Cat vs. Dog

Hi all!

I'm having some issues with my cat being uppity with my recently adopted beagle. I introduced the new family member back in mid-February and have since witnessed a lot of unsettling behavior in the cat. A quick snippet about the new dog: She's a 6yr old female beagle, extremely overweight and lazy, mellow, and easy going. As far as my lifestyle and living arrangements go, she's perfect. Doesn't bark, doesn't get overly hyped up, and avoids the cat. The cat: about 6 years old, very timid and shy, healthy, and rescued out of a backyard a few years back. He was considered too feral to be taken in by rescue organizations, but was attached to me so I took him in. He's very well behaved when it's just me around. However, around strangers he turns into demonic spawn.

I took their introductions slow, gating the beagle in a separate room and gave them about two months to become accustomed to each others smells. It was a very slow introduction and the cat started showing signs of "Well, I'll tolerate you" somewhere around the 2 month mark, so I now allow the dog to free roam when I'm home (although she mostly just sleeps on her bed next to the couch or shadows me). I noticed that at some point the cat urinated on my couch, but only once. I could smell it, but not find the evidence otherwise. I cleaned the entire couch and the smell disappeared. The cat was tolerating the dog in the apartment for the last month, but has recently started approaching her wild-eyed and nervous looking, then hissing and swiping for seemingly no reason. The beagle has learned to avoid him out of fear, and never seeks him out or retaliates. Just tucks her tail under and scurries away if he swats or hisses at her. At first, he only did this if she got too close, knowingly or not. Now, he approaches and has at it. I'm not sure what to think of this.

About the living space: The cat has a "dog-free" zone where he's got 2 window perches and lots of high spaces to escape to. I feed him on a writing desk overlooking the back yard and also have a 5ft tall cat tree where he can reach a ledge that goes almost to the ceiling, complete with a cat house at the top. I use curtains to divide this space from the rest of the apartment, when needed. If he starts hissing and swiping out of nowhere, I stop what I'm doing and redirect him to his cat zone. Sometimes, he'll even hiss at me when I do this. As soon as we're in that area though, he calms down and starts begging me for attention with the sweetest little meows and head butts. It's like a complete 180 in personality. If I go to leave the space he's right on me like a shadow and back to looking nervous and irritable (tail swishing, ears sideways, eyes uneasy).

The only connection between the hissing/swiping episodes I can find is that I'm always nearby. Most recently, she was chewing on a rawhide next to me and he stalked up, started hissing, and took a swing. Twenty minutes later he did it again while I was cleaning her paws post-potty break. I'm wondering if this is the cats cry for attention, if he's jealous/territorial, or reacting to something negative he hears (or sees) and associating it with the dog. I know it can take a long time for a cat to learn to tolerate a new family member, but I'm curious to find out if anyone has had similar behaviors or knows how to help the situation.

Also, to add in, I do try to spend time with both of them each day. However, a lot of maintenance is required for the beagle at the moment. She's morbidly obese and unable to clean most of her back half - so I have to do it for her. Along with her paws to help with severe allergies. Perhaps I'm not spending enough time with Rufio, the cat?

You do have your hands full!  Just be sure to spend some extra play time with the cat.  Do it in a location away from the dog.  Get a da bird wand toy or laser pointer and really get the cat moving.  The play session should last 5-10 minutes or more.  After the play session reward the cat with a special treat or meal.  It's part of the philosophy that cats hunt the prey, play and kill the prey and then eat.  Most people play with their cats, but then do not reward with a treat or meal after.  The cat is left unsatisfied as it never got to take part in the best part; eating!  Make sure you have something special such as plain cooked chicken or some tuna or salmon as a special reward. 

Do you have a feliway plug in?  This might help the cat too.  Also Composure liquid max calming supplement might help too.

Here is an article on cat to dog intros. 

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-dogs

Thanks, ShadowsRescue!  

I just installed 2 Feliway plugins with the hope that it will calm the kitty a bit.  I may have to add a third one, my apartment is fairly large.  I've also started using Spirit Essences "Peacemaker" in food and on fur.  No results yet, but it's only been a few days.  I haven't heard of the Composure liquid max calming supplement, I'll have to add that to the list if the current strategy doesn't work out.  On your suggestion, I started playing with him right before meal time.  He does seem to enjoy the attention and yummies.  He's fed a homemade raw diet, so I'm sure that adds a level of satisfaction after a good play workout.  I never would have connected play and food, glad you pointed it out!

Just to say, there is hope. I brought Asha (a young stray) into my home in march. She had to get to know one cat and two big dogs (lab and greyhound). She was very nervy, but would regularly go after the dogs...even waiting by the door to get them as they tried to enter. It's taken a while, but she's now fairly settled with them, and they're less scared of her (though they do still want a human shield sometimes :lol3: ).

ShadowsRescue has given you some great advice. All I can say is hang in there - it does get better!

Oh my goodness, Columbine!  Rufio does the same thing.  When I take Peagle out to play in the backyard he'll come into the kitchen and guard the door.  He never did that before the dog.  Now I have to go in first and remove his attention from the door, otherwise he goes Rambo on her (fur and claws flying).  As soon as Peagle comes in he looks greatly offended that I've allowed "it" back inside.  If we're lucky, he stalks over to his favorite kitchen spot and sulks.  If we're not, he takes a few hiss fueled swings at her before I step in and redirect his fury elsewhere.

People are beginning to tell me that he just isn't going to adjust to a dog, but I am *determined* that it will work...eventually.  I don't expect them to be the best of friends, but I want them to live harmoniously and without fear of one another.  So glad to hear of other people going through the same battles, and coming out victorious in the end. :3

So long as Rufio has plenty of vertical space to own as purely his, and from which he can observe Peagle (hope that makes sense) he should adjust in time. You could try making a point of giving Rufio attention immediately following or prior to Peagle needing you - give him the same amount of time she gets.

Something else that really helped Asha was Pixie (my greyhound) always getting a bedtime treat (Pixie has to sleep in bed with me, and Asha sleeps on a chair in the bedroom). Pixie's treat of choice is 100% meat cat treats...he goes nuts for them! (Any kind of 'cat' food sends my dogs crazy...probably because they're never allowed it :lol3: ). Well, Asha adores the same treats, and soon learned that they only came out when Pixie came to bed. It really helped with her learning to accept him. It might be worth finding a really high value treat for Rufio that only comes out when Peagle comes in the room. It's surprising how quickly food can win them over - especially if they've had to fend for themselves in the past.