how do you get a cat and dog to stop fighting?

Question

i have a 7 year old dog with a gentle temperment and have newly aquired a 2 yr old cat. cat has been hiding behind the sofa since it arrived and hisses and boxes the dog when it gets the chance. dog is extremely alert and licks it chops when the cat meows and gets excited when close enough. anyone got any ideas on how to make them get along??? i'm feel sorry for the cat but the dog is the "queen of the house" because she was here first.
so far i have been taking the cat out and showing it to the dog (while on sit and stay) and they just seem to stare at each other. dont want to get rid of either so they are going to have to get along. any bright ideas?? or how long do you think they'll take to get along????? thanks!!!

Answer 1

Just give them more time, they may never be best friends but they will learn to get along in the same house, maybe put the cat on your lap (maybe wrap it partally in a towel so you don't get scratched) and then have the dog come to you and let it smell the cat but you keep petting the cat and reassuring it that it is okay and then let the dog smell your hand and then pet the dog reassuring it also and then let the cat sniff your hand after petting the dog.Do this a few times and then see how it goes. Good Luck!

Answer 2

I've got this problem at the moment actually. I have a three year old dog and a new kitten. What we have done is put a child gate up so that they can see each other and get used to each other. We are telling the dog off when she is doing negative things and praising her when she is good. The kitten has been at our house a week and we had the dog in the same room and the kitten not worried. But then about 2 hours later the dog chased the kitten. I think its natural instinct for the dog but if you can train the dog they could live in harmony together. Good luck x

Answer 3

I think you need to back up & restart the introduction process. Cats are creatures of routine, and tend to be territorial, so moving into a strange house is very stressful, and meeting both the new home & new dog at the same time may be too much for it.

Set up a room with a bed, litterbox, and food & water for the cat to live in for a week or so where he or she can feel safe & secure, away from the dog, so he'll have time to get used to the new surroundings without feeling threatened. You might want to consider getting a Feliway plug-in diffuser from the pet store to help him feel more at home.

After the cat seems to be more at ease in his new surroundings, you can follow the introduction steps specified in the article linked below.

Just be patient and cautious, and it should work out.

ps
For safety, please never leave the dog & cat alone unsupervised together when you're away from home, no matter how much you may eventually come to trust them together. Even though our dog & cats are great together, when I'm not home the dog goes in the yard or in her kennel and the cats get the run of the house, or the cats get put up in the spare bedroom & the dog gets the run of the house.

Answer 4

It will take a couple weeks before things even out, but they should learn that ultimately everything is fine.

I would definitely be structuring your dog to the proper behavior around a cat (if she lunges tell her no).

If the cat doesn't start venturing out confidently within a week or so I'd say that the cat just isn't going to adjust and I would recommend finding a better suited home for it.

Answer 5

Ummmmm, get rid of the dog and keep the cat.

Of course, this is coming from a cat lover. Not very fond of dogs, at least not ones that would be my own. Dont mind them so much when they belong to other people.

Answer 6

that happened with my dog and cat a while back, but all i can say is hang in there :) eventually they will get used to each other, took mine a few months to be completely comfortable with each other.

Answer 7

I don't know how long it's been. After a couple of weeks it should be OK, but sometimes they just never get along. I don't know if there is any way to "make" them get along...

Answer 8

you already know this, yet one word: jealousy!!! It sounds like your pets are competing to your love and interest and getting the different to lower back mind-blowing off. may be those assistance might assist you to, even in spite of the undeniable fact that i'm no expert: a million. attempt to get one among those coach human beings in to your pets 2. Make slightly psychological schedule while to play with your pets, like: a million:00pm take DJ on a walk 2:30 take him to the park. 3:00pm play with Millie and so on. 3. make beneficial they're separated once you're homestead because of the fact will lead them to combat to your interest. 4. Ask your mothers and dads once you leave homestead in the event that they war with one yet another, and in the event that they do, may be that's not over you, it might desire to be their instinct to combat who's the "proprietor" of the homestead. 5. in the event that they don't combat once you're long gone, you could enable your mothers and dads bond with Millie or DJ so as that would desire to furnish them something to do different than to combat. 6. continuously ensure you have time for them, because of the fact while human beings become older, and cling out with extra acquaintances, they would not be waiting to work out you as lots and could be crave your interest! it is may be why they're so clingy because of the fact they're afraid to work out you leave! i wish I helped and that i additionally wish they get alongside!

Answer 9

Cat & Dog add water. hehe..
Get a animal trainer if the situation remains.

Answer 10

you can't! dogs and cats natrally fight!!