Dog meeting the cat - not going well

Freckley201

I recently took in family members 10 year old female springer spaniel and a stray male adult cat around the same time. Individually, they are both very lovely pets to have. The dog is very placid and well trained otherwise and the cat is very affectionate and friendly.

I have tried to introduce them to each other but it doesn't go great. The springer just enters 'hunt mode' and freaks out trying to get to the cat every time. I have tried many approaches. Letting them see each other through windows, keeping the dog on the lead while the cat wanders etc. I even trained her on the muzzle to be safe and let her on a longer lead hoping the novelty would wear off after she was able to safely interact with him but she still does everything to get to him.

I'm able to distract her enough with treats/obedience/tricks but this only works on the short term. A few moments at best. She never calms down or takes her eyes off him for too long when the cat is in the room. Right now I'm trying isolating her every time she gets too excited about the cat but there just doesn't seem to be much progress.

She's a springer so I understand she's a 'hunting breed' but I'm hoping we can at least get them to ignore each other. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation?

Pumpkinseeds

Maybe try getting a pet gate to keep them seperated but able to see each other and avoid contact at the same time. You can get them with a little cat gate built into the bottom of the gate so the cat can come and go without the dog getting at it. That way they won't do each other any harm and they can split the house so they each have their own areas if they don't bond. Give it time. Amazon have a good range.

Nomis21

I have been through this scenario recently.

This is what I found worked best...

When the dog is sleeping, introduce the cat to him at close quarters in a confined space where the cat cannot get away. The dog will wake up but be too sleepy to react and should just lie there looking at the cat. They will get used to each other in this sleepy state after a few times and eventually the dog will not react even when he is not sleepy.

It might take a few sessions of this and even when they are accepting of each other, the dog might still be a bit rough with the cat, but no damage will be done and the cat will tolerate the dogs attention without fear and just run away when he doesn't want to play the dogs game.

Thats what happened with my two anyway. I think its just a matter of time till they accept each other whatever you do to speed things up...

peasant

In my experience, when it comes to chasing (and potentially wanting to kill) cats that's one case where the old saying about not being able to teach an old dog new tricks DOES apply.

Cats and dogs are fine when they grow up with each other, they CAN be fine when introduced to each other, but I would never, ever trust a dog (especially not an older one where the habit had time to ingrain itself) that shows a strong reaction to cats. Even when a certain habituation sets in (and they stop foaming at the mouth so to speak) one false move (particularly a fast one) could spell the end of the cat.

You will have to keep them separate at all times or perhaps rehome one or the other.

muddypaws

Nomis21 wrote: »

I have been through this scenario recently.

This is what I found worked best...

When the dog is sleeping, introduce the cat to him at close quarters in a confined space where the cat cannot get away. The dog will wake up but be too sleepy to react and should just lie there looking at the cat. They will get used to each other in this sleepy state after a few times and eventually the dog will not react even when he is not sleepy.

It might take a few sessions of this and even when they are accepting of each other, the dog might still be a bit rough with the cat, but no damage will be done and the cat will tolerate the dogs attention without fear and just run away when he doesn't want to play the dogs game.

Thats what happened with my two anyway. I think its just a matter of time till they accept each other whatever you do to speed things up...

Please don't do this, always make sure the cat has an escape route and can get away. And don't think that no damage will be done, the cat could easily be killed by the dog, and/or the cat could do serious damage to the dog's face.

Some dogs don't ever accept cats unfortunately, but don't give up, just make sure the cat always has somewhere high it can get to, or can get out of the room.

DBB

Jeepers op...
The big golden rule of introducing a very keen dog to a cat...
ALWAYS give the cat at least one, preferably more escape routes.
Do not trap, corner, or force the cat, or there's a strong chance either the dog, the cat, or you will get injured.

Freckley201

I *always* make sure the introductions are done in an area where the cat has multiple escape points and safe zones as well as doing it on neutral territory (i.e. the hall, instead of the kitchen where the dog sleeps).

In fairness to the cat he remains completely unfazed by the dog, even when she close to him. I think I'll give the pet gate a go. She's a strong dog so I'll look for a sturdy one and hope that overtime the dog realises the cat is 'part of the pack' too.

Knine

Nomis21 wrote: »

I have been through this scenario recently.

This is what I found worked best...

When the dog is sleeping, introduce the cat to him at close quarters in a confined space where the cat cannot get away. The dog will wake up but be too sleepy to react and should just lie there looking at the cat. They will get used to each other in this sleepy state after a few times and eventually the dog will not react even when he is not sleepy.

It might take a few sessions of this and even when they are accepting of each other, the dog might still be a bit rough with the cat, but no damage will be done and the cat will tolerate the dogs attention without fear and just run away when he doesn't want to play the dogs game.

Thats what happened with my two anyway. I think its just a matter of time till they accept each other whatever you do to speed things up...

Jesus if you tried this with one of my terriers, the cat would be dispatched fairly rapidly.

We always used crates to introduce ours & have introduced many successfully this way. Our German Shepard's although not brought up with the cats always accepted them. We have had one or two dogs that will never accept them & we had to keep them apart.

Our Spinone is a hunting breed but absolutely loves cats. Cats don't like him too much though. Spaniels are used for flushing & retrieving game rather then killing but you don't know the background of this dog?

Freckley201

@Knine, I've actually known the dog nearly all the 10 years. My brother rescued her at 1, and I only recently took her since he had kids which meant less time for her and I've always loved the dog anyway so it worked out great.

You're dead right about spaniels and flushing game which she loves to do in the park. I've seen her previously bark at stranger cats on walks but that's about it. I do think she's more likely just to pick him up and bring him to me than anything else but she gets so excited by him I'd be worried shed just chase him around the house non-stop to get to him.

We had looked into crates too, but they're quite expensive and I wasn't sure the confinement wouldn't just make her more agitated and build up the anticipation to get to him. How long did it take you doing it by crate?

minipink

I was in this position last year OP. I found a 'teenage' puppy who was totally unsocialised and neglected. She got on famously with my dog but hated my cat. I crate trained her as she was not toilet trained and within days this had her trained. She was a samoyed breed and I was told her breed had a high prey drive so it was a case of nature v nurture. We lasted 5 months, Lexie the dog ate through doors to get to the 14 year old cat - the cat wasn't bothered about her and would walk past the crate when she was inside it in a 'ha ha, look at me' way. It was fine when I was at home to supervise things but it was always a foster tip we find a new home situation as Lexie was really a one dog kind of dog as she did need so much work (through no fault of her own). She found a catless home in Feb...however the granny of the family moved in with them (I'm still in contact with them and I mind Lexie occasionally) and the granny's cat came too. The cat is an confident older female cat. I was certain that Lexie was coming back to live with me! BUT, after a few swipes by the cat at Lexie when she was chased, they now live comfortably together not cuddling but not in a threatening each other way. So perhaps it's all about characters of the pets.
My own cat and dog play chase and are a bold duo with the cat knocking stuff the dog opening it and them feasting on the bounty together, however, if the cat, who is 15, has enough of the game he lets lola know and she stops. Funnily, the cat was really put out when we got lola, he refused to interact with us for a few weeks but came around. Best of luck OP apparently it takes 6 months - this was what vets, behaviourists and rescues told me last year. I went through several bags of chicken breast strips throwing them into Lexie's mouth to distract her from the chase it was like pac man!

As for crating - just be careful with introducing it with your dog, you don't want it to be seen as a punishment. You could get a crate second hand on the classified ads. I also crated my cat - had to introduce it this year (as I said he's 15) as we were getting work done to our house and he is an indoor cat so I didn't want to have him escaping, he also hates loud noises so would have ben looking for a place to hide. I was anxious that the crate would stress him but he loved it. And chose his open crate over the cosy couch after a while. I had his litter tray, a fluffy bed, some toys including a treat distributing toy and his bowls. Id never heard of crating cats before, it was a needs must situation. the crate is gone now so he's taken residence back on the centre of my bed!

doubter

Freckley201 wrote: »

I *always* make sure the introductions are done in an area where the cat has multiple escape points and safe zones as well as doing it on neutral territory (i.e. the hall, instead of the kitchen where the dog sleeps).

In fairness to the cat he remains completely unfazed by the dog, even when she close to him. I think I'll give the pet gate a go. She's a strong dog so I'll look for a sturdy one and hope that overtime the dog realises the cat is 'part of the pack' too.

mindfull that it's high enough..springers are good jumpers.
Keep trying by all means, but sometimes it's just better to leave it for the sake of both animals.I have a Mal and a husky cross, both good with cats but the husky cross grew up with them and the malamute just can't bothered chasing anything thats faster than him..and he's a very relaxed fella.Even has a favorite cat who sleeps with him. But if a dog is hellbent on getting to the cat, chances for them getting used to each other are slim. Be very careful please.