Dogs and cats together, can it work

hairyslug

Just looking for tips on getting an adult cat and 3 young adult dogs to get on together, there has been no aggression from the dogs, but the cat scarpers as soon as the dogs are on their feet.

Half the time, the dogs don't even notice the cat in the room but sometimes 1 or 2 of them may be slightly to interested, Lucy couldnt care less. We have tried having the cat in my arms, and keep the dogs at a distance but as soon as the cat notices that the dogs have noticed him, he hisses and runs into one of his safe spaces. We have kept the cat in a carrier and popped it beside up in the evening while the dogs are napping and when they wake up, they have a sniff, can hisses and the dogs back away.
We always knew when fostering a cat, there would have been issues but we want to try our best to make this work.

Paulmc.

Maybe the cat has been in a similar situation before & the dog attacked....
I've a dog, Japanese Akita / husky cross, he's a big fella & I've had a kitten grow up with him, both get on fine...now but I'd say the dog is more scared of the cat coz she caught him on the nose a few times with her claws as they were trying to decide who was the boss
Maybe a little more time will help.

VonVix

I have 3 dogs and 4 cats. The cats age ranges are 5 to 10, the cats were raised/socialised around dogs since they were kittens. I think in a heck of a lot of cases it's actually down to the cats temperament and past experiences as to whether it will 'work' or not. Don't get me wrong, occasionally the cats will still throw a hiss here and there... especially when my GSD uses his giant nose and pokes one of them, but they are largely tolerant and rarely run when they see any of them.

From what you have described, you have regularly 'trapped' the cat (held him in your arms, put him in a carrier), which can increase distress, when in fact it's the cat that needs the time and space to be comfortable around the dogs.

You do need to keep in mind that you need to protect your dogs, too. Too many bad experiences of being swiped at (especially if a claw gets stuck) can create a negative association with the cat being too close.

Ideally, you want to make sure there are high areas for the cat to go to, places to hide where the dogs can't reach. Also, baby gates can be very useful, allowing a cat to go to a room where the dogs can't access him.

hairyslug

Thanks vonvix, we have a room I use for storage for work and he can get in there and behind boxes away from dogs, he has spent the best part of the last 2 days there, bar sleeping on a kitchen chair at nighttime. Should I let them have a free for all, as in let the dogs have free a run but make sure the cat has the safe spot to go to. Should the cat eventually come out and see what's going on.
The 3 dogs are here first so obviously if there are issues they stay but the thoughts of sending a cat back to a shelter after it getting used to a house do not settle well with me.

VonVix

hairyslug wrote: »

Thanks vonvix, we have a room I use for storage for work and he can get in there and behind boxes away from dogs, he has spent the best part of the last 2 days there, bar sleeping on a kitchen chair at nighttime. Should I let them have a free for all, as in let the dogs have free a run but make sure the cat has the safe spot to go to. Should the cat eventually come out and see what's going on.
The 3 dogs are here first so obviously if there are issues they stay but the thoughts of sending a cat back to a shelter after it getting used to a house do not settle well with me.

I haven't had to introduce a new cat to the home in over five years, but I would sooner let the cat have free roam, and have the dogs secure somewhere they are comfortable in. Example, access only to kitchen and living room, while cat can go up and downstairs if it likes.

Look at it this way, if it doesn't work out because he gets more and more stressed, it doesn't mean you failed the cat because you allowed him to 'settle' in a home only to be uprooted again. If anything you have given the cat a better chance at finding an even more suitable home for him. When fostering, it's worth keeping in mind the happiness of everyone involved.

I'm not saying this as if you should bring him back, but I'm just looking at it from a different angle and second hand experience from other fosterers and failed fosterers.

aonb

It certainly can work
Ive introduced two (feral) cats now, and they will get used to each other.
It seems like your cat is only there two days - its great that the dogs arent showing any real interest/aggression. The cat will hopefully soon realize that they're not posing a threat and will calm down. If I were you, as long as the cat can get away from the dogs, I would just ignore them all completely (being alert of course when the cat is in the same space as the dogs, that you can intervene if necessary) If possible you could put a barrier between two rooms, to seperate where the cat is, she can then be aware of the dogs presence, see them, but the barrier keeps them away from her. You said that shes spent the last 2 days behind boxes. Let her come out when and anytime she is ready. Dont force anything. Presumably if you are fostering, shes new to you too. Leave her food and water close by. Let her stay where she feels safe. Maybe a treat if shes in the area near the dogs (and of course treats for the dogs so they associate the cats entrance with nice treats)

RobertKK

Yes of course it can and does.
During the summer I found my dog and cat sunbathing together.

seefin

My dogs and cat seemed to get on together, have photos of them on couch sleeping together but after 6 months, I left them alone for the first time and they killed the cat( well guessing it was the Jack Russell). It can work out, but I wouldn't leave unsupervised in the house together if one of the dogs has an instinctive prey drive.

stargazing123

seefin wrote: »

My dogs and cat seemed to get on together, have photos of them on couch sleeping together but after 6 months, I left them alone for the first time and they killed the cat( well guessing it was the Jack Russell). It can work out, but I wouldn't leave unsupervised in the house together if one of the dogs has an instinctive prey drive.

What were you thinking?:( Jack Russells hate cats absolutely hate them) I have a jack russell and everytime he sees a cat or any type of rodent he's first insinct is to kill.

boomerang

I made it work with my greyhound and two cats. But I was extremely careful. First of all I crated the dog in the room where the cats were. Then I let her out of the crate with the cats around, but she was muzzled and leashed. Finally, removed the muzzle then removed the leash. It took about six weeks. Slow, careful introductions are key. Definitely do not allow a "free for all."

I spent 6 months teaching my terrier not to kill my cat. Slow slow introductions, carrying the kitten around so the dogs got used to his presence during our normal routines (watching TV in the evenings etc). Rewarding him when he was calm in the cats presence. Had taught the leave it cue and that was also crucial with my other dog who while loves cats was a bit over zealous and I found 'leave it' worked very well with her.

I will say that not only does my terrier co exist now with two cats but he loves them. They cuddle together, groom each other, play incredibly gently together. They adore him and he adores them. But I never go off and leave them unsupervised. Never ever. It's simply not worth the risk.

Knine

stargazing123 wrote: »

What were you thinking?:( Jack Russells hate cats absolutely hate them) I have a jack russell and everytime he sees a cat or any type of rodent he's first insinct is to kill.

Seriously? You really don't like Jack Russell's very much. All your posts seem to very much stereo type them in a negative way. Our Jack Russell absolutely loved cats. Slept with them, washed them and defended them happily until the day he died.

My friend breeds IKC reg Jacks & Borders and they all live happily with her cats. They will still hunt & kill any vermin though.

A lot comes down to the individual dog and also it's training.

dunnerc

stargazing123 wrote: »

What were you thinking?:( Jack Russells hate cats absolutely hate them) I have a jack russell and everytime he sees a cat or any type of rodent he's first insinct is to kill.

You havnt a clue mate , what are you thinking ?:eek: I had a jack Russell and a cat living together , sleeping together, eating together for 17 years they loved each others company , maybe you should learn how to train your dog properly .

seefin

stargazing123 wrote:

What were you thinking? Jack Russells hate cats absolutely hate them) I have a jack russell and everytime he sees a cat or any type of rodent he's first insinct is to kill.

I know. I guess I let my guard down because they ignored each other and seemed to get to get on well.. I never realised dogs prey instinct would kick in when cat moved (or whatever triggered the attack) . My first dogs and had only had them 6 months .

stargazing123

Knine wrote: »

Seriously? You really don't like Jack Russell's very much. All your posts seem to very much stereo type them in a negative way. Our Jack Russell absolutely loved cats. Slept with them, washed them and defended them happily until the day he died.

My friend breeds IKC reg Jacks & Borders and they all live happily with her cats. They will still hunt & kill any vermin though.

A lot comes down to the individual dog and also it's training.

I love jack russells adore them actually. We had a cat and the dog tried to kill him every chance he got. I'm just stating my experience in the topic.

stargazing123

dunnerc wrote: »

You havnt a clue mate , what are you thinking ?:eek: I had a jack Russell and a cat living together , sleeping together, eating together for 17 years they loved each others company , maybe you should learn how to train your dog properly .

Maybe you should stop commenting on all of my posts

hairyslug

Things have got a bit better, we had actually made arrangements for the cat to go back to the shelter but the night before we both felt really guilty so we spent a lot of time then and the following day just getting them used to eachother.
We are at a stage now (while supervised) the cat can sleep in his usual spot and the dogs will wander past him, we would have the dogs doing something though so their attention would be focused on food or going out but they would know that the cat was there.
Bren has been hissed at a few times, the poor lad just wants to be the cats friend (that's the story I'm going with) but nala seems to have learnt from his mistakes and is keeping a distance. Lucy is terrified of him so she keeps a wide berth.

hairyslug

hairyslug wrote: »

Things have got a bit better, we had actually made arrangements for the cat to go back to the shelter but the night before we both felt really guilty so we spent a lot of time then and the following day just getting them used to eachother.
We are at a stage now (while supervised) the cat can sleep in his usual spot and the dogs will wander past him, we would have the dogs doing something though so their attention would be focused on food or going out but they would know that the cat was there.
Bren has been hissed at a few times, the poor lad just wants to be the cats friend (that's the story I'm going with) but nala seems to have learnt from his mistakes and is keeping a distance. Lucy is terrified of him so she keeps a wide berth.

That sounds really positive! For example, when I first starting carrying my kitten around with me, if I passed the sofa, my terrier would jump up on it and then try to snap at the kitten as I passed by. He showed real aggression but with a lot of hard work, time and patience we more than got there in the end.

I'd say just don't get cocky ya know!? Stay vigiliant even when you start to think things have settled down and be hyper aware of their body language. High places for the cat to go are fantastic and lots of treats for cats and dogs when they're in the room so they associate each other with good things.

Thought I'd share some pics to demonstrate the friendships here now and to show you it might all turn out ok!

dunnerc

stargazing123 wrote: »

Maybe you should stop commenting on all of my posts

maybe you should stop making out that jack russells hate cats.

TheFarrier

stargazing123 wrote: »

What were you thinking?:( Jack Russells hate cats absolutely hate them) I have a jack russell and everytime he sees a cat or any type of rodent he's first insinct is to kill.

Yep jr terrier are a bit that way alright, but we have 4 at the moment and in years past we often had as many as 8, and with time we always convinced them to tolerate the cats.
Our issue was different to the op, in that our kittens always seemed to believe the world was designed for there benefit and had no fear of the dogs but the dogs just saw them as the next meal. But after about 2 weeks of controlled access and strict supervision the dogs learned that it was easier put up with cat than a shouty human.
In the end the kitten used eat from the dogs bowls. My heart used to be in my mouth watching this little ball.of fluff diving into the pack of terriers but in fairness to the dogs once they learnt that kitty was not for eating then they behaved impeccably.
About a month after he arrived I found the last kitten asleep in the hay up on a heap of terriers. Reckoned the job was a good one. Then the postmans van got the cat. Haven't had the heart to go through the socializing all the pups with a new car since.

Tl;Dr
It can work. With any type of dog.

DBB

dunnerc wrote: »

maybe you should stop making out that jack russells hate cats.

Stargazing123, do not reply to this post. This cross-thread spat between you and dunnerc stops here.
Thanks.
DBB

hairyslug

TheFarrier wrote: »

Tl;Dr
It can work. With any type of dog.

We have a staffie x lurcher, he's just very nosey and I think after the last hiss, he just wants to have a better look at the cat and nothing else
staffie x something small, this is the one we are concerned by, she was stalking the cat a few times but seems to have got bored of it now, has to be the laziest dog I have ever seen so will pop her head up to see the cat and then go back to sleep or get a scratch.
and a collie x husky, she prefers a rub and a scratch more than looking at a cat, she's also afraid of her own shadow.

We still haven't brought the cat into the same room as the dogs in the evening, they are separated by a doorway where we can close the door quickly incase anyone makes a break for it, but the cat is happy to walk past the door and will eat where the dogs can see him.

aonb

Hairyslug, sounds like you are definitely getting there
Post a photo of the new cat?

hairyslug

That's bren having a look, our dogs aren't the brightest so they get confused when the cat was hiding behind the seat

TheFarrier

If your cat is relaxed enough to sit on the window with the dog only that far away then I would say you are well on the way to having them alongside one another fairly tolerantly

Lumen

I can now leave my terriers alone with the chickens but not with the cat.

The difference is that the cat runs away from the dogs and that engages their prey drive (presumably, unless they're just messing). Whereas the chickens run towards the dogs and that engages their chicken drive.

The cat has a heart murmur so I don't want to force an interaction that will kill her.

hairyslug

This is where we are at now, the dogs ignore the cat for most of the day and will normally just look at him from a distance. We are still a fair bit away from all 4 happily sitting down in the evening together.

PS, excuse the mess

em_cat

We have the opposite issue, Mr C (Terrier) is totally chilled around cats, he even stretches & makes bread like a cat...

Great job with your effort, I remember when I was little we had a Shetland sheepdog & 4 indoor rescue cats, Abby the sheepdog took her job very seriously about hearding the cats & kids and was OCD about eating the cats poo, not her own just the cats....but then again they always nicked her food...