people say just to let them interact with eachother. and i occassionally let them do this, but when i do... they end up run around the house like crazy and start jumping on eachother and biting eachother. (theyre both males..so i don't know if that might be the prob.)
2006-07-13 17:29:44 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Do you try to give them equal attention? If so, that might be why they fight. You have to pick which one will be the favorite. I know it sounds mean to treat one animal better than another, but you don't have to make it miserable.
Let's say you pick the cat to be the favorite. So, the cat is allowed on the bed, not the dog. The cat gets fed first and gets treats first. When you come home, you greet the cat first. Everything has to be this way and if you stick with it, both of them will slip into their niche and the fighting will stop. You don't have to withhold attention from the dog, but he will have to wait for it. Everyone in your family will have to follow this as well. If you deviate, you will start sending both of them mixed messages and they'll start fighting to be the favorite again.
Getting both animals fixed if they are not will also help mellow them out.
2006-07-13 17:40:41 · answer #1 · answered by mia_violenza 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to let them work it out between themselves. A little snapping (by the dog) and scratching (by the cat) is okay, it won't usually amount to much. If the biting is causing serious damage, or if the cat is biting enough to draw blood, you have a worse problem.Keeping them apart reinforces the idea that they should be enemies. You can help by having one person hold each animal in the same room for a few minutes at a time. Try not to yell at them because this reinforces their idea that there is a conflict. You might try spraying the dog with Feliway. This is a pheromone that you can buy that makes the cat feel friendly toward whomever or whatever it is sprayed on. In fact, spray it on the walls and other objects in the house to make the cat feel comfortable. Sometimes put the dog on a leish and make him sit or lie down in the presence of the cat. These are just a few ideas. My male dogs get along fine with my male cat; I think this is mainly because the dogs are friendly by nature, though one of them does bark at cats. The cat figured out that the dog wasn't really going to bite. By the way, it is normal for a dog to chase a cat, they both enjoy it, as long as they are used to the idea.
2006-07-13 17:49:12 · answer #2 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Jack Russell was bred to fight and kill rats, so it may associate your cat with prey. Your cat's response is probably out of fear. Plus, they probably both feel quite territorial about you and the house. Would it be possible to interact with the cat while the dog is crated in the room and vice versa? If you let both pets see you interacting pleasantly with the other and they are able to smell each other without being able to fight, they might settle down a bit. Good luck!
2006-07-13 17:39:56 · answer #3 · answered by amarie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sex doesn't mean anything. Terriers are bred to KILL VERMIN! That category can certainly include cats.
2006-07-14 00:32:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋