Cat Emergency: Attacked my neighbor's Dog

My bf and I have 2 cats, we met a stray cat (Nala) a year ago, and she became very attached to us. We started feeding her, and took her in during the cold weather. It's warmer weather now, so we brought her back outside (we build her a little house shelter, food/water bowls, she wasn't happy confined inside.)

She misses us terribly, and waits by the backyard door all the time. However, our neighbor has a Belgian Shepard (big German Shepard type dog, (40lbs) Very friendly, calm older dog. I watched them interact, and the dog was just sniffing around, when suddenly Nala (6 lbs) ran after him and started swiping at him very aggressively.
Our neighbor chased her off and rushed his dog back in, as any caring owner would. This is what my neighbor and I feared, keeping her in the backyard can no longer be an option I'm thinking.

The thing is, my bf and I have a 1 bedroom apartment. It's not a small place, but we already have 2 cats, one of whom didn't get along with her. We tried for months to find her a home, but no luck.

Could her attack on the dog just be because of the stress of being back outside? I mean if it's a one time behavior, that's something we can work around.
This just happened, and I'm literally freaking out. If we bring her to a shelter, confined, and around several animals, I know it will bring out the worst in her. I am 90% sure that shelters will deem her adoptable.

Should I ask our vet for advice? She's the sweetest little thing once you get to know her, whenever she sees me or my bf she runs down the street to us. Always comes and licks us, would always cuddle at night, ..etc.

Sorry this is so long, I just want the background to be clear. Will she attack the dog again? Why did this little cat go and attack a big dog? What should we do...?

Her last vet check was in January, I believe that's when she had the last of her shots (She's quite young, just turned 2)

Hearing that your cats act the same is somewhat reassuring, because I just thought it meant she was terribly aggressive or something. But why would such a small animal go up against a much larger animal?

Yes, we live in a ground level apartment. The dog kennel sounds like a great idea, but I don't think our backyard is large enough for one of those =T She has a shelter of her (that she never uses) that looks like this:

http://www.cozycatfurniture.com/cedar_cathouse.html

But the thing is, she went after the dog. It wasn't like she was backed into a corner or anything, the dog could have cared less if she was there.

Our tom cat of the house, does not get along with her at all. It got so bad we had to separate them. Once the tom cat didn't like her, his subordinate brother followed suit (despite initially liking her, sigh)

Oh.... I was not outside with her at the time. I had just left being outside with her, and she usually lingers around the door after I leave, begging to come inside.

But since she has just gone back outside, I observe her behavior from time to time without her knowing I'm watching, so see how she is adjusting.

I mean she was sitting ontop of her shelter (the area of her food/water), prior to going after the dog. Could this just be territorial behavior because of that?

An eclosed area sounds like the best idea, but wouldn't the cat feel confined? We could just keep her in there during the night time or something, but I'm not sure what sort of enclosers can keep a cat inside.

Thanks a lot for your great advice by the way, I thought we were out of options. It helps to know there still are things we can do.

Yes, I am most certain that she was stressed inside because of the other cats. We tried introducing them slowly, first through swapping scents (we used a blanket at first), next we would allow each of them to explore the other's room without seeing eachother, allowed them to interact through closed doors, and for a while it was fine. All animals are spayed/fixed.
Things were never great, but our two boys tolerated her for a bit. We thought we could keep her until we found her a better home, but what started as a rare occurance, became much more frequent, our (Tom cat was the wrong term.. I mean the dominant cat in the house) would start to test the boundaries/tease her, he does this to his submissive brother as well, but his brother ignores it. Nala, the stray's reaction is to stand ground, and attack. We had violent very violent fights, thankfully the cuts and wounds weren't serious.

Even when we isolated her (into the bedroom) she seemed depressed most of the time, and would look out the window all day. Our other cats were upset with the living situation as well, they hated being seperated from us at times.
When we brought her back outside she immediatly lit up, started running around exploring. But after a little while, she begs to come back in. Begs, cries, waits patiently by the door, my bf thinks she just needs more time to get used to being away from us, and that it will take time (I don't agree)

We have a bit of vertical space, high shelves, book cases, cabinets, but if it could help to put more in we definitely have room. I have never thought of that before actually, your responce was extremely helpful, and has given me a lot more possibilities.. Thank you very much.

Do you think judging from your experience and what I have told you, that we could work things out? Have you had cats who violently fought at least get to the point of tolerating one another?

This is what I think... it absolutely breaks my heart, I've probably cried just about every day/night since. But if she can't get along with our two other cats, my boyfriend can't take the living situation anymore.

Unless I could prove to him that all three cats could tolerate each other (or there was a definite adopter), I don't think he would be willing to bring her back in. Our two other cats are also rescue cats, but I think 3 is reaching the limit for him, considering the house size and reaction of our other cats.

His thinking is that since she grew up outside, she could adapt back to living outside, and that we should give her a few weeks to adjust before we make hasty decisions. But I think we're making a mistake, and it seems like most of you do as well.

What do you cat owners living in smaller quarters will 3 or more cats do? Personal experiences would be really helpful.

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to read the situation, and give me your thoughts/advice on it.

Otto-

Oh. It's good to know that she might not have been longing to be back outside that whole time.

Would Feliway need to be used every day? I'll do some research on this, because I have heard of this product before. At least for a temporary fix.

Thanks a lot , if it wasn't for your responces and others I really would not even know what other options I had. It's a big relief to hear some of the things many of you are saying, it gives me some place to at least start looking into.

-Carolina-

Did you also purchase those shelves at Home Depot (as someone else mentioned) ? Are they sturdy, as in can handle larger cats? (one of our cats is a very large male of around 14-15 lbs.)

I think this might be a good idea either way, because it would give our boys some more places to jump and sleep.


(Here's a picture of them, this picture is so weird, it's hard for me to imagine they could ever be in the same room, West is the bigger tabby, Nala the smaller one on the right, and Hamlot is the big black guy)

I've informed my bf on all of what those who have posted in here think, but I don't think he will budge on taking her back in. He cares about Nala, but the situation is becomming too much for him to handle. His family gives him enough trouble for having 2 cats, 3 is out of the question. And he is very strong on respecting their wishes.

The very first cat I ever lived with, suffered from a kidney disease her last year of life. Watching Nala wait and pine at the door, feels worse, because death brought my first cat out of suffering. Being outside continues Nala's suffering.

Is there anything we can do to help her adjust better outside.. are there chances that she can ever adjust? Perhaps we should limit our time with her?

Could she still be adoptable from living outside? I have such an intense gut feeling to do something, and I'm willing to do whatever I can, but I'm up against a wall with my bf and his family's decision. And I know the neighbor will not be pleased.

(Financially, I don't think I could afford one of those cat enclosures at this time.. As nice as they are, sigh. I don't make a lot of money, because I am also a full time student. My bf and my family do not support me further trying to help Nala, so they would not financially help that venture out)

Both my family and my bf think we have tried our best, and it's time to let it go. But I'm not alright with that. I appreciate each and every one of your responces, this is a very helpful and supportive online community.

Okay, update on the situation......


A lot has changed over the past few days. Surprisingly enough, my bf was right. She likes to come over to us every now and then, but she no longer pines at the door, this behavior slowly stopped each day. We took her in for a bit, because we wanted to see which she preferred.

She was very upset indoors, she was nothing like how she was back when she lived with us. She kept hissing at us, and ran out the door the minute we gave her the choice. Then outside, she'll go back to being a doll to us.

She'll sit by the door sometimes, but if we let her in, she'll want out right away? It's very change.

I have to bait her inside if I want her to come in. Still worried about the dog situation though, because she picked a fight with him again, and he chased her this time, up a tree. She got down alright, but I wish there was some way I could get her to stop messing with the dog.

We share the backyard with our neighbors, and he's one of those guys that sort of take the easy way out with a dog. Instead of walking them, just let them out into the backyard. But the dog is old, 12 years old, so it isn't hyperactive or anything.

I mean the dog wouldn't even really go after her if she didn't come after him, (yes, it's a funny image to think about, but I still don't get how such a little animal can be so tough) And she goes all out, back arched, fur all puffed out, attacking with intent to hurt..etc.

We want to get her spayed, but with how she acts now, how could we go about in keeping her inside while she recovers? It seems like she's stressed indoors (plus the overnight at the vet alone).

I'll probably make a post on the stray/feral board concerning TNR, and try to find some info. on that, because I think she needs to be spayed.