i have a cat and ave just got a dog but the cat hates the dog and wont come in any help please am at worried..

Question

my cat is two and the dog is six months old and even though the dog is soppy the cat is just freaked out by him and wont come in the cat flap at all am having to let her through the front window and as soon as she sees the dog she runs back to the window seal where she feels safe. Also i think that the cat may have wet behind the sofa because she was too scared to pass the dog to go out. Please help as im really worried about the cat as she is normally indoors and its freezing outside....

Answer 1

Well what on earth did you expect? You personally invited an animal that the cat perceives as a predator into an environment you had set up as being its own territory. No wonder the cat is terrified, it must be confused as hell as well. And it sounds like you're annoyed with the cat. Jeez, are you sure you should be keeping animals?

Anyway, that having been said, you must not try and force them together, they have to work out this new shared territory for themselves. You should also create a space for the cat where the dog is not allowed to go, like in one room in the house, or best of all, the room with the cat flap in. The cat needs somewhere it feels secure. Most of all show your cat as much affection and love as you can, because you have shaken its confidence in you. It is probably just like introducing a new cat to a household . Its like a war broke out but in a week you turn around and they're asleep together. So good luck but don't forget the cat was there first.

Answer 2

You need to make your cat feel safe asap. Put a baby gate to close the upstairs if you have an upstairs so that only the cat can go there. Or keep a room completely safe for the cat where the dog is not allowed to go. You could also invest in a dog training cage. It would be where you dog sleeps and you can make it very comfortable. It's not cruel, and there are used to make sure dogs settle down in their new home. It would give your cat an opportunity to investigate the dog safely.
You can also buy some feliway to settle your cat.
"Feliway is a safe solution of feline facial pheromone, which mimics the cat's natural pheromones, creating a state of comfort and calm. When a cat feels safe in its environment it rubs the area between the side of its face and its chain against the furniture, corners of walls or the bottom of curtains, depositing facial pheromones. The Feliway Diffuser emits a synthetic form of these pheromones, helping to calm and soothe cats during stressful or anxious times, such as visits to the vet, moving house or the rearrangement of furniture, naturally conveying a message of safety and well-being".
Good luck. Make sure your cat still feels important and valued.

Answer 3

Time, patience & tlc for this one. Get your cat indoors & keep inside for a while til it settles. Get a litter tray for it etc. If you get a small face cloth or something similar you can stroke the dog with it then the cat & vice versa. This helps transfer the smell of one animal to the other without actual contact. Try and restrict the dog to the living room/kitchen area & allow your cat the run of the house. She should come round eventually

Answer 4

most cats dont take new members very well but what you can do is ... if the cat has a bed or a special place she likes to sleep then get a towel or something and rub it on the dog and then put that towel in the place the cat usaully sleeps. the cat will then get used to the smell of the dog and will help her feel more secure and safe. trust me this is the best way to get them to bond.

Answer 5

my cat was the same he hated the 2 puppies.he always used to try and scratch the eyes out,but now he plays with the pups.for a couple of days try and encourage the dog to stay away from the cat.the cat will soon start coming out.if the cat starts trying to attack the dog (this will happen at some point) then just leave them to it. unless you see the dog getting too rough with the cat. before you know it they will be playing with each other.hope this helps

Answer 6

I have a dog and a cat, the cat won`t accept the dog straight away, but in time will get used to it.The cat will always be the boss though. But my two still have bouts of fighting but nothing too serious, the cat generally smacks the dog to give him a warning, don`t worry they will settle down. Hope this helps..

Answer 7

i had the same trouble i put my dog in our kitchen for a few days with a stair gate up the door that way the cat still had free roam of house and wasnt frighted the cat could get used to the dog in his own time after 2days i took the stair gate down and the cat wasnt as frighted and the dog wasnt as keen to sniff the cat now they all get on gr8 my 2cats and dog(it did help my other cat was bond and didnt care so it helped the other)

Answer 8

I have this same problem only I've had my cat for 9 years and just got my puppy like 3 months ago. My cat hates all other animals but she doesn't let the puppy ruin here life. She's declawed and smacks at him and goes about her bizz. I wouldn't be too worried about this because eventually the cat will get warmed up to the dog, just don't expect them to be best friends.

Answer 9

simple answer, keep the cat in for a while until she becomes used to the dog. most dogs are submissive in the house eg she will end up dominating him. just a matter of territory which patience can break down

Answer 10

You just have to hang in there and eventually the cat and dog will become comfortable with each other.

As with any new relationship you need time to get to know each other properly before you feel OK together