My boyfriend and I have discussed getting a lab. The problem is, we have 2 cats who have never seen dogs. They are both 3/4 years old and one is really nervy. She hides under the bed a lot when strangers come in. Would we be able to ever have a peaceful house where lab and cats could get on?

Kayc or LJS are the best ones to give you advice about labs!  :)  I am sure that they'll be along soon to help you.

Our lab Kitty (rip) was brought into a house with cats that were well established, it was okay.
However one cat passed away soon after (expected and natural) and the other kept his distance, there was no malice and would have worked with a different cat I believe.

Now just a bit jealous.....love my little terriers but would soooo love another lab.

Karen

Yes they will be fine! We have two cats and three labs and they all get on very well.

They sleep together and also play !

Are you thinking about a puppy or a rescue as can help out if you are after a rescue :-)

Always had Labs and always had cats in our house and had no issues. The cats rule the roost so to speak and the dogs learn to deal with it. Yes the cats will hiss and spit etc when a new dog or puppy comes along, but they soon get over it.
We now have a Bernese, Lab and Rottie with the cat and no issues. The cat is not a nice one either, but they all stay out of its way, well until the Bernese decides he's feeling amorous and tries to hump the poor cat, lol..

LJS - we havent got as far as to discuss that. My OH has had labs before when he lived with his parents and he misses their companionship. Weve never been able to have one before because we both work full time but now my OH doesnt start until 12 and Im back at 4/5 so it wouldnt be left alone for long. We now have the caravan and are thinking how lovely it would be to be able to take it walks etc. Weve only talked about it, we still need to fully decide if its right for us and a dog. :-)

My experience of have ing dogs and cats together for years. Not labs , is that it varies fromcat to cat and dog to dog. AS long as the cats have sowhere high to survey their domain and get a way form liitle chasey thing they should settle, may not be friends but live peaceably enough in the house

They tend to hide under my bed and inside the sofa! :-)

Not sure a lab would get in those places lol

Labs tend to get on well with cats.. I think most dogs do. I have 3 cats and 15 dogs and the occassional litter of pups.. one of the cats loves to curl up in the whelping pen with the pups.  This is great for homing pups into homes where there is already a resident cat :-)  I inherited one of my cats from my daughter, she was 9 years old when she came to me and had never been in contact with a dog until then.. it took a while for her to accept the dogs, but now she will go up and rub herself against them if they are lying down or sleeping.. she will however still get onto high ground if they approach her.   Another cat who is still semi feral will not come into the house, but lies quite happily outside sunbathing with the dogs..  none of these cats had been in contact with dogs until they came to live with me.  

> They tend to hide under my bed and inside the sofa! :-)
>
> Not sure a lab would get in those places lol

hmmm. not so sure about that lol.. my lot can.. and do :-O :-)