[Jen D]

The house the cat was in before you got her back, did they have dogs and do you know how big? I would work on the dog by putting the cat in a crate and getting the dog close slowly giving her treats as she ignors the cat. It takes work and start at a good distance.
While you were sleeping maybe the dog did start the fight an dthe cat was protecting itself. Good luck

[Amaya-Mazie-Marley]

Okay, for the record, I do not hate cats. You saying I don't know cats at all is ridiculous because I've been raised aroud this breed, and my mother is a shower and a breeder of Devons. I know this breed very well. I understand her behavior and the differance in dog behavior. This cat will hunt down my dogs and attack them. She will stalk them or wait around the corner until they come down the hall with me, and jump ALL over them. As of now Amaya is sporting a nice little cut on her face. Thats cutting both of my inside dogs within two days. You obviously don't udnerstand cats very well if you think they can't do some serious damage. And I never said I wasn't willing to try what you said, but I don't see where you even reccommeded anything to me, all you want to do is judge me from what you've read and jump all over me. So excuse me if I seem defensive, but you are basically jumping down my throat and making me feel bad by acting you know everything.
We tried using the crate she was brough home in as a safe place, but she didn't leave it at all for three days, so my sister just dumped her out. At first she would hide, now she sits wherever she wants and attacks whomever she wants. I don't think the house she was in before had dogs, if so then she wouldn't be acting like this at all, my dogs are pretty small. 8 pounds and 17 pounds. I don't know who started the fight, I was going by what I was told, but I can't take anymore of this cats mess. Amaya was sitting in my lap and I was giving her a treat and she dropped it and Lily ( the cat) came flying off the couch from all the way on the other side of the room and started whailing all over Amaya. I am going insane. I need to contact a behaviorist but can't afford one. I have found several cat behavior "hotlines" but they are never live people. So I might call my local vet and see if they are open, not sure, if not I guess I will have to contact them tomorrow.

[Jen D]

Hey have you tried a spray bottle on the cat or can the cat stay on a different floor then the dogs? Is your Mom looking to find another home for the cat and I was just wondering why did the people give it back? You may have mentioned it but I forgot.

[Snowshoe]

Cats can cause lots of damage to dogs. I've seen a siamese looking male cat "beat up" a german shepherd. This cat was partially feral...but still.

If your mom knows these cats so well, then she's got to have some good ideas of her own about how to control them around dogs.

I had the opposite problem, where my dog was cat aggressive. I know that with more exercise, more training, and a better diet, she has stopped being quite so cat aggressive.

These tactics may work on the kitty, too. I would consider making sure that your cat has a "safe room" or a safe place of some kind.

I know that my dog is not allowed in mine and my bf's bedroom at all. It is my cat's safe place, and he can go there to get away from the dog when the dog is on his nerves.

Maybe if you get one of those really tall cat "tree houses" your cat would feel safer, as he/she would have a place to escape.

Soft paws is a good idea. I have ordered those for Nakie.

You may want to consider some kind of medication for the cat if nothing else fails.

If your mom is not willing to help you out, and your dogs keep getting hurt, then you may have to move as a last resort.

The following PDF may contain helpful information for you:
http://ddfl.org/behavior/catintro.pdf

I found all of this on a random google search. I didn't write it myself:

So you have decided that your dog needs company. You do not have the space for another dog. How about a cat? They will be the best of pals, spending time gently playing with each other and perhaps sleeping curled up with each other in front of the fire. Read On! “I heard a noise and then I saw the dog running into the sitting room yelping. The cat was attached to the dogs head and yowling. I ran over and pulled the cat off and tried to hold it face down. The dog ran off to the other side of the room. The cat managed to turn onto its back and sink its teeth into my left arm. When I let it go, it launched itself back onto the dog’s head. The dog then ran off to the utility room where my wife and I managed to separate them. The cat then sat by the window for at least an hour looking a bit distressed (fluffed up and annoyed) and the dog refused to come out from under the bed where it was hiding.” (This is a verbatim report from a client).

This was obviously not what was envisioned when the decision was made to add a cat to the household. But variations of this scenario are common and some are less amusing and far more tragic. The dog, the cat and the owners are all at risk.

It is important to realise, that from a dog’s point of view, this is not a new friend you have brought into your home but an invasion of territory and family by an unknown animal. ALL KINDS of problems are waiting to happen. The dog may perceive the cat as an animal to be chased, caught and killed. Or the dog may try approaching the cat as he would another dog. If the cat is not familiar with the social niceties of a dog, he may be frightened or take offence. Or the dog may just perceive the cat as competition for the attention of the owners. Hopefully, this article will help you make a calm and successful introduction between your dog and the “invading” cat.

Dogs and cats need proper introductions in which all contact can be perceived as rewarding rather than alarming. To that end, the following action should be taken.

The two animals should be separated for about a week and confined to a comfortable but boring environment; i.e. no food left out, no toys and less cuddling from the owners. During this period of isolation, the animals should be brought into each others’ proximity for between four and eight behaviour therapy sessions spread out during the day at about 10 to 15 minutes per session. Each animals daily portion of food should be separated into four to eight small parcels for this purpose. Both animals should be properly restrained when brought together, with the dog on leash and the cat in a kennel cage, if necessary.

Life totally changes for both of them during the 10-15 minute behaviour therapy interval. Both animals should be fed, played with, cuddled, talked to and even given a calming massage when in the company of each other. All games and praise should be done in a relaxing manner. If there is only one person available for these introduction sessions, all attention should be on the “home” dog rather than the new cat. It is important for the dog to know that it is still number one.

One of the big mistakes that is made in introductions is to give all the attention to the new animal while the old member of the family is shouted at, smacked and generally told off for being too rough or curious. It might be pointed out that the same problem exists when introducing a new baby into the family! With dogs or children, this behaviour leads to “jealousy” and competing for the attention of the adults. The best attitude for the adult humans to take is that the old member of the family is the favoured one over the new.

For ongoing management of a dog/cat household, it is helpful to teach your dog the term “Gently”, to be used in conjunction with taking titbits from your fingers. This same term can be used more generally in situations with the cat. Dogs need to learn that cats sometimes require an inhibition of boisterous behaviour.

To help the cat feel more secure, set up many high “safe” places for the cat to be able to be a part of the family without necessarily having to deal with the dog. Place bits of food and soft blankets in various high places. You might make one room in the house a ‘cats only’ area. Pheromone sprays are often useful in helping a cat feel more secure and less aggressive in new places and situations. Catnip can also be useful if it relaxes the cat. Be aware that catnip has the opposite effect on some cats! The main point is that it is important to make the cat feel secure so that it becomes calmer in its reactions to the overtures from the dog and to its new environment in general.

Overall, it is your job to make sure that your dog has no reason to feel that the new cat will take his/her place in your affections. Any situations where you will be shouting at the dog about his behaviour with the cat should be avoided. The new cat should be made to feel as secure as possible in the new environment. Bolt holes and safe places may be necessary. Start this cat/dog relationship out as you wish it to go on. Instead of scratching, biting, howling, yowling and general chaos, dog/cat togetherness is rewarding, with calming massages, meals and, best of all, your attention!

[Amaya-Mazie-Marley]

Thanks alot snowshoe, that was great information. The cat has a safe place, we have a "cat room" in the back of the house where all the cats have their own crates. Some are on top of others and secured with those really thick tie things. I don't know what their called but they are the kind that has to be cut off. Lily's cage is on the top so the dogs can't reach it. She always goes there when she feels upset. Today it got worse though. I was just sitting there hold Mazie and talking to her and Lily attacked Mazie, while Mazie was still in my lap. Of course I screamed and jumped up only to realize the cat was still attached onto Mazie. We decided to try giving Mazie some prozac or amitriptalyne ( can't spell) and see if it will help calm her down and make her less agressive and less afraid also. My mom is a breeder and very good with cats, and she's also a vet tech, but that doesn't mean anything. She does exactly what the article snowshoe posted. When Mazie gets scared and starts to growl, she immideatly starts to fuss at Mazie. This upsets Mazie even more, she gets jealous, and acts out. Jen, yes we use spray bottles on all of our cats. Thats how they are trained not to jump on certain things etc but the spray bottle doesn't even slow Lily down. The lady gave Lily back to us because she couldn't get her to breed and she was also having problems with Lily causing trouble at her house. She said she eventually had to resort to leaving Lily in a room by herself and going in there ever hour for about 15-20 minutes and petting her. Lily loves humans, but she's very bad with other animals. I am sad to say I think its going to come down to Lily goes or I go. I am old enough to live on my own, might start out in a crappy place but if thats what it takes to keep my dogs safe and happy then thats whats going to happen.

[PsiElement]

I never said you hated cats, but you gave no indication of understanding why the cat behaved a certain way. You just kept repeating, "It needs to understand" and saying the cat was being ridiculous and that only your dog was a victim. I've said and will keep saying, the cat didn't wake up one morning and decide to hate your dogs and attack them for no reason.. just like most dogs aren't fine with a cat until deciding to just hate them and attack them. All animals follow patterns and all animal behavior can generally be traced to *something*. Instead of panicking, locating this something and working towards fixing it is the best way to make the problem better. Your posts thus far have mostly just repeated the main problem in different words.

I really feel like I have not jumped all over you. I am explaining why your cat isn't acting like a dog, and I hate to think what you'd feel if I really did jump all over you. I'm sorry, but I think it's silly to come onto a forum and ask for advice if you're not open to the advice you're going to get, even if some of it is not what you want to hear. I stand by what I said-- a cat is not going to put a dog of equal or larger size in immediate mortal peril. Of course cuts and bites get infected and of course they cause damage or death if left untreated or if let to continue, etc. But, that's not the same as a cat scratching a dog and BAM, the dog is dead within moments. It just doesn't happen and I am unapologetic for feeling that way. Freak accidents happen, animals get hurt.. I don't deny that. But to immediately think that death is imminent is jumping the gun a bit.

THAT being said, I *have* offered advice and I'll happily list it again for you.

-- Invest in or at least try devices designed to keep certain animals out of certain rooms so that each animal has a safe room (there are pitch plug-ins that we can't hear but cats can and can't stand, so they stay out of those rooms with them). Also, use phermone plug-ins in neutral rooms to try and diffuse the feelings in there.

-- Make sure that you monitor your dog and the cat when they are around each other, and use something to punish both of them should either of them behave in a way inappropriate (a squirt bottle for instance). Make sure both of them have a safe spot and escape out of every room should something happen.

-- So far as the dog is concerned, using a stuffed white cat toy to try and train her out of her submissive and fearful behavior is probably a good start. Reward positive behavior and try to re-instill some trust in her. Bringing around some laid-back and friendly white cats at a later point when she's okay with the stuffed toy may also help to further progress her overcoming of this fear.

I can only go off what I read. I am not a mind-reader nor do I have the ability to see what happens. I just know to take everything with a grain of salt and examine possible bias. Your wording alone gives away your bias to your own dogs (understandably), but I just don't think you're going to solve any problems unless you're willing to work with the cat too.

Besides the behaviorist or animal behavior line, I really hope you try some other methods and let us know how they go. I'm sure there's a way of fixing this problem without it coming down to some sort of "me or the cat" ultimatum.

[Amaya-Mazie-Marley]

No, a cat can't "bam" kill a dog, but yes they can do some serious damage. I don't feel like my dog losing an eye or losing an ear because of a cat. Doesn't have to be infected for the dog to lose an eye or ear. You have listed some great suggestions and I thank you, but most of them we are already using. We have a cat room with cages, and Lilys cage is where dogs can't get her. We use spray bottles, and if you read, they don't slow Lily down. We have two baby gates stacked on top of each other in the middle of the hallway seperating the dogs from the cats, but thats not going to stop a curious cat from climbing over. When they are around each other, Mazie is ALWAYS on a leash and in my lap making it nearly impossible for her to get to Lily. Lily chooses to be stupid and come right up to Mazie and get in her face. I think the point some of you are missing is that I not only fear for my dog, I fear for Lily. Mazie is a very agressive dog when she feels threatned. If we take her to the vet and she feels threatned by another dog, we have to immideatly go outside. Mazie was abused where she came from, and we are working with her, but she is still a very agressive dog. I've seen Mazie, as small as she is and weighing only 17 pounds chase down rabbits and squirrels and kill them on the spot. I am not throwing either animal out "with the bathwater". I did come on here for advice, and if I don't like it I simply choose to ignore it. I get upset and defensive when I dislike the way someone gave me information. I feel like alot of people on here judge and make assumptions before they even know anything about anyone on this forum. Alot of people come across as rude to me. I probably come off as rude and I'm sorry, but I feel like I'm treating others the way I've been treated.

[xoxluvablexox]

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
You attract more bees with honey then with vinigar.

[Jen D]

All I can say is that I have to many cats and none are mine! I don't know a damm thing about them, I have one old fixed cat Jack who is 16, and a dog who hates cats. Why are they coming to my house I don't know there are nicer houses in the area and much safer for them. WOULD ANYONE LIKE A MUTT CAT?

[Snowshoe]

Originally Posted by Jen D

WOULD ANYONE LIKE A MUTT CAT?

LOL! I keep trying to give my cat away, but no one but me wants him, LOL! Just kidding. Once my BF and I finally move, I may consider adopting again. However, that won't be for a while.

[Jen D]

Originally Posted by Snowshoe

LOL! I keep trying to give my cat away, but no one but me wants him, LOL! Just kidding. Once my BF and I finally move, I may consider adopting again. However, that won't be for a while.

Cats are funny I have to say and so different from dogs! i like to feel needed and cats act like they don't need anyone. We had kittens this year and I was out side with my large AB when I turned around to see he had one of them in his mouth. At first I froze then gave him the command off and he just droped it and the kitten ran like hell. The dog is such a goof I still wonder why he just picked it up and held it like that.

[sillylilykitty]

I dont know what kind of cats you guys have had but thats not the experience I have had. The cats I have owned have been the best in the world (I've only had 2 ). Maybe its the way I treat them or maybe its just them, but my 1st cat was probably the best living thing on the face of the earth....and I probably should stop thinking about her before I start to cry And Lily, my cat now acts clingy, kinda like a dog but not like a dog at the same time. She walks on a leash with me too Maybe its because I dont have a dog to walk so I walk the cat instead

Just saying cats really are great.

[Snowshoe]

Oh no, I was just teasing. Nakie is my nap buddy, and I'd never give him up. He follows me all over the house, much like a dog would. I can't imagine life with out him.

Plus, he's great with Orchid. Orchid is a pain, but Nakie has this well of never ending patience.

The only thing that annoys me about him is how clingy he is. But, he's been my buddy for so long. He's moved three times with me, so really I'm the only thing in his life that's been stable.

I'd be clingy, too!

[Jen D]

Is this turning into a cat forum? Only kidding and I do like Jack or he would not of made it 16yrs. I guess I just am not a big cat person but I have not put much time into it either. I do think if I could not have dogs or didn't have them I would put more into cats. I love animals!

[blackrose]

I've only had one cat (Rush) since I was two, and I think I'm always going to have to have a cat around. With a house full of dogs, I need something around that is cool, calm, and collected who thinks he is a god and I can let act like a god without getting into dominace issues. lol

'Cause you know what they say: Dogs have owners, cats have staff. LOL

[Jen D]

Originally Posted by blackrose

I've only had one cat (Rush) since I was two, and I think I'm always going to have to have a cat around. With a house full of dogs, I need something around that is cool, calm, and collected who thinks he is a god and I can let act like a god without getting into dominace issues. lol

'Cause you know what they say: Dogs have owners, cats have staff. LOL

WELL PUT! They do think they are God.

[xoxluvablexox]

My sister's cat always headbutts people to say hello to them and show love. It's the cutest thing. Does anyone else's cat do that?


Not turning this into a cat thread, but since it's already on that topid.

[Ginny01OT]

I have four cats, Buffy head butts hello but she also suffers from mental illness (not kidding)---she will poop anywhere but in the litter box, yet she will pee in the litter box. I have taken her to the vet and run all sorts of tests on her to see if there was anything physical but no I am just lucky enough to have a psychotic cat. The sad thing is she is the nicest, most lovable cat--loves to cuddle, would catch a mouse if she had to--she just poops. By the way, all my cats are rescue cats and three of the four are declawed (came that way)--Alfie is the only one with claws and he gets beat up the most.....