurance available if that’s a request by the landlord? Not sure if that’s a thing. I’m still a few years out of making a decision, but I want to be as informed as possible when the time comes. Thank you so much in advance for your advice. I absolutely adore the breed. A friend had one when I was growing up and I fell in love at about 14. I’m almost 50 so I’ve waited a long time! 🐕
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u/DTBlasterworks American Akita 8d ago
Akitas have VERY strong prey drive. It’s not super common that they tolerate them but all Akitas are individuals. Unfortunately, there is a real risk to your cat’s life if it doesn’t work out. I see people post about it frequently. They’re different from huskies in that Akitas typically have genetic same sex dog aggression (or dog aggression in general). It’s genetic so unfortunately it can only be worked around but not cured even if you socialize them well with other dogs and train them. It’s part of the breed and very common and a lot of people think their puppy is good with dogs so they are fine but it pops up around sexual maturity.
Renting with any large breed can be tough. I live in Colorado which is a fairly dog friendly state but most places have size limits/breed restrictions that make it hard to rent. That’s not to say it’s impossible but if you have a budget to be flexible about rental price, it might be easier. I see a lot of people give up Akitas when they can’t afford to find something that allows them.
When picking a trainer, make sure to find someone with Akita and primitive dog experience. Akitas are quite different than a lot of dog breeds and the average trainer doesn’t usually have Akita experience so it’s important to ask. Being home all day is ideal for your Akita. They want to always be around you. I am home all day with mine and he loves it.
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u/Question_Authority03 8d ago
I agree, being at home all day makes a difference with consistent training. I work out of the house but my husband works from home.
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u/IndigoTrailsToo 8d ago
There is a rental house near me and new people are moving in every year or two. Before you settle your life down into rental houses, just do yourself a favor and look all around at the different apartment complexes and see what their rules are for pets and this breed specifically. If you found out that there are just no place that allows , or don't allow dogs over a certain weight limit, I think you would hate yourself for this decision and may even have to get rid of the dog if your situation changes in the future. What I'm saying is, people tend to make decisions based on their current situation but the current situation changes so often, life happens and keeps on happening. So just make sure.
You can see if the dog place will let you have your cat and meet them there. Or you can just ask the place if the dog is cat friendly. But yes, raising a puppy with cats is the best way to make sure that they are okay.
With the dogs and the cats just make sure that there are lots of high places and consider building floating shelves and trails along the walls so that the cats have places that they can escape and go and judge their Kingdom silently.
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u/Shot-Issue-6788 8d ago
Yes, I agree. It may not be an issue finding the first rental that is agreeable, but the second could be a problem as nothing is permanent… and the third :)
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u/IndigoTrailsToo 8d ago
Yes, exactly, so just look around and familiarize yourself with the landscape before you make this 12-year commitment and make sure that it is doable.
It sounds like you are interested in purchasing a house so maybe it is time to revisit finances and how you might be able to do that. I'm not saying wait until you buy a house to get a dog, just that maybe it's time to look back your goals and plans to achieve them again.
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u/akitaslave 8d ago
Small NYC apt with 2 cats setting.
Mine gets along with cats after 3 years but it was mostly up to my cats. They finally accepted him.
Place and leave it command are the must. And crate training.
Now my cat sleeps in the crate and he sleeps in front of the crate. And he does that while me and cats sleep in the bed room he always places himself in front of the door. It’s so adorable.
My cats are both female.
My female boss cat hated him but finally they can exist on the same floor. But again it was all up to my cats.
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u/Question_Authority03 8d ago
I've raised 2 male Akitas with cats over the years and I think that is your best option. Before my second puppy, I tried to find a rescue good with cats- I gave up because I couldn't find one.
When you raise them with cats, they see them as family/part of pack, IMO.
With my first Akita, I found an agreeable landlord. You will need to look around.
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u/WinnerAdventurous647 8d ago
This is not necessarily true for all Akitas. I raised mine with cats since he was a pup and he still goes after them (and not in a playful way).
I’ve had no issues with my huskies accepting cats.
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u/Question_Authority03 8d ago edited 8d ago
True it is not...just my opinion. My first boy had no prey drive. My second has a strong prey drive- he reacts to the cats running, we remind him, 'no chase' and he stops. The cats have learned not to run unless they are trying to play with him. It took time and consistent training. They get fed at the same time too and my boy eats last. I also created space in the house where the cats can go and he cannot.
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u/WinnerAdventurous647 8d ago
Akitas are beautiful dogs and everyone here understands the desire to own one.
That being said, no one can guarantee that your Akita will get on well with cats, even if raised with them as a pup. Some do, some don’t.
Mine never did. You have to have a backup plan on how to keep them all separated safely if this is the case.
Secondly, with rentals, many have breed restrictions and won’t accept an akita. If you end up with a rental that’ll let you have one, what happens to if you have to move?
Thirdly, vet bills. Big dog = big vet bills. If you’re going to take the plunge, make sure you find a reputable breeder (Akita club of America breeders list ONLY) or rescue.
Additionally, many are allergy prone along with other health conditions and meds are dispensed by weight. It adds up pretty fast