Cat is Attacking new Dog

sbp02d

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Messages
1
Purraise
0
Location
Florida
This is my first post. We adopted a retired racing greyhound about a month ago. We also have a cat who is about 10 years old. The dog is almost 4.

During the first week basically the cat hid. The cat was raised arounf other dogs but has been an only child for 6 years. The second week the dog was stretching and shaking himself off after just waking up. It was dark and the jingle of his collar set the cat off. The cat went after the dog and sratched the dogs eye. they stayed away from each other for a while until today. The cat unprovoked went after the dog.

The dog is now terrified of the master bedroom (place of first attack) and the office (attack today). I don't know what to do. Being a greyhound is has never seen any other animals beside greyhounds. I want to know if there is a way I can get the cat to be less aggresive towards the dog. The dog will not defend himself. I do not want the dog actually to chase the cat but I feel like if he would at least growl or bark at the cat he would realize that he can't be a bully.

Any suggestions? I am at a loss!
 

calico2222

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 9, 2004
Messages
7,731
Purraise
41
Location
Over the river and through the woods...
First of all, welcome! Usually, when a new cat is introduced to another cat, it is recommended to put them in different rooms for a few days until they get used to each other's scent. That is kind of hard to do with a dog, since obviously they need to go outside to potty. Does the dog have free roam of the house when you're not there? You may want to confine him to one room when you're gone for the time being until the cat calms down a little.

Also, try to get some Feliway plug ins. They are like plug in air fresheners but they let off an odorless cat pheromone that does calm them down. And, give the cat lots of lovings so he knows he isn't being replaced.

Congrats on the greyhound! My cousin adopted a retired racer and she is the sweetest thing. She said when they first brought her home, they had to teach her how to play. I guess being racers they didn't really get a chance to be normal dogs. They had her about 2 years and recently adopted another puppy, and Candy (the greyhound) was terrified of it for the first week. Now, she says they are inseparable!!

Eventually, your cat and dog will be able to coexist, it will just take a little time. They may never be the best of friends, but there will be peace in your house!
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
I was the proud momma of 2 greyhounds years ago. They lived with 3 other dogs and about 7 cats.

The last thing you want the greyhound to do is to get aggrevated at the cat and chase it down. Greyhounds have a natural instinct to pick up fleeing prey and shake them. With a cat, it will break their spine and kill them.

Unfortunately Greyhounds rarely bark or growl. In all the years I had them, I think I only heard one of them bark a couple of times. They are bred to run and hunt, not to protect.

Calico2222 has offered very good advice. I also suggest that you make the times when the cat and dog are together very happy times for the cat. Have cat treats and toys handy for your cat and dish them out freely. Get a tall cat tree and place it in the room that they are most likely to interact so that the cat can perch on top and look down on the grey (it makes them feel superior). Discourage any behavior from the cat that is aggressive. I know that disciplining a cat is not always easy, but when mine act up, I give them a hiss or a sharp intake of breath and tell them NO, then remove them from the situation. Even the stubborn ones will learn from this.

Good luck and let us know how things go!
 

calico2222

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 9, 2004
Messages
7,731
Purraise
41
Location
Over the river and through the woods...
Originally Posted by Momofmany

I was the proud momma of 2 greyhounds years ago. They lived with 3 other dogs and about 7 cats.

The last thing you want the greyhound to do is to get aggrevated at the cat and chase it down. Greyhounds have a natural instinct to pick up fleeing prey and shake them. With a cat, it will break their spine and kill them.

Unfortunately Greyhounds rarely bark or growl. In all the years I had them, I think I only heard one of them bark a couple of times. They are bred to run and hunt, not to protect.

Calico2222 has offered very good advice. I also suggest that you make the times when the cat and dog are together very happy times for the cat. Have cat treats and toys handy for your cat and dish them out freely. Get a tall cat tree and place it in the room that they are most likely to interact so that the cat can perch on top and look down on the grey (it makes them feel superior). Discourage any behavior from the cat that is aggressive. I know that disciplining a cat is not always easy, but when mine act up, I give them a hiss or a sharp intake of breath and tell them NO, then remove them from the situation. Even the stubborn ones will learn from this.

Good luck and let us know how things go!
The cat tree, if you don't already have one, is an excellent idea! That gives the cat a place to go where he can just observe without feeling threatened. I know they cost alot, but you can get them much cheaper on ebay (that's where mine came from). The shipping is expensive, but the trees themselves you can sometimes get for almost nothing.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
Also PLEASE be sure the cat's nails are trimmed and keep them that way. I agree to treat this like a cat to cat introduction and do it slowly till they get used to each other.

A greyhound is a HUGE animal on the cat's level. A nice tall treehouse would level the playing field for the cat to have a "high" place to observe


BTW I love greys and whippets
 
Top