Puppy showing potentially disturbing behavior with my cat--am worried she might eat her?

Question

I got a puppy a few months ago. She is a pit bull mix. I realize most people think pit bulls are mean dogs, but she is a sweetheart, very energetic, playful, and well socialized. She is about 4 months old now. The only concern I have is her behavior with one of my cats. She constantly chases the cat (naturally), but then when she corners the cat (named Bella), she will sort of hover over Bella and lick the back of her neck. I am not sure if she nips while she does this, I think it's just licking. The reason this worries me is because I am afraid one day she will take playing too far, and will grab Bella by the back of the neck and shake her until Bella is dead. Has anyone else seen this behavior? Is this normal, or am I just freaking out over nothing? I love my cat to death and I wouldn't be able to handle it if something happened to her.

Answer 1

Take charge and don't LET her chase the cat. It's your cat, not hers, act like it. Get between her and the cat and make her back up...walk into her and use strong body language and make a sharp sound I use AAAHK or HEY ! No is overused.

It may be "natural" to chase the cat but it doesn't mean you have to allow it.

I have 2 young Whippets 11 and 14 months and a 14 yr. old Persian. From the first day I never let either harrass the cat !
They can sniff her gently and touch her, but NO chasing ever and no pawing at her. She is NOT their toy, she is MY cat.

Teach your puppy now what is acceptable behavior and what is not. I tell my dogs "easy" and they slow down or soften their play.

Whippets can kill cats and will if allowed....super strong prey drive. But I've had multiple Whippets and cats and I make them all play by MY rules.

I do gate the dogs away from the cat or use crates when I'm not home....esp. with multiple dogs I want to make sure my cat is ok. My dogs are only around my cat when I'm home and she also has a tall climbing post with a bed on top, so she can watch them and stay out of their way.

Give your cat places to get away or a cat door to another room. I don't know that your puppy would ever attack the cat but she could injure her by accident...why take that chance.

Put the puppy on a leash at first if needed to keep her under control around the cat.

Answer 2

your puppy is displaying dominance. You don't indicate whether you have other dogs. This could make a difference. Does Bella "swat" at the puppy as a protection gesture? Usually even very docile cats will protect themselves. This behavior will also deter the puppy from the dominating behavior.
However, it is the need of the owner to establish dominance over the dog. (The Alpha). When the puppy starts the chasing behavior, stop it immediately. Either stand between the dog and the cat and impede the dogs ability to get at the cat. This shows you, the owner as the dominate one. The puppy needs to know that humans are always dominant. Another way is to grab the dog by the scruff of the neck and firmly tell her no.
I work at a dog day care and am faced with this on a daily basis. It takes patience, but it will pay off.

Answer 3

I wouldn't consider this dangerous behavior, she's being a pup seeing what she can get away with.

I would find a good trainer and start obedience training (if you haven't done so already) Bella. Redirect her attention away from the cat, and don't let her chase her. When she turns her attention away from kitty, praise her like mad. For any breed, I do recommend that cats and dogs to be kept separated from each other when you're not around to watch them.

Ignore Crazy-Cat-Girls's information about her turning vicious as she gets older. This person is obviously not educated about the breed and uninformed that all dogs of ALL breeds have a prey drive, even those cute fuzzy ones.

Answer 4

Be careful to note the rest of your puppy's body language while she is licking the cat. Is the hair on the back of her neck and by the base of her tail on end? Is her posture really stiff? Are her ears relaxed and in their usual position? If she is showing any of these behaviors then I would be concerned about the licking progressing into something not so sweet. Otherwise, it sounds like the puppy is just being playful.

Answer 5

You love your cat, but you let a pit bull chase her, corner her, and hover over her? Do you not see a problem here?

Cats are temperamental at best. One day, Bella is not going to be in the mood for this nonsense, and will probably claw or bite at your pit bull mix.

What do you think your pit bull's reaction might be? What would ANY pit bull's reaction be?

Separate the animals, or give one of them away. Imagine how you'd feel if you came home from work one night to find Bella disassembled courtesy of your overly playful pit bull mix?

Stop the tragedy before it happens.

Answer 6

You need to stop this behavior now. Your dog will kill Bella. You need to let the dog know that you are the boss and that the cats are above the dog in the pecking order. I have 4 large dogs and 3 cats. Cats rule and dogs drool in my home.

Answer 7

Teach her a "leave it" command. Right now, it is play and seems affiliative.
http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/leave-it.html
Pitties lick, a lot.

And watch them together. Interrupt your puppy when she starts obsessing about the cat. Make sure Bella has lots of high places she can get to. Maybe latch one door open about 3 inches, just enough so she can get in and out but not enough for your puppy.

Answer 8

Crate train your dog. When you can't supervise, put her in the crate. Dogs and pitbulls in particular have a high prey drive and will kill a cat. That's what they train them on to fight.

Pits should be the only pet. Period.

Answer 9

My dog killed my cat. I still don't know if she was playing or she meant to, once they start they don't stop. I'm afraid you'll have to choose, dog or cat.

Answer 10

I wouldn't worry, it doesn't sound aggressive.