We have had a puppy for 3 months and we want the cats to feel comfortable in their own home again. They hiss, spit and swipe at the puppy if we try to introduce them to each other and he yaps at them. Is there anything I can do?
2007-08-11 12:22:53 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Thank you so much for all your answers so far - very encouraging. I have been really miserable about it today because my cats are 13 and I love them so much but they are not even playing in the garden like they used to because they are so wary of Teddy. Everytime he sees them he starts chasing them and yapping. I don't expect them to curl up on a rug in front of the fire together but I didnt expect that my cats would be run out of their much loved home. Thanks for your encouragement everyone.
2007-08-11 12:49:29 · update #1
I own 2 dogs, a rottie and a terrier mix. I also own a 13 year old cat.
my cat rules the roost. my dogs and my cat get along, because this is how I choose to have them get along.
I do not allow my dogs to chase my cat, nor my cat to hiss or strike at them. although, that is how she is if they get too close or she's in a mood.
but my dogs respect her.
*My rottie was a cat killer before he came to stay with us.
he ran in a pack of pits who did not tolerate cats in their yard, because their owner did not like cats.
*my point is, the owner makes the mood for the pack.
your dog and cats are your pack, and you are the leader.
you need to establish your dominance among all of them, and set the tone, that you do not tolerate any other challenge.
when your pup barks at them, stop and correct him. when your cats hiss and spit, stop them, by either water gun or a little spank on the hiney. DO NOT HIT OR KICK! by a spank, a little tap to draw their attention away from the dog.
*be consistent, and allow time for them to adjust to each other, but be firm that there will be no straying from what YOU want.
walk your pup daily, to work off aggression, and to free up his mind to be open to having the cats around. this also helps with adjusting. If your pup is full of energy, and only has the cats to target this energy at, what do you think will happen??
*exercise, discipline and affection. rules, boundaries and limitations....
in this order.
for more tips, watch or go to the cesar milan website.. he really can help!
good luck
2007-08-11 12:41:54 · answer #1 · answered by Rochelle T 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seven years ago when my husband got a puppy, I already had a 4 year old cat. We were lucky in that the dog is very friendly and easy-going; and the cat simply had the idea that my husband belonged to the dog, I belonged to her, and that was that. But it was about 2 years before the cat truly didn't care whether the dog was in the room without hissing a little or mock swiping at him.
I talked to people who said it took about a year before their dog/ cat combos were past the scrapping stage. As long as they are not injuring each other just let them work it out themselves. Don't force any meetings, and don't keep them all apart on purpose.
Even today the 2 of them do not pal around much. But I do think they are company for each other. It helps just to know the other is in the house, even though they are not sitting around chatting.
2007-08-11 12:40:13 · answer #2 · answered by danashelchan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had two cats for 3 years before we brought a puppy home. They were upset.. they fought.. supervised of course.. don't leave them alone together until you're sure they won't kill each other! Eventually the cats will learn to tolerate the dog.. I say tolerate because actually, my two cats still don't LIKE our dog - it's been 2 years - they just put up with him! They roam the house as usual.. every now and then they pounce on him to play when they feel like it! But, if the dog initiates play, we'll have a screeching dog on our hands! So, just be patient.. it will take time.. just make sure your cats have a place to retreat and hide when they've had enough of the dog's wet nose! They will take care of themselves.. but you better do it now.. before your dog gets too used to being kept away from them.. they'll never accept him if they think there's another way around it! They will accept that the puppy is part of the family - cats are very intelligent and forgiving.. be patient and good luck!!
2007-08-11 12:42:31 · answer #3 · answered by D 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cat's can be pretty snotty to a new dog, or even new cats for that matter. They like being the rule of the roost. It would have been easier to add the cats to an existing dog because the dog would be more trainable. Best thing you can do is give it time and keep on trying to introduce them to each other. Be careful though, if the cat connects with one of those swipes, it could be some pretty bad cuts for the puppy.
2007-08-11 12:29:01 · answer #4 · answered by Tre 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
they will settle down in time ...just make sure that the cats have an a place(s) to jump up on so the puppy can't get to them , the puppy is just being a bay ...wants to rush and monster the cats (he don't know what they are ) as he would anything else he see's , just keep telling the puppy to be "soft " or "gentle" when he is near the cats , look your cats are the boss and they will sort the puppy out pretty quick and the puppy will learn that those paw's have bloody claws ... and will stop harassing as I said make sure the cats have plenty of things to get up on in every room that the puppy can't (cats are aloof and love to be above everything looking down ..makes them feel safe and superior) and they will in the end co- habitate quite well and may even become bestest buddies
p.s. stop the puppy from chasing the cats ...if you do that 90% of your troubles will be gone ...just persist it won't take long ...he's a baby and they love learning
2007-08-11 12:43:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I've had a Chihuahua who does great with cats. They may mess with each other once in a while,but are playful when doing. it might depend on the cats behavior and attitude.As a cat, becoming new to a puppy around the house could take time for them getting use to. Don't immediately put them together, if their not getting along don't force them to be together in my opinion. If the cat hasn't been use to dogs before, or has had a bad experience maybe...she/he might have to get use to the dog and see how they get along together.Hope that helps and good luck.
2007-08-11 12:30:33 · answer #6 · answered by Kelly 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes. first of all da dog has to be a puppy like a puppy who doesnt know anything about cats....or a kitten who knows nothing about dogs. just let da puppy roam around ur home, in a few days they would be living happily together....oh yea make sure the puppy is at least 4 months old any younger than dat then im sure it will be killed by the older cats. hope dis help.
2007-08-11 12:25:32 · answer #7 · answered by ninjacool h 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I hear this from new. I don't if it is truth or not.
I puppy was brough to the house. The cat was not friendly to the puppy, until, one day the puppy was injured by other wild animal. The cat took care and nurse of the puppy. They became like family.
But, I remember, when I was a child. Our dog had puppy. We gave one to my grandma. Her cat nursed and fed the puppy.
2007-08-11 12:29:03 · answer #8 · answered by KiKi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It took my shepherd 2 yrs to start letting the cats be. But she soon learned about how painful a scratch in the nose is!
Yes, they can coexist. All you need is to brush up on behavior training and start working with your puppy...
2007-08-11 12:29:15 · answer #9 · answered by TURANDOT 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations to you all on the the helpful integration! won't be able to you purely pass the tower he likes to a region the place he can get at it extra actual? a sort of toys can constantly be a stable component.
2016-10-02 03:18:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋