We have a one-tear-old pup we adopted from a rescue group named Sunny. She gets along with the other dogs, but goes after the cat at every opportunity. The cat gets along with the other two dogs, but stays away from Sunny for obvious reasons. For the most part, we’ve been able to keep them away from each other.
Today, Sunny got hold of the cat and nearly killed her. Mishu (the cat) is fine now, a little freaked out and traumatized, but she’ll be ok. I have experience with dogs and training them, but not with socializing dogs to get them to get along with other animals. As it stands now, we’ll have to get rid of either Sunny or Mishu.
Does anyone have any suggestions or tips to help these two get along before we have a dead cat?
I had a somewhat similar situation about 2 years ago. We brought a new kitty and new puppy home to our family, adding to our previous count of 2 cats and 2 dogs. Kitty did great - got along, adjusted, etc. New puppy… was a hellion. He played so roughly with one of the dogs’ ears that she now has cauliflower ear (like wrestlers get). One of the cats still doesn’t like him too close, but she at least let him stay in the same room now.
Since your dog is older, you might want to try crating him while all the others are loose. That way they can get used to each other’s smells without any contact.
Another alternative is a muzzle. (I assume he’s snapping at the cat) This way he can’t bite, and gives the cat a chance to put him in his place.
You can’t make them get along, and I don’t know of any good way to socialize a dog that’s that cat-aggressive. (It also boggles my mind that any respectable rescue group wouldn’t test an adoptee for aggression with cats, children, etc., or that they would let someone with a cat adopt a known cat-aggressive dog.)
You can try keeping them physically seperated, and only allowing them to be together for short periods of time when Sunny is on a very short leash. Reward her lavishly when she ignores the kitty or responds well to her. Tell her no when she responds aggressively. Let the other dogs be in on these sessions and reward them for being nice to the kitty, too. When they’re seperated, play with Mishu and then go play with Sunny, letting her smell Mishu’s scent on you. Give her Mishu-scented stuff, and give her lots of treats and hugs and petting along with it. In other words, try to help her make the association that the kitty is a good thing.
Socializing a cat-aggressive dog is a long, slow process, and some dogs just can’t be trained to tolerate cats. If it were me, I’d take Sunny back to the rescue group. The animals already in our family take precedence over new additions, and there is absolutely no room in our house for an animal that’s a threat to any other member of the household.
I’ve never had any problems with injuries, but one of my cats HATES my dog and the dog likes to chase it. The other kitty doesn’t care about the dog unless the dog is slobbering on her or poking her with her nose trying to get her to run. The dog does not really pay much attention to cat 2 unless cat 2 is getting luvins.
More than anything, I think cat 1 hates the dog because the dog chases it. The dog chases the cat because it runs. Ad infintium. I’ve tried holding the cat and letting the dog just sniff it, but the caqt freaks th heck out, floofs up and hisses. So no go. But ya know I swear the cat and dog are faking because they only seem to do it when I cam there and watching. If the cat’s on the coffee table and I’m not paying close attention, the dog can by laying right under the cat and not muss no fuss.
I completely agree. Now that Sunny has attacked Mishu, in my opinion it will be almost impossible to socialize her to the point where they can be friends.
I totally agree with CatLady on this. Mishu should have first priority in your family, it would be cruel to dump her at the pound just because the “new” dog can’t get along. I am assuming you have not had the puppy long enough to become attached to anyone/thing in your household.
I was lucky with my brood. I have a Golden Retriever that adores cats. When I first brought her home, she went after my 10 year old and got a nose full of claws. After that she learned kitties are to be snuggled and not nibbled on. Our other 3 cats came from a kill shelter and they had to learn that the dog would not harm them if they got close. I allowed them to do this on their own terms. Every morning I let the dog out, after a year or so, it is now “we” let the dog out as the cats escort the dog to the door.
To answer a previous question, Sunny is a mutt. We have no idea what kind, but the specualtion is part lab or part Dalmation. If we do have to get rid of one of them, it’ll have to be Sunny, cuz Mishu has seniority and I don’t want the Feline Workers Local 332 breathing down my neck and picketing the house with signs calling us anti-felites.
It amy be as simple as taking Sunny to my house and leaving Mishu at slacker’s, but that may not work out mainly cuz some days I’m gone for 14 hours or so, and although she’s crate trained, 14 hours is a long time to leave her locked up after she’s spent all night there too.
I’m going to agree with BBJ My dog was best friends with the two cats I previously owned. They even slept all cuddled up. The cat I’ve had for nearly two years now still runs from her though. And because she runs, the dog bounds after her in play causing the cat to streak downstairs or under the bathtub. If the cat would just stand her ground one time and give the stupid dog a swat across the nose the problem would be solved. But no. Why? Because she’s a pussy. So the cycle continues.
Regardless, my dog would never attack my cat as the OP’s did. I agree that if anyone goes it be the offending dog. How long have you had the dog, exactly?
Just thought I would pop in and update on the situation.
Mishu is doing ok, still alive. There were no cuts or serious damage done, at least not to the cat. The dog however is another story. She is not covered in scrapes and scrathes all over her face and body. This is not the first time she was attacked by Mishu. You think she’d have learned by now right? Ha!
I am really torn right now. I know I have to find another home for Sunny. It would be totally wrong to give away Mishu, she does have seniority, but I am attached to my dog. Not enough to want to give up my cat, but enough that I will miss her. She is such a loving pup, and so willing to please. She just doesn’t like cats.
The alternative that Crunchy suggested is something that I know will not work. Especially because of the fact that when we are married, the cat has to move with me to his house along with the dog…who doesn’t like the cat. sighs
Anyone in the St.Louis area looking for a house trained, crate trained, very loving dog? She is extremely happy to see anyone (that’s not wearing a hat) who walks in the door. She loves to play tug, fetch and wrestle. Anyone that doesn’t of course have a cat. I would be willing to give Sunny to a great home if someone is looking for a dog that will love you and appreciate you forever!
Before you send one of your beloved friends away, I do have another option for you. We got my dog something called an “Invisible Fence”. Its a collar that beeps at her when she goes somewhere she’s not supposed to, as in out of the backyard or upstairs. Cat is allowed upstairs, dog is not.
Regardless, my precious darlings tortured each other for about a year before they got too lazy to bother, but they did get over it. If your cat has got claws, she should be okay.
Question-when you say “attacks”, do you mean she tries to wrestle with Mishu to play, and just gets too rough? Or does she out and out try to hurt Mishu?
Growing up, I had a very loyal dog that just didn’t like intruders at all – including cats that we had on the farm to catch mice. She moved her litter of puppies to be closer to a group of cats’ hiding spot so that she could more easily find and kill them, she was that ‘protective’. When we decided to get a cat that was going to be an actual pet, we spent hours and hours sitting on our front lawn with the cat in our laps, firmly holding the dog back when she made an agressive move. Eventually she figured out that this furry thing was welcome, and eventually became great friends with many of our barn cats – but was still able to tell when an unwanted stray entered the yard. Smart pup that one was.
Good luck!