Find food that fits your pet’s needs
In the battle between cats and dogs, dogs are usually depicted as the instigators. But sometimes, its the cat who has it in for the family dog. Though its certainly possible, and actually quite common, for cats and dogs to get along and even form friendships, some cats just want nothing to do with dogs. They may even turn hostile toward the friendliest and gentlest of pups, leaving you to wondering what to do.
This can be especially true of a shelter cat introduced into your home. Although shelter personnel should be able to tell you whether a cat gets along with dogs, sometimes cats are on their best behavior at the shelter and only show their true temperaments after theyve spent some time in a home. Its also impossible to determine an adult shelter cats background, so there might be something in their past that triggers an intense dislike of dogs. But your home doesnt have to be a battleground for pets. With enough time and patience, you can teach your kitty to peacefully coexist with your pup.
There are several reasons why your cat may be acting out. Understanding these underlying causes of a cats aggressive behavior can help you identify triggers and put a stop to your pets hostile antics, explains cat behavior expert, Pam Johnson-Bennett.
A fearful cat may react to your dog by trying to get away. If they feel trapped, they may try to make themself appear smaller by crouching, flattening their ears and wrapping their tail tightly around their body. If your pup doesnt take the hint to back off, your kitty will eventually lash out in what they perceive as self-defense.
If your cat sees or hears something they want to attack but cant get to, such as another kitty outside the window, they may turn around and take out their pent-up aggression on the nearest target instead — in this case, your unwitting dog. Acts of redirected aggression can feel random because you arent aware of what triggered them. It seems like your cat just decided to beat up on your poor pooch. But in reality, your dog is simply a convenient target — in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A new cat joining your home may feel the need to quickly establish their territory and assert their dominance over the other household pets. In this case, any attacks they make on your dog are simply an attempt to establish boundaries and show your pup whos boss. If your dog is submissive and doesnt fight back, your kitty will only feel more encouraged to exhibit bullying behavior. The gentler a dog, the more likely they are to become a target for your cats aggression.
If youve ever suffered the consequences of petting or playing with a cat beyond their tolerance threshold, you know how fast they can go from purring and playing to scratching and biting. Dogs may seal the same painful fate for themselves if they overstimulate a kitty.
Stalking, pouncing, chasing and lying in wait for an ambush are all part of a cats innate predatory instincts. Though birds, mice and other small animals are typically their targets, your kitty may take out their predatory behavior on other members of the family, including your dog, if actual prey is not available. If this is happening, its a good indication that your cat isnt getting enough mental and physical stimulation and exercise; i.e., theyre acting out because theyre bored.
Unprovoked aggression, attacking or lashing out without cause, is extremely rare for cats. Often, what appears to be unprovoked aggression is actually redirected aggression. However, there might be another cause for this behavior, such as your kitty experiencing pain or the effects of an underlying health condition. If your cat seems to be attacking your dog or another member of your household for no reason, consider taking them to the veterinarian to rule out any medical causes that might be in play.
Option 1: Slow and steady desensitization
If your dog is too fixated on the cat, you can try desensitization, the goal of which is to reduce your dog’s reaction to the cat by gradually increasing her exposure to him. Put the cat in a room (e.g., a bedroom, a bathroom or a spare room) with a tall baby gate across the door. The room you choose should be one the dog cannot access and doesn’t need to access. For example, if the dog sleeps in the bedroom with you at night, don’t pick that room for the cat. The idea is to separate them and only allow them to view each other during specific times.
In his room, give the cat all needed supplies: litter box, toys, food and water. Keep in mind that cats are good at squeezing through small gaps and are also good climbers and jumpers. So, make sure your cat can’t get past the gate you put up. The gate needs to be a barrier that allows the cat and dog to see one another, but does not allow them to access each other.
To begin desensitization, let the dog view the cat briefly through the gate, and then get the dog to focus on something else, such as playing with a toy or practicing cues. Sometimes it helps to keep the dog on leash so that you can move her away from the cat when you try to refocus her attention. Praise and reward the dog for being able to focus elsewhere. Continue to give the dog short viewings of the cat throughout the day.
Sometimes, even seeing the cat at first is too exciting for the dog. If this is the case, close the door and begin feeding each animal on his or her side of the door: The cat eats his food in his room, right next to the door, and the dog eats her meal on the other side of the door. This allows each animal to associate the smells of the other with something good: food. You can also swap out the blankets and bedding of each animal, giving it to the other. That way, the dog can get used to the cat’s smell and the cat can get used to the dog’s smell, without overstimulating either of them.
Hopefully, through this process of slowly letting the dog see the cat and get accustomed to the cat’s presence, the dog will eventually become desensitized and lose interest in the cat. In some cases, the dog will lose interest in the cat within a couple of hours, but it can take days, weeks or even months. Each dog (and each cat) is an individual and will learn at his or her own pace.
With that said, though, it is possible that your dog may not ever be able to safely share space with a cat. If you don’t feel you can trust your dog around your cat, you should keep them apart. Many dogs can injure or kill a cat very quickly, and your dog can also be injured by the cat. Your first priority should be ensuring that everyone stays safe.
Option 2: Face-to-face introduction
This is a more fast-paced introduction. One person should hold the dog on a loose lead and watch the dog’s body language. Someone else should watch the cat’s body language. If the cat is not raising his back or hissing around the dog, he can be allowed to move around freely. A cat is rarely a threat to a dog, but some cats will be on the offensive when meeting dogs.
If the dog is calm around the cat, you can ask the dog to sit, or lie down and stay, if she has been taught those cues, while the cat moves about freely, sniffing the dog if he wishes. The dog should be praised and rewarded if she ignores the cat. If the dog is too fixated on the cat (e.g., staring at the cat, has stiff body language, will not listen to you when you call her name) or if she lunges and tries to chase the cat, you should try a different strategy for getting them to share space, such as Option 1 or Option 3.