Puppy & Cats

Goldentouch · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:49 pm Post subject: Puppy & Cats

Hi,
Well, Aswell as having our 13 week old Lab, Leo, we also have 2 cats.
Cats ages are 2 and 12 years. However despite the cats, we still went ahead and got Leo. We fell in love with Leo and were sure we would work around the situation with trying to get the cats and Leo to bond over time.

Its proven much harder than it sounded, as most things do between animals.
However progress is being made.
When Leo 1st arrived, it was all hisses from the cats, and barking from Leo. Few days on and the barking has calmed down to only a whine when he sees them. Cats hissing continues when he gets excited and gets to close to them. But as long as Leo is on the lead while passing them, they seem to just watch, or run away if they see he is excited and wants to play.

Its still going to take a lot of time and patience before we can let Leo off the lead while around the cats in the house. At the moment, while off his lead indoors we continue to close any doors of the rooms where the cats are.
Its hard, but we love them all, and we do work very hard giving them all attention and re-assuring them all that its okay and they are safe.

Anyway, to get to the point Razz

I was just wondering if anyone else has similar situations. Or in the past has tried the whole Cat & Dog thing and can give me any more advice.
I know patience is the main key, but any other hints or tips would be helpful.
Thanks!

mommy · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 1:03 am Post subject:

Hi,

Sorry to sound bar humbug, but all I know about cats is they can go for a puppies / dogs eyes........

So, certainly contrl / monitor the socialisation

hugh_jass · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 4:11 am Post subject:

Hi

I've had Darcy three weeks and at first she just chased my cat, Polly, and Polly would hiss and swipe but would get bored quite quickly and just leave!

Indoors I would just tell her no, keep telling her no and restrain her if she persisted.

It has gradually calmed down as you describe and now she will sniff Polly and have a little pounce at her but so long as Polly stands her ground and doesn't run (she generally just gives her a really filthy look in the way that only a cat can Laughing

) Darcy just gives up since it's no fun!

I'm sure it won't be long before Leo discovers there's no such thing as top dog so far as cats are concerned Wink

I have an added problem though - a very nasty parrot! Still working on that one Rolling Eyes

Sarah, Coco & Darcy

lablover · Account Deactivated

Hi
many cats and dogs do get along, ranging from playing together to tolerating each others presence Smile

.
When they first meet (with puppy on lead of course) I try to distract them both by giving them treats starting off a little apart and then bringing them closer together. If he tries to chase them, a firm 'no' and treat when he pays attention to you. It's important that the cat has an escape route, somewhere high or put up a stair gate so the cats can get through, but not the puppy.
As Rhoni says, it's very important to be careful to monitor the situation. A cat can do far more damage to a puppy than the puppy will do to a cat, and they do tend to swipe out at their eyes which can cause serious damage.
It may take a little while, but I'm sure they will all learn to get along.
regards
Jenny

Goldentouch · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 11:24 pm Post subject:

Leo had a cat encounter today while visiting my mother.
We were out in the garden when the next door neightbours friendly ginger cat came along.
Leo didnt seem to notice it at first as he was to interested in trying to catch butterflys or bees.
So i went to clap the cat which was sitting beside the fence, sinse Leo was more interested in the insects that anything else.
As soon as leo hears me saying "hey kitty" in a friendly voice he rushes over to see whats going on.
Cat gets such a fright at Leos hyper fooling about and curiosity that it went for him.
Gave him a quick whip with its claws and ran off.
Leo was lucky as it was only a small scrach on the right ear, but im hoping hes going to start to learn his lesson.
Today when we came home, he wasnt trying to sniff for the cats about the house like he normally does.

Silly little pup only wants to play poor soul Razz

MotherofJade · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 2:32 am Post subject:

We have had a problem with Jade playing with the cats. Tynie is 15 months and Tsunami is 11 months. They do not like Jade at all. But Jade seems to be hard headed and does not like to listen when they hiss or swipe at her. When we are outside for our potty break the next door neighbors cat loves to play with her. So I am guessing she thinks it is ok to play with all cats. So, we have started telling her no ma'am. This method seems to be helping with lots of our behavior problems. So anytime we have been outside we have been telling her no ma'am when she starts to play with the next door cat.

clairiscrazy · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:24 am Post subject:

hiya

i have 3 dogs and 3 cats..lol. it was only rosze we had the problem with as the other 2 were brought up with our cats..
rosze*s first meeting with out cats was fun..lol.. she chased them barked to begin with and gradually over time the barking has stopped but i have to say if we are in the garden she still chases one of them..lol.. but its just to play not aggresivly at all...

we got rosze at 6mnths and she is now 10mnths if you have a docile cat use her to get leo used to cats..

i used my tigger as she is so docile she thinks she is a dog and lets rosze nib her lick her and basicall they just play together..lol.. so now rosze ignores tigger unless he goes to her..lol.
the other 2 cats no such luck they will not tolerate rosze at all so i think that is why rosze still chases them its because she hasnt had a chance to have a good ol fashion sniff of them to get to know them better...

as you say it will take time as long as the cats have somewere safe they can go that leo cant then all will be fine but yes ALSO WATCH leos eyes just incase one of your cats have a swipe at him..lol..