My cat and my dog don't get along.?

Question

I've had a dog for about four years, and have just recently inherited a small tabby cat. The cat is almost a year old, is very nice, sociable, and playful. But my dog is a schipperke/terrier mix, and is a little crazy. I have to keep the dog on a leash when the cat is near. I have a muzzle for the dog that I sometimes use when they are close. I won't be able to keep the cat if my dog dosn't adjust. I am desperately trying everything I can to make them friends, but it's not really working. I hold the dog back while the cat comes a little close to investigate, but my dog is just to tightly wound. The cat sleeps in one room with a bathroom, and uses the litter box. Sometimes, I let her out to rome the house, while the dog is locked in the backyard. I don't know what else to do.

Answer 1

In great danger, (flood/fire) all animals forget their differences and pull together..We did this for our farm animals, that couldn't get along in the same pens..and many others have used it successfully..
YOU create the grave danger..lol

Get a harness for each of the critters..and put them both in the car at night..strap them by the harnesses snug to the seat belts, on opposite sides of the back seat..Muzzle the dog if you must for this trip..Then take them for a ride...through downtown noises, and out where it is all dark..just a 40 minute trip..be just a little rough on the stops and starts...You may see a big difference when you get home...during the trip, do not talk to them or comfort them in any way..they have to comfort each other..just by their near presence..
If it doesn't work the first time..try it one more time..but I really think it will make a diference the very first time..

Oh, be sure they have peed and pooped before the trip!

Answer 2

When I rescued a dog once and took it home, I placed the dog in a carrier (dog crate will do) that was big enough for him to move around in. The carrier was in the living room. The cat was loose in the house and was attracted to the carrier to see what it was.

I took the dog out on leash so she could go outside to do her business, but she stayed in the carrier for 2 days as that was how long it took for her to get use to the cat and the cat get use to her. Food and water was in the carrier and I slept on the couch near the dog.

I also played with the cat near the carrier and then put the dog on a leash and took her out and played with her and petted her for a while so the cat would see me.

It could take longer or shorter to work, depending on the animals or it might not work at all, but it is worth a try. You can even change which animal is in the box to make sure they will get along.

Answer 3

Try introducing your cat to your dog in a way that dog will not feel threaten or intimidated. The best way to do that is get a someone to hold the cat with its head away from your dog and then allow your dog, supervised by you, to approach the cat for the back end of the cat. He may still become hostile or the cat may not want to be held in the position for very long but repeated attempts will allow both your dog and cat to become more adjusted to one another. If your dog is still hesitant to approach your cat after a few attempts, try baiting him/her with a treat. So every time your dog is nice to your cat reward him/her. It will take sometime but it is possible and your dog will get the idea. I hope this was helpful and good luck

Answer 4

I think since you got the dog first ... and im guessing you were giving the cat a little more attension because she or he was a kitten, and then the dog gets jelous, i think if it keeps gitting worse get rid of the cat and give her to someone u know will take care of. Also you should just try to let them assosiate and if the dog growls pick the cat up but if you treied every thing the best thing would be to get rid of the cat. Im Sorry :(

Answer 5

Probably the dog get jealous, or only curious about the cat, so you will need to introduce them (very) patiencely, ussually dog will learn to accept anything (if you're doing it right), and it ussually the cat that is harder...

You got to do it everyday periodically. When your dog get anxious and hurt the cat, you got to schold by hitting his/her nose/snout with a finger. Try to (comlpetly) hold the dog while letting the cat to get close and even touch the dog. This ussually work for me...


Well, Good Luck...

Answer 6

We have this same sort of situation at times at our shelter. Some of the dogs just go nuts when the assessment cats are around. To protect both animals, we take them out in turns. When the cats are out, the over-anxious dogs are crated. When the over-anxious dogs are out, the cats are placed in another room. You can't force them to accept one another, so you have to do what you can to keep everyone safe.

Answer 7

I had the same problem about a month ago. It was driving me nuts. My sister came over and saw my kitten he looked like a huge cotton ball he was so puffy it was because my 7yr old rott came in the room. My rott doesn't mind kittens or cats. However my kitten minded my dog so my sister took the kitten by it paws (all four) and she rubbed him all along my dogs back. Well within about 4 hours my kitten was in the living room and my dog was there also. They get along great now. My kitten rides around on my dogs back and they both play with my dogs tug-a-war rope.

Answer 8

well reward the dog when shes calm around the cat!!! and teach it write from wrong flick its nose say NO in a ferm voice tell the dog it has to get along with the cat good luck

Answer 9

treat the dog the same as the cat.