new dog psychodrama: help!

topic posted Fri, December 19, 2008 - 1:54 PM by  Scout
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Hi all.
I have two fat, happy, friendly indoor cats I got as kittens nine years ago. Four weeks ago, we (boyfriend & I) got a small 10-pound 1-year-old dog from the pound. He's a mixed breed, fixed, and surprisingly calm and happy. My male cat Jerry has adjusted just great--he talks to the dog, initiates chase games and naps in the dog's vicinity no problem. My female cat Faith is just peeved. She spends all her time on the top of the kitchen cabinets, watching the proceedings below (the kitchen & living areas are all open). She'll come down to a table to eat and roll around a bit with her toys (& quickly use the litter box) but she doesn't seem to have a life anymore. She cries at night that she can no longer come to the couch and hang out on my lap. If she gets on the floor to come to me, the dog rushes to her: he just wants to play, but it freaks her out and she retreats to high ground.

I miss Faith's personality and the pleasure of seeing her playing free and happy. Jerry came around, so I'm holding out hope. Any advice as to how I might return my household to cuddling harmony?
posted by:
Scout
SF Bay Area
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    Re: new dog psychodrama: help!

    Tue, December 23, 2008 - 12:59 PM
    The dog is going to take his cues from you. If you allow him to torment the cat, he will. He needs to learn that this is not acceptable behavior! You need to take control of this situation!

    I had a similar situation. I had brought home my first dog at 8 weeks of age (and 10 pounds at the time) There were 2 cats ... one 4 years old, the other 2 years old. They hissed a bit and eventually adjusted. I think the fact that they were younger helped. Since the dog was going to be a big dog, I had to make sure she knew that the cats were in charge. I didn't allow the dog to chase or bother the cats. The dog accepted her role as the lowest on the totem pole and would be good with the cats. One cat (the younger one) would even nap with her in her dog bed.

    Then in 2004, my older cat passed away. Four months later, the dog had to be put to sleep. (Yes, it was a HORRIBLE year for me!!) I was very distraught, and a few months later got a new puppy. This one was an 8 week old Shih Tzu, all of 2 pounds, and a total terror! Not at all afraid of the cat! At first, the dog had free roam of most of the apartment while I was home and awake. The bedroom and bathroom (where the litter box was) were off limits at all times, and considered "cat territory". At night, the dog was barricaded into the kitchen, and the cat had full roam of the rest of the apartment. Yes, the dog hated this, but it had to be done this way.

    A few months later, I actually moved, which created a whole new set of problems. The cat spent 99.9% of her time on a shelf, up high in my walk-in closet in the bedroom. She was terrified of the new noises of this new apartment. This lasted approximately 4 months. She would only come down in the middle of the night to go to the litter box. I ended up feeding her up there since she wasn't coming down to eat, and I would try to bring her down, but she'd go back up. Eventually (after the 4 months) I just closed the door and forced her to come out.

    It's been 4.5 years. The cat is fine. The dog is fine. They'll never be best of friends or nap together like the cat did with the last dog. But they tolerate each other. They both sleep in bed with me ... luckily I have two sides of the bed, and I sleep in the middle. They can hang out in the same room. But they don't really try to interact with each other.

    I would suggest limiting the roaming area for the dog for at least a few months, and keep the dog completely separated at night. Let the cat know she's still a respected member of the household, and that she can feel safe going from room to room. Also, bring the cat onto the couch and onto your lap, making sure the dog is not allowed to bother her. And you can keep the dog on a longer leash and when he rushes the cat, don't let him get to the cat. Also, when he does try to rush at the cat, squirt the dog with water from a toy water gun. It may make the dog stop rushing the cat.

    Good luck!!!
  • Re: new dog psychodrama: help!

    Wed, December 24, 2008 - 7:34 AM
    I have a similar situation too, but a solution was suggested that worked out here. I have 4 kitties, and got a pup a couple of months back. I always wrap up the cat in a towel with the smart end showing, and the biting end covered, and rub the smart end on the newcomer. This scent mark makes the newcomer a member of the pride. It really works. Things may be tense for a time, but at least there are not fur flurries, and trips to the vet.
    My pup is 5 or 6 months old now, and the cats are teaching her to be a cat too. She is an aussie/corgie mix, and really wants to herd the cats about, but everyone seems to get along ok. My alpha cat (male) is really trying to socialize the pup ( lots of cat-fu with no claws). There is a lot of chase games between them, first one way then the other. No tornado cats on the dog, and no doggie disrespect or attacks to the cats.
    I did impress on the pup that she was the lowest on the totem pole, as I knew she would be bigger than the cats, and corgies are mean to things smaller than themselves sometimes. So far so good, as it seems to be imprinted in the dog that cats are sources of ouch on the nose if pushed. Pup still rushes the cats some to play, but if the cat hops up on the chair or couch, then the deal is off, and the cat is left be, but at the same time if the cat faces the dog at that point on the floor, then the deal is off too, and chase play does not commence.

    They are not sleeping together yet.

    Perhaps this is significant too, I kennel the dog at night. A "KONG" toy with peanut butter in the middle is the goad for bedtime. The pup looks forward to bedtime, and the cats have the house to themselves at night.

    Try scent marking as it works over here. I did it with the cats, and peace reigned, and it works with the dog too...

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