How do I get my dogs to get along with my cat?
Okay, so…
Back in December, my boyfriend and I made a short move out to the state of Wyoming and back. He had a cat at the time that we could not take with us, and we left it with my sister. She already had two cats, a male and female, who from December to now could not manage to get along with his cat. She wanted to keep him, but her cats were always fighting with him. So, today we decided to try bringing him home to our apartment.
When we were out in Wyoming, we got a German Shepherd puppy (now almost 8 months). I also already had a pomeranian (age 4 1/2). Those two get along okay, not great, but the pom tolerates the puppy pretty good. They aren’t best friends, as the puppy is too energetic for the pom’s liking. But I digress back to the cat.
So, we brought him home today.
Immediately the GSD went up to the cat carrier and the cat got PISSED. He started hissing and spitting and swatting. We tried to introduce them slowly, taking the cat out of the carrier and holding him and letting them sniff each other. The cat ran behind the TV. So, we got the cat out, and put him up in a high spot on his cat tower. He stayed there for hours. At first he was still growling and hissing, then he was quiet, and just stayed up there.
Later on, I took him down, to take him in the other room – away from the dogs – to give him attention. He was just tense. Curled up in a corner. Wouldn’t move.
So, I brought him back out to the kitchen, and put him on the table with his food and water. He wants no food, and no water. Still won’t move from wherever I put him. He took a few swats at the german shepherd.
Whenever we pet the cat, or pay attention to the cat, the dogs go nuts. Barking, whining, circling. The cat gets more nervous.
What can I do?
I’ve tried backing them off into the other room, telling them to sit, lay down, saying no when they bark. They’re too worked up to listen. They’re normally very obedient. Even the leave it command doesn’t work with this situation.
Will it get better over time?
I’m feeling really bad for the kitty!
I will not get the cat declawed. I view it as cruelty. I have thought about applying soft claws to his nails, but in he event that one of my dogs does actually try to hurt the cat, I want him to be able to defend himself.
The problem is more the cat. The dogs are just excited that he his here. The cat is the one being the meanie. Which I don’t really understand as he was just fine with my boyfriend’s old land lord’s German Shepherd.
Filed under: Cat Furniture
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well you could try to slowley introduce the cat first get the cat declawed. and when you introduce them keep the dogs tied up good together same length toward you and the cat. then slowley scoot the cat closer hold the cats paws together tight. and punish the dogs when they bark and bite at the cat. and just hold the cat rite out of bite reach but inside smell range. soon the dogs should figure out not to attack or fight and the cat will (hopefully feel safer)
Its really hard to get dogs & cat to get along but I once had a
cousin that had a cat that got really well with the dog because
they were best friends but soon the dog got put down because
he was biting every body except the cat.
Well anyways they will get along with each other if they were
born with each other like they got along when they were babies.
Do some training with you dog. Buy a toy cat that makes cat sounds and move around by itself and teach it. If you teach it every day well the dog will get use to the cat.
But if the cats the one that doesn’t like dogs well teach it the same thing but with a toy dog
A few days later put the dogs with the cat and see how they react
but if they keep fighting do the same thing again.
But if that doesn’t work well you have to put it in separate rooms.
You can keep the kitty in a room to let the dogs feel like they are still number one. And while they get used to the cat smell. Once they calm down you can start letting the cat out. I think when you hold the cat around the dogs, pay attention to the dogs too, they way they won’t feel left out. I hope this helps. Not all animals are the same though so be sure to try other techniques too.