The kitty and the drooling dog...

[Barbara Surplus]

Could anyone give me some advice please on how to desensitize Sam to cats? We took in a little stray last week - one of the neighbourhood dogs found her in the storm sewer, huddled and mewling her head off. Of course we, having all the cat paraphernalia from past kitties, said, oh we'll look after her until her owners claim her. Well, there's about as much chance of that happening as there is of me flying to the moon so...

Sammy has never been around cats but has taken a deep-seated interest in them ever since our new neighbours moved in across the street last year. Scrappy, their outside cat (hmmm...wonder how he got THAT name... ) often sits at the window of their garage which is just at perfect sniff level so his interest level in this other species has increased monumentally.

Well, my boy is simply beside himself with this new little girl. He spent the better part of an afternoon trying to jump up about 7 feet to the kitchen window when she's comfortably perched there until he realized the futility of it all. He does maintain quite good composure in the back hall when he comes into the house but sits totally focussed and all aquiver, with drool positively flowing out of the side of his mouth, straining with every muscle to look up the stairs into the kitchen hoping for a glimpse of this new threat to global peace.

Aside from the fact that we expect him to behave, she has quite a few escape options so I'm not too worried about her (there was a scuffle last night in the laundry room...as soon as I raised my voice, he flew out of there) but I do want to make it possible for the two of them to co-exist. They haven't met nose-to-nose but I think that's something we need to do to diffuse the tension in him. (Possibly having HER feed HIM bits of cooked liver might do it. :p ) I would be happy to hear from anyone who's managed to get this situation to work for them.
Thanks in advance.
Barbara

PS Our border collie just lies in the hall pretending to sleep and tries to ignore the whole thing. He's lived through enough cats to know it's just not worth the bother. ;)

PPS The kitty is such a sweet thing...very pretty little brown and orange tabby. I hope she's a good mouser! I had just sent my friend an e-mail on Monday saying that I would love another cat but just couldn't steel myself to go and pick one from the Humane Society...however, if one happened to move in, then the decision would be made...wouldn't you just know it? This was NOT a coincidence!

[Teena]

I find it more important how the cat reacts to the dog.
I have 2 cats and one thinks the dogs are no big deal. He lays in the floor with them and rubs on them. However on the times he decides to run the dogs give chase. Then he'll jump up on something to get away from them. Since he doesn't think the dogs are a big deal, the dogs usually ignore him as well.

My other cat ...oh brother...she swears dogs are beasts straight from hades. They come near her and she spits,hisses and slaps at them. This gets the dogs all upset and they bark and carry on at her. She spends most of her time in the laundry room(it has a cat door). She is 8 years old and I feel sorry that she refuses to come out. I know during the night when the dogs are crated she comes out in the rest of the house.
I tried having her and Cooper in a room alone. He's not alot bigger than her. I thought if I could get her nose to nose with him maybe she'd get over her fear. No such luck. :(
I guess it will always be this way at our house.
Has your rott been near enough to the cat to smell it? How do both of them react? Maybe you could introduce the two of them with someone holding him on a leash and you holding the cat?

[LORHEL]

The first thing you want to determine is:

1. Is the dog going to "hurt" the kitty.
2. Does he only want to sniff and play.

Luckily, I've been and still am going through this. Makita has never been around cats prior to me getting her, but she does only want to be friends.

So hopefully that is the case. I would keep him on lead until you find out, and slowly let them introduce each other.....maybe even keep them separated until the kitty gets settled in.

My two cats hid behind our bed for the first couple months, and I seriously thought about giving them to a home where they could be happier. I have a female who simply put is a alpha bitch...there is no hope for her, however, she serves the purpose of being a absolute best friend to my other cat. My male cat is now coming around and a whole lot of sniffing is going on.... he has NEVER been vocal but is now letting Makita know when to back off. I do believe they will become friends quite soon.

Good luck . :D

[austin]

I think time is the only real solution. As long as the cat has escape routes, she should be fine. Usually the dog thinks the cats are fascinating and the cats don't want anything to do with that beast that drools and lurches at them. We put up baby gates and cut holes in the bottom big enough for the cats to get through, and made a couple of dog-free zones in the house. For awhile, the cats would lay about a foot on one side and Hannah would sit with her nose in the hole, jumping up on the gate every time a cat would so much as twitch. Eventually, the game just stopped being fun. Now the cats will come out into the same room, and 90% of the time the dog ignores them. The other 10% she bolts up and corners the cat, the cat destroys half the room trying to make a getaway and everyone has a heart attack.

It sounds like you were meant to have this cat, so I'm sure everyone will get used to each other....eventually

:D

[moondog]

Barbara,

I think the intensity of a dog's interest increases tenfold when the cat can be seen, but is up high and out of reach, and the dog can't get close enough to investigate the little alien :D . It's a vicious circle and drives the poor dogs nuts with curiosity. How about putting the cat in a crate on the floor and letting Sammy lay next to the crate for an "on the same level" introduction while still keeping the cat safe? If you sit on the floor with him, telling him kitty stories :), he could learn to be quiet around the cat and you won't have the cat taking off and inticing him to chase (at least not until they get to know each other ).

I'm thinking about adopting another kitty and when I do, I think this is how I'll make the introduction with Luna so she doesn't get too enthusiastic at first. It will also give me a chance to observe how the cat feels about the whole thing, and I'll get an idea what I can expect when the crate isn't there. I especially want to know if Luna is going to get a swat and if said cat is going to administer said swat with or without claws !

When I'm not there, I'll be putting the cat in another room with a solid door at first and only allow interactions when I'm there to supervise. I hope I can pick a good Rottie kitty......Tigger's little kitty paws are hard to replace!

[poohbearsmom]

The old introducing kitty into the household fun.... :D

Well, when I got Butch cat about 3 years ago, Pooh was young and very curious, but gentle with the new kitten...Daisy Mae was about 7 years old, and I couldn't be sure if she wanted to kiss the kitty, or eat the kitty....

I confined the kitten in a bedroom all his own (food, box, etc...)...
And I brought him out to visit the dogs, for short spurts... then, kitty away..... I let the dogs sniff me as much as they wanted...Both girls would hang at the bedroom door, waiting for the next time I'd bring him out.

Daisy would quiver, and her eyes would bulge out of her head, like she was going to explode. I would keep kitten in my lap, (Daisy was very reliable on sit/stays, drops, etc..) and put Daisy in a sit command....I'd let her sniff Butch, but that was all....

It took me a good month to desensitize Daisy to the cat.... she ended up being very protective of him.

The crate idea is a great one... Also, if your dog isn't as reliable as you might like - use a leash for control...

The dogs quickly learned the "NO CAT" command, and I'd recall them and give them treats for leaving the fun cat stuff...

I think the main thing, unless your dog is a cat eater, is to get the smell in the house, so the dogs realize this isn't a meal, it belongs here...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... patience is a virgin.
:D

Introducing Deiter to a new kitten this past December was hysterical..... my115# rottie was petrified of Stinky.....would give that kitten 5 feet of personal space.... wouldn't walk through doorways if the kitten was there..... very silly.

Good luck. Be careful - and praise the dog when he's being gentle and calm.

regards - Elisabeth

[Knucklesmom]

I agree that time is the best answer. We already had 4 cats of varied ages when Knuckles came to live with us. My oldest cat avoids him, but seems to realize he will not harm her. The five year old cat hates him with a passion but doesn't run from him. Our 2 alley cats, about a year old, reactive as opposites - one takes off for the nearest high spot, and the other will rub around his legs and tolerate "petting" and a few good licks, and has never raised a paw to him, even if he gets a little too rough trying to pet her with a big ole' paw. Knuckles loves all the kitties and the one alley cat will give him a good run playing hide and seek in the house!

[Barbara Surplus]

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments. He's behaved exceptionally well these past few days since their meeting in the basement but is still so intense that I'm hesitant to arrange for a tete-a-tete just yet. I do think that's what we'll have to work towards though.

Perhaps when the novelty of her presence wears off just a little, he won't be so bothered by the whole thing. He is such a good boy and when I carried her past him through the basement the other day he just sat there...didn't move an inch or try to jump up to her level. I had visions of the cat clawing her way to the top of my head (blood streaming out of my cheeks), screetching at the top of her lungs but she was as calm as he was.

Originally posted by Teena
I find it more important how the cat reacts to the dog.

Has your rott been near enough to the cat to smell it? How do both of them react? Maybe you could introduce the two of them with someone holding him on a leash and you holding the cat?

Teena, she's been great - a couple of hissy fits when he's gotten a little too close for comfort but usually she just sashays around the house apparently oblivious to all of this. The problem is she will have to get past him to get to her litter box in the basement so we have to know at some point that she can do this without risking life and limb. Our other cats all made it through the dogs with no problems (the odd "air bite" on the way past but no chasing at all). I'm not quite sure about the leash as any tension from us may cause him to react negatively. Generally with dog/dog meetings, we are so careful not to initiate any aggression by applying any pressure on the leash. Will have to see how it goes.

1. Is the dog going to "hurt" the kitty. 2. Does he only want to sniff and play.

Lorhel, I think (?) he's only being inquisitive and would dearly love to play with her. We've made it very clear in the past that he's not allowed to chase other animals and he respects that well. Knowing his sweet nature, I'm quite sure he would love to have the chance to make her part of his little flock.

The other 10% she bolts up and corners the cat, the cat destroys half the room trying to make a getaway and everyone has a heart attack.

Austin, this made me laugh...with our other cats, on occasion Sammy #1 would stumble across one of them by accident and get a swat across the snout for no good reason which would send both dogs into spasms. They knew they could never touch the kitties although our border collie tried to herd them constantly.

I think the intensity of a dog's interest increases tenfold when the cat can be seen, but is up high and out of reach, and the dog can't get close enough to investigate the little alien.

Moondog, So true...we all know the desire of wanting something we can't have...then when we get it, the passion wanes. *sigh* Hopefully they can co-exist well. I do wish you luck in your search for a kitty. Heaven knows there are enough of them out there. Our shelter is overflowing right now and hundreds are euthanized every week. I'm glad our little girl won't suffer that fate.

I do have a crate and may use that now and then...hopefully kitty won't get too upset at the proximity to this silly dog.

Be careful - and praise the dog when he's being gentle and calm.

Elisabeth, I shall be. That really is my concern. He may not mean to hurt her but it can happen in the blink of an eye. He is very reliable but we've never actually had the experience of introducing a new cat to the house before with dogs so I won't take anything for granted. And I will, of course, praise him for all the good behaviour. :)

Knuckles loves all the kitties and the one alley cat will give him a good run playing hide and seek in the house!

The kitty is very good at going beserk for no particular reason. Not sure how any of us would react to her being chased by an 100 lb dog. God, I hope we don't all have heart attacks at the same time!

Thanks again for all your replies. I sincerely appreciate it!
Barbara

[austin]

I though you might get a kick out of this photo:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?i...ulation_page=Y

[Barbara Surplus]

Wonderful!!! I could use a cat that checks for ticks and earmites. :) (How DID you get her to do that?)
Barbara

[MARYDVM]

A very good friend owned my Brick's brother Khan. He was VERY high drive, also extremely well-trained and obedient. Never exposed to cats, they found an orphan kitten that they tried bringing in to the house. He was also very tense while observing kitten, quivering etc. The kitten ignored the dog. After a few days, when they decided to make the intoduction, my friend held kitten on her lap while Khan stood in front being told to be "EASY" and allowed to sniff kitten. It seemed OK for a few moments, when suddenly Khan moved and the only thing showing was the kitten's tail sticking out of Khan's mouth. Everyone screamed "OUT" simultaneously, and a soaking wet, spitting, hissing, unharmed kitten was spit out onto the kitchen floor. Khan had obeyed the "easy" command, but not in the way they anticipated. They decided to find a home for kitten after coming close to heart failure during that incident.

[austin]

MaryDVM, that is the funniest thing I've heard in awhile. I can just picture the whole scene unfolding.

Barbara, I didn't "get" them to do anything. The cat is a stray we brought in about 3 months after Hannah came home, and he is fearless. He lays in that chair, and Hannah wants to play with him. She starts out sniffing him and then she tries to flip him up in the air with her nose. When he's had enough, he jumps on her head, nips her ear and takes off. She thinks it's great fun!

My 13 year old cat won't go anywhere near her.

[Teena]

Yikes! Oh Mary I don't blame them, that had to be scarey for all
involved! Poor little kitty cat.

Moondog the crate is a good idea. That's how I introduce the new dogs I bring in the house to the other dogs. I alternate putting the new and the old dog in the crate for a few days, so they can safely get used to each other.
However I think my scared cat would probably have a stroke being so close to the dogs. She REALLY hates dogs. I might give it a try tho..just to see what happens.

[Knucklesmom]

The stray kitten being spit out reminded me of the days when we had our sweet yellow lab aptly named Honey. We had a couple of gerbils at the time, and she was facinated by them - just loved to watch them in their cage with that wrinkled-forehead look. One day we put one of the gerbils in the plastic gerbil ball to roll around while we cleaned the cage. Honey somehow got to the ball while we weren't looking. She got it open and I found it. I expected to find a dead gerbil somewhere. In another room, I found a wet, diseveled gerbil, and Honey a few feet away, with that "It must have been some other dog" look on her face. She still loved to watch them. I think she thought they were hers.

[moondog]

Teena, If being so close to the dog is freaking the poor kitty out, I'd get a small cardboard box, cut a kitty door in the side of it and put it upside down in the crate. That would give the cat a sense of safety and knowing cats, it would just be a matter of time until the old curiosity kicked in. :) I'd also correct the dog for barking and teach them that quiet is a good thing. ;)

Mary's story reminded me of a bullfrog I used to have in my backyard pond. One day Luna was in the yard and I was in the kitchen. She came in the door, walking suspiciously slow, head down, didn't look at me, and headed for the living room. I followed her to see what she was up to and when I called her name, she turned and looked at me and there she was, with two frog legs sticking out of her mouth and a very quilty expression! I told her to drop it and this poor little bullfrog landed in a heap on the carpet. I thought he was dead, but have seen animals play possum before so I took him back out to the pond and put him back in the water. He layed on the top of the water and I was watching very closely to see if I could see any motion. Nothing. I turned to take Luna back in the house and as soon as I moved away, that smart little stinker took off like a rocket! She brought him in the house a couple more times after that, but never harmed him. I think he got disgusted and moved in with the neighbors! :D It sure showed me how gentle she is with her mouth, though.