Home› General Chat
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Options

Dog/cat issues

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
Now I knew it wasn't going to be a bowl of peaches the first time riotdog & riotcat met but I thought it would have been easier. Riotdog was on a very short leach and I'd been told he's been socialised with cats (but to what extent I'm not sure now), and I was expecting him to bark but not to try and go for riotcat. I'm freaked out because it was as though he was trying to take a chunk out of him. Riotdog is confined to my bedroom asides from being toileted and fed, Riotcat is not leaving the kitchen and I'm feeling really upset. As good as this week went (we're ready to pass basic training now, but we have a month until we qualify), riotcat was here first, I couldn't cope to lose him so if they don't settle, as much as Riotdog helps me, he'll have to go back. I'm in bits at the moment it really shocked me. I know he's a dog not a robot but I never expected him to try and attack him, chase him a little maybe, but it wasn't friendly behaviour.

Help!! Any ideas? I don't have a dog crate before you ask! :/

Comments

  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm not sure how you'd feel about this as you had the cat first but I used to have a German shepherd, then we got two kittens and we used to put the kittens in a cage just for a few minutes to let the dog have a little look and sniff and we gradually built it up to taking the kittens into the living room without the cage etc. In the end the dog loved the kittens.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Yeah people have suggested doing the same with the dog in a crate - but hence me saying I don't have one and I've been told to let him roam the house freely. My instructor told me to just let them chase but after what happened yesterday I'm really not happy. Riotdog isn't that happy I can tell and riotcat won't even walk past the dog if he's behind it. I'm still having issues of toileting Riotdog - he's fully house trained but it's a different place. He had a pee in the middle of the night and he made until we got outside but not as far as his pen. So tried him first thing and then I'll let him again now for a pee then the cat has to be let out and then the dog can be let out around the house. It's driving me nuts!!
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It's normal for cats and dogs to act like that as the cat was there first it may be feeling like you've disowned it so will take time to get used to it. Be in control of the dog and make sure he knows it's wrong when he does wrong, they are likely to get used to each other with time maybe try holding the dog (if you can) and letting the cat walk around or the other way around have you a cat carrier maybe and try the cat there and the dog having a sniff xz


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I was in control the first time and the dog just lunged for him and snapped. I've been told to just ignore bad behaviour and not to chastise him...mum is really angry with him, he's bored and still not going to the loo and I'm just in tears because I feel like I've just trashed everything here.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Has he got a muzzle? Make sure you introduce him on kitty's territory and allow the cat a lot of space.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Nope no muzzle, i know my trainer might not be happy with it but i might have to give it a try. I kind of feel I've been dropped in it with the way he's been left with us after the week of training - he still belongs to the charity and they knew i had a cat because i talked to the trainer about how to introduce them and put it on my form, but I've really not been given much guidance.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Did they say anything about being on a leash or not? Have often found with dogs in the park they're worse when they're on a leash. If the car can easily get somewhere out of reach then I'd be tempted to leave them to it.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    He said to let them chase, I just don't want to traumatise the cat !
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    But he has now pooed in the correct place so that's a look up for the books
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Might be worth just letting them get on with it. The only way we got our greyhound to get on with the cats was when she cornered one and got claws in her nose.

    Muzzle is a good idea for introducing them. Let them chase when dog has muzzle on, then you know cat won't get hurt.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Cat is now allowed to roam but he's being very defensive and the dog is being good but he still reacts to what he's doing as is natural
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My dogs love the cats, however the cats are not very fond of the dogs. It took a while but I kept picking up the cats and bringing them into the same room as the dogs, and then continuing to fuss over the cats just so they got used to being near the dogs. It worked well and the cats are now fine with walking around the house, there is the occasional chase as my smallest dog can fit out the cat flap but normally they all get along.
  • Options
    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ok, but riotcat wont even be in the same room yet, he just hisses and bolts. I'm kind of half leaving them to it today and see how it goes from today.
Sign In or Register to comment.