Ben Westhoff
We need your help! Our recently adopted puppy, Pippi, is in unrequited love with our 10-year old tuxedo cat, Nora. At all times, Pippi likes to know where "big sister" Nora is, what she is doing and whether she wants a canine playmate. (The answer is "No!")
Nora is highly affectionate with humans but is slow to come out of her shell. Her personality clashes with Pippi's in-your-face approach.
A typical interaction goes like this: Pippi returns from a walk all jazzed up and ready to play. Nora, half asleep, is chilling on the sofa or the bed until Pippi begins frenetically sniffing her head and tail. A terrified Nora goes into defense mode, huddling with her ears flattened, growling like a tiny, fluffy mountain lion. Somehow this doesn't faze Pippi in the slightest.
Nora growls and swipes her claws at Pippi, who has decided that this is a game. So she in turn lifts her paw and bats the air in front of Nora, who perceives this action as a full-on attack... and so begins their noisy upward spiral of chasing, hiding and facing-off.
I refuse to believe that all hope is lost. So I ask you: What are some of the successful techniques you have used to keep the peace between your cats and dogs?
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Have you considered putting up a kiddy gate up at the entrance to a room that Nora can take refuge in? She should be able to jump the gate and the dog will be barred from bothering her. Also with a longer walk the dog should be tired and not have the energy to disturbe the cat.
Good luck..
Did the thought ever occur to you to tell Pippi NO????? A trained animal will leave the other alone unless given permission to play. It is so sad that people get animals and expect them to sort out their own behaviors. Someone (a human) should have control of the animals. Sounds like the HUMANS need more advise and training than the pets.... Very sad.....
Telling her "no" isn't getting the job done, which is why we're soliciting the "advise" of wise folks like yourself.
I agree. I just got a puppy and we already had a 9 year old cat and they dont get along at all. Chloe is very active and I think that's what scares Ollie. No matter if Ollie hits her on her head or stomach, she sees it as play. No does not do the trick. We literally have to stop Chloe from going after him.
I think a "leave it" command is more in order here. I would follow the first commenter's advice as well and gate off a safe haven for your cat, as it might take a few weeks for the dog to get the command down. Basic obedience training classes should be attended as well, especially if your dog is on the larger side.
Telling Pipi 'no' is like turning up the radio to fix the noise in the car. Try discracting Nora with treats and praise while keping Pipi's enthusiasm at bay in whatever way possible.
Ginger's advise is good. Get some training. This may not completely "Fix" the problem but it gives a good starting point. Definitely give Nora a place to get a break from Pipi. Love the gate idea. Lastly, patience, patience, patience. Pipi is still a puppy and loaded with energy. I have 3 cats & 2 dogs. The most recent dog is Jett. When I rescued him, vet estimated he was no more than 1 year old. He is a lab/border collie mix. Border collies being herding dogs are also high-energy. My poor cats pretty much lived under our bed for a month. (They did venture out when we put Jett outside on his run or at night when he was sleeping.) We did take him to what my husband fondly calls "doggie college" which helped some. Flash forward 2 years, Jett is still loaded with energy and loves to herd the cats in the bathroom for me when it is time for them to get fed. They still do not like being treated like sheep but a peaceful coexistence has taken over. We do use a "Leave it" command when Jett gets a little over the top which is usually accompanied by the usual growling & hissing from the offended feline of choice. On the other hand, there are times when Jett is laying there minding his own business and one of the cats will walk up and rub all over his face. So hang in there. Training, time, and patience should ultimately help.
Our cat was 8 years old when we adopted a very active lab-mix puppy. I have to agree with the response that suggested putting up a kiddy gate so that the cat will have her own space and at least feel like there is somewhere she can go to have time for herself. Although my cat and dog never became the best of friends, after the lab-mix grew up some and calmed down, our cat tolerated her completely and never hissed at her. They would even share the same sofa for a nap and were totally comfortable around each other. Good luck to you and your sweet lil' animals.
Sorry I was not specific enough. If a dog does not know what "no" means it is pretty useless. What I was trying to say is that you need to train your dog to respond to your commands. I have rescued 4 adult dogs in the past 15yrs I had to retrain to be around people and other animals, cats, horses and other smaller animals. The dogs I rescued had no training whatsoever. Start with basic obedience training if you haven't yet. I would not wait years until they calmed down!! This would put my other animals in jeopardy and give them a lower quality of life. They can be trained to react properly with other animals. Go to a reputable trainer, be careful, anyone can be a trainer these days.
We have 19 Border Collies, (yes, all of them live in the house), and three house cats--they coexist with very few confrontations. I agree that a 'leave it' or similar command is a good idea for when things get 'rowdy', but we have found that a 'gently' command works the very best.
Don't allow the puppy to approach the cat when the puppy is already 'worked up', if he is coming in from outside all cranked up then a few minutes of crate time to get 'centered' would be appropriate before he is allowed to interact with the cat. The puppy needs to know when he is acting appropriately as well as when it is acting inappropriately so using your 'gently' command with a sweet and crooning positive voice when things are going well and then in a stronger more commanding voice when things are getting a bit dicey will do wonders to teach the puppy the boundries.Good luck--they can become great friends in time--trust me!
I agree with Charlotte #14's comment. Animals have an order. With your help and the muturing of the puppy, the cat will gain the respect that she deserves.
I have the same issue. We have 5 cats and 2 dogs. my older dog is a pit/boxer and hes 8 yrs old.Last year we adopted a puppy whom was found wondering from a shelter(actually the same shelter weve adopted my pit/boxer and our beloved shep.mix whom passed away). I actually think the puppy(mercy)now 1 yr old is "special needs".I have everyday been trying to train him and break him from his habit of kitty chasing. When I tell him to sit its like hes looking at me with dummy eyes I cant tell if he just dont understand or if hes ignoring me.He fights with out other dog who isnt aggressive at all.infact our cats normally sit with my p/boxer(justice).I have to physically make him sit or lay down. Mercy will lay across the hallway so that the cats cant get around him,they cant get to the litter pans or their food and its to the point that I have an older cat who starves herself because he stops her dead in the hallway.like an old west shoot out. and the only time he listens is if theres a treat of some sort involved. can anyone please give me some advise..
The incoming animal needs to be taught to RESPECT the older animal that was there first!
Animals have a hierarchy, newest in is on the lower end of the pecking order, & needs to learn its place! You as the owner, need to help with that. Your older pet is giving signals, she needs her space, & the time to adjust without being pestered & aggravated. We have 4 dogs & an older cat, our 4th dog, a 4mth old puppy, was given boundaries, & had to learn "no" you may NOT torment the cat, or the older dog, a 7yr old dachsund. She now knows what she may, or may not do, & respects her elders, both human & animal.
Here at yapper-travels, we learned that a simple snap of your fingers does the trick. Our dog-critters walk and rollop in the surf several times each day and the cat-critter sits in the sun. They are all well behaved because they know that's what is expected of them. Yes, they stop and look both ways before crossing the street.
Love them and make sure they know your expectations. They will love and respect you in return - tenfold.
Call Ceaser! Just kidding! Good luck! Dont care much for cats ,but have a deaf dog can be very hard! Gate sounds like great idea!
Teaching an inhibition to a dog is simple, safe and quick. You merely have to know how to do it. I've been doing this for more than 20 years with literally thousands of dogs, by veterinary referral. I have never injured a dog using this methodology, but I have saved quite a few whose owners weren't willing to wait weeks to solve a problem.
http://www.clickandtreat.com/html/offleadinhibitions.HTM
....and, no, I'm not looking for business or self aggrandizement. Here are my credentials...http://www.clickandtreat.com/biopage/biopage.htm
I spent 8 years working in shelters (and killing thousands dogs) watching people get rid of dog because of this type of behavior. The solution offered by "experts" never worked in the real world. Confinement -kiddie gates - never take your eyes of them when they are together - teach the dog to sit for treats instead of chasing the cat, (an activity that acts as a more powerful reinforcer than the treats.) Who thinks this cat should spend weeks being harassed when the problem can be solved in a day with no damage or trauma to the dog? Where is your humane sentiment? Oh, it's OK, kitty, just have your life disrupted because we don't know how to stop the adopted dog from bugging you, or getting in the trash, or jumping on people or tugging on leash, or darting out the front door. If you took the responsibility to get the dog, you owe your cat the right to live without fear. Solutions that require apparati, like kiddie gates aren't solutions. Confining the cat, needlessly, is cruel.
Note: For those of you who are irrational about the use of aversive control, just remember, these people undoutedly have or will cut this dog's testicles off for nebulous behavioral benefits that may or may not occur. If she was a female, they'd slice her ovaries out - a potentially life-threatening surgery, that causes pain for weeks after. Why? Becuase they aren't willing to confine her for 6 weeks a year. However, your solutions require that the cat be confined for weeks to months. Meaning, they have no problem causing a risk of death, pain and discomfort to MAYBE solve behavioral problems. Claiming you wouldn't do anything aversive to solve a behavioral problem is obviously hypocritical. If your dog or cat is spayed or neutered, you've already done it. What I am suggesting is no more invasive than a robust pillow fight. It's your choice. Let the cat live a limited existence, potentially forever, or step up to the challenge and learn how to inhibit the dog's behavior. It starts by accepting this simple wisdom - pleasant things aren't always good and unpleasant things aren't always bad.
You have a beautiful can. :o) Hope in the near future Pippi and Nora will get along. :o)
I have a 1 year old Chihuahua named Snoopy and two male cats. Baby Kitty is about 9 years old and Little Kitty is abut 5. Snoopy loves cats. He, like most Chihuahuas, he thinks he's a big dog, he will chase and bark at dogs bigger than himself, but he LOVES cats. He doesn't get too close to Baby Kitty because Baby doesn't play with dogs. Baby isn't afraid of them, he just don't play with them.
Now Little, he has absolutely no fear of anything. I've never seen this cat with his fur standing on end and I've never heard him hiss. He is so mellow and relaxed, I've never known any cat with his type of personality. He absolutely terrorizes our english sheepdog/poodle mix, just for fun. Little greets Snoopy every morning with a friendly rub. They will cuddle up together and nap. Or they will chase each other all over the house. Sometimes it does get a little bit rough. Snoopy will bite on the back of Little Kitty's neck. The cat seems to enjoy it. Because when the dog stops chewing the cat then attacks. Like to tell him not to stop. Snoop is his own little personal masseuss. They even have this little game where Snoopy tries to bite Little's feet and the cat is trying to get Snoop's ears. It is hilarious. Snoopy sees this cat walk in the door and right away pounces on him and the cat just puts his head down for his massage. Although there are some days he might be in a bad mood and will take it out on the dog. But they are still the best of friends. And the dog's affection isn't just for our cats, but any cat he meets, he wants to be friends. But there was one stray cat that was a little bit overly affectionate. And Snoopy wasn't looking for a girlfriend.