I have a 16 year old cat who has grown up with dogs all 16 years of her life until last spring when the last dog died. We just got a 7 month old coon/german shepherd mix and the cat will not leave the bedroom. she has met the dog, the dog has shown no agression towards her. she won't leave the room to eat, drink, or go to the bathroom. We finally had to bring food adn water into the room for her, and now she has started pooping in the room. When we carry her out of the room, she growls at us, hisses at everything in sight and will not calm down. What can we do?
2006-10-25 01:46:29 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
She might not ever accept it, she's pretty old to have to adjust to a newcomer.
2006-10-25 01:49:49 · answer #1 · answered by rosbif 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any new and different situation will stress any animal out, like moving to a new home or introducing a new member of the family. She's an older cat too, and may not have the patience for a pup.
I would give her all the attention you can give, reassure her. If she is still playful you can interact the puppy and the cat by placing them in opposite rooms and have a toy between the door that both can play with. She will sense the puppy and associate the smell with something positive.
Over time though she should get used to a new member of the family and come out of her depression.
2006-10-25 08:50:52 · answer #2 · answered by Casey B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most cats take to puppies fairly easily because they know the puppy is just a defenseless baby. However, your cat is getting up there in age and is probably pretty set in her ways.
The only advice I can think of is don't force her out of the room. That can set things back by making her lose trust in you. And if she doesn't trust the puppy and doesn't trust you, you've reinforced and built on the original problem.
She may just be angry that you brought another dog home. Some cats get really weird.
Since she's pooping in places other than the litter box, getting her checked out for illnesses is advised. Just to be safe.
For her anxiety, try some Rescue Remedy:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3550&Ntt=rescue%20remedy&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1
2006-10-25 08:52:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps what you should have done was to confine the puppy to one room and allowed the senior pet time to realize that the house is still hers and the new addition will not supplant her. Then gradually allow the pup to come out now and agin to explore the rest of the house with the senior pet observing. As matters now stand, your senior cat KNOWS that she is not up to the antics of a youngling and may be very upset that her erswhilte territory has been invaded by a new comer. I am concered too that the senior is really a senior cat and this mighty upset may impact her health.
2006-10-25 09:24:41 · answer #4 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well i must point out you made the first mistake! You should have not bought in the food & water to the cat! big mistake. if it was hungry & thirsty it would have eventually come out of the room. Animals do not starve them self when there is food available. I would remove the food & water. You are allowing it to hide in its comfort zone by supplying water & food. Second it is an old cat & there is an annoying puppy around. its just like old people don't like young people.
I have a cat & after 3-4 years got a puppy & the cat still hates it. That's just how nature works.
2006-10-25 09:02:53 · answer #5 · answered by OZZIE BOY! 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
She's an old cat, she won't like change much. But give her time, and I think she will eventually accept the puppy. It would help if the puppy was confined to one part of the house, and the cat had free access to the other part. That way she would have some room to move about, and not feel that ALL of her space was invaded by the dog.
2006-10-25 08:51:14 · answer #6 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not only is there an interloper, but that dog has full runof the house. How would you expect the cat to feel good about it? Everyone above me has given good advice. I wan to add that a little extra attention to the grumpy old cat might make it feel better. Maybe the puppy has just too much energy for your old cat.
2006-10-25 08:56:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have a cat thats just like you describe hisses and attacks newcomers...its going to just take alot of time for the cat to accept that the dog is part of the household now. good luck !
2006-10-25 09:15:38 · answer #8 · answered by Jake S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋