New small dog in the house. Very scared cat.

Hello.

I was reading the guide about introducing dogs to cats from this forum's guide.

It has good tips and all. The thing is that it's my cousin's dog, so i don't have a say on its behaviour.

The dog arrived while i was away and i think they did not get to a good start. My poor Artemis is just hiding in the closet on my room.

He will get out once he does not hear the dog and starts going around, but as soon as the dog barks, he goes back.

I'm REALLY stressed out about the situation. I'm trying to take this gradually, hoping that Artemis will get used to the new dog.

Fortunately my room is out limits for the dog (and will stay that way), so i hope it will be enough to have a haven for Artemis.

Artemis has a window to the backyard where he used to play and socialize with other kitties. But i don't know if the dog will be staying there too.

I'm going to give a try to the tips on the guide, but i can't really control everything about it.

My hope is that with time Artemis will have some company when nobody is around.

My fear is that he will always be hiding in my room

I'll try to follow the tips from the guide. I just wanted some reassurance that dogs and cats can get along. My cat is VERY weary about other animals.

What type of dog is it? What is the dog's reaction to the cat?  Does he bark or chase Artemis?

Dog: small 8yr old dog, very energetic. unknown breed (will look into it)

The dog does chase and bark at the cat; i think its playful, but the cat is not taking it as such.

I'm keeping them apart, at least my cat in my room.

So far he is hiding in my closet all the time and he only comes out when i am in the room (usually to go to sleep).

I know its a matter of patience. I just wish i knew how much time is needed. Or to at least know if there is any progress.

If the dog has Foxy in it, or other little dog breeds that were originally bred to hunt small furry animals, then it will be a challenge.  It may work to squirt the dog whenever he misbehaves towards the cat.  I guess the other thread you talk about will have ideas... I haven't checked it out.

Some dogs and cats live together beautifully, although it can take time, and how much time is just too hard to judge.

Sorry... not much help to you..

Mani said:

If the dog has Foxy in it, or other little dog breeds that were originally bred to hunt small furry animals, then it will be a challenge.  It may work to squirt the dog whenever he misbehaves towards the cat.  I guess the other thread you talk about will have ideas... I haven't checked it out.

Some dogs and cats live together beautifully, although it can take time, and how much time is just too hard to judge.

Sorry... not much help to you..

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I wouldn't suggest squirting a dog that's in a prey driven state, it can escalate things. Instead, have a leash attached to the dog and correct it when it does something inappropriate. Work on training. If it's a sighthound (greyhound for example), IMO, it's more dangerous than a terrier type (used for going to ground on small animals). 

My dogs (dachshunds, a hunting breed used to hunt badgers, rabbits, fox, etc) chase my cat sometimes, but it's in play. Make sure the cat has plenty of places to get away from the dog and watch them if they are out together. They may never become friends, but they'll work it out. 

I appreciate your suggestions.

So far i have been keen on keeping them apart.

I think the cat is starting to feel better, in the sense that he is starting to go out to the backyard if the dog is not there.

He still hides when he hears the barking though. There are a lot of dogs in the neighborhood, maybe he is weary its one of them.

I've been trying the introduction of 'scents' so they know each other. I don't think if the dog is catching on or not; the cat did smell the pillow where he sleeps with curiosity. Then he went out to stretch and climb fences.

The dog is not a hunting dog, it's more like mini french poodle. Meaning its got fuzzy hair, and is short. Unfortunately, very loud in his barks too.

I'm not doing anything negative to the dog, and i'm hoping in a week or two (depends on how it goes) maybe i can try a controlled meeting.

Be aware of your cats health....stress can bring on illness in cats.  I hope the situation improves for your kittys sake.

The dog lives in the same home you do, you most definantely have a say in its behavior. Having a dog in the home is everyone's responsibility because, I can assure you that whether it's your dog or not, if it does something to injure another person and you are the one with it, you can be held responsible. Sorry, that's just a big pet peeve of mine when someone says that. If I were training someone else's dog, using non-aversive techniques and they got mad about it, well, then they would be an idiot.

Ok, off my soapbox.

Now, first and foremost, without question, the dog can NOT chase or bark at the cat. Period. To accomplish this, the dog must have recall or, at minimum, the "leave it" command. If the dog doesn't have either of those, it must be worked on. Also, the dog should be able to do a remote sit but the other two things are must haves.

Do not use aversives on the dog when/if it chases. Simply redirect the dog, without yelling and drama, to another fun activity. DO NOT GIVE THE DOG A TREAT. This simply reinforces the chase/bark.

Give kitty a high perch it can go to in the same room where everyone spends their time. This will allow the cat to be out of the way but still be able to watch the dog, which is very important to a cat.

And don't give the dog the prime sleeping location, your lap. If that is where kitty has always slept, kitty still gets to sleep there and the pup can lay next to you. That is what I do. My small dog knows she lays on her blankets next to me and that my lapis reserved for kitties, even when there isn't one there.

Everyone in the home must be consistent with this. It's not hard, just requires patience and a little work, and time. As I always say, just because the dog is small doesn't mean they can be I'll-mannered and untrained.

If handled properly dogs and cats can get on beautufully together, dont rush things it may take 2/3 months it may even take longer but 99 times out of 100 it can work. As someone else said make sure the cat always has somewhere it can get up higher than the dog well out of its way. Some of my cats have always lived with dogs some of them have been introduced into the house, I have bought in rescue dogs that have never lived with cats  and it has always worked well (touch wood) and I think the main thing is to be calm yourself take things slowly. Make sure the dog has a good leave  and if it is fixing on the cat a good look at me command can help.

I have 4 cats and 8 dogs all live in a small house happily together  

RAFM said:

Now, first and foremost, without question, the dog can NOT chase or bark at the cat. Period. 

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My cats were here before my 2 dogs (a shih'tzu and a dachsund mix). Had no problem with the shih'tzu, he ignored the cats and they ignored him. The dachsund, on the other hand, has a dominant trait so it took me more time to train him to respect the cats. But definitely, chasing and barking at the kitties is not permitted. 

I'll put on a high perch for the cat to have in the living room. Thats the main "confrontation" area and where we both get stressed about the situation.

Last night i tried something new. I got a plush cat and put a little collar that the cat uses, with some of its hair (he sheds a lot).

When i put it in the living room, the dog though it was the cat and started to growl. I tried calming the dog so it would know its not a threat.

I'm hoping that seeing the plushie often will get him used to the sight of the cat and make it understand its living here.

In the mean time i'll keep having a "safe area" for my cat, and i'll setup the high place for him to stand on.

I'll keep crossing my fingers this will work out.

Its good to know that there is hope from what i hear that they can get along.

Not sure that the plushie is a good idea, my dogs would kill the plushie because its a toy and so you dont want the toy smelling like the cat. Somewhere for the cats to get up high is a good idea though.

Originally Posted by Milk maid  


Not sure that the plushie is a good idea, my dogs would kill the plushie because its a toy and so you dont want the toy smelling like the cat. Somewhere for the cats to get up high is a good idea though.

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Taken into account! So far he just barks at the stuffed toy.

It's been a few weeks. My cat (Artemis) is kind of getting used to there being a dog; unfortunately this is not in a 'im ok' sense, but more in a 'i have to watch out'.

It's still somewhat stressfull since now my poor cat can't get out of the room, altough he does have access to the garden from the window.

I don't think this will get any better. Needless to say, i hate that little dog. But alas, most people like canines over felines.

I wanted to thank all your tips and comments.

Don't be disheartened.. these things really can take quite some time.