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!
Filed under: Cat Furniture
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It sounds like the kitty is used to being an only child and has some difficulties integrating into multipet homes. If he was able to get along with the older dog before the move, then there is hope.
Remember the dogs have the home court advantage. They’ve been together for several months. And dogs tolerate these kinds of changes in environment better than cats most of the time. So set aside a room that is kitty’s, and kitty’s alone. Give him a few days to adjust to just that room, with no contact or interaction with the dogs, but lots of contact with you humans. When he seems settled, swap them. Dogs in the old kitty room, and kitty loose in the rest of the house.
This gives kitty a chance to reconnoiter and find the vantage points while becoming familiar with the terrain. Set up a special dog-free zone for kitty that includes room for sleeping and his food and water dishes. Make sure he can reach a litterbox unmolested by dogs.
Dig out a stuffed toy and spend a lot of time giving it oodles of affection in front of the dogs. If they fuss, it’s "No Kitty!" and then put them out of the room. Wait 30 seconds or until they are quiet on the other side of the door and let them back in. Repeat, until they stop fussing when you make a big deal of the toy. Now you’re ready to repeat with the cat, using the new "No Kitty" command to tell the dogs to back off from the cat.