[Jayc15]

Hi all

I have had a cat for three years and my partner has a french bulldog, when she comes over to visit the frenchie gets over excited when it sees the cat and chases it away, doesn’t seem to be aggressive natured but it’s scaring the cat away and she’s starting to avoid coming in the house, we have tried keeping them apart in the house to slowly introduce them, but the cat bolts and doesn’t come home until the dog has left. The cat has taken refuge at a neighbours and comes home to feed but stays outside and seems edgy.

the frenchie is generally very well natured, she is a rescue but very placid and loving, but she seems to have a weird fixation with cats. She trembles when she sees one and then chases after them. Once she cornered the cat and the cat scratched her face and bolted.

would really like to get them amicable with each other, if anyone can help with any tips or advice it would be much appreciated!

 

[storyist]

"When she comes over?" Your partner doesn't live with you? If that's the case, the solution is easy - she doesn't bring the dog when she visits.

If such a simple solution won't work, I know a lot of this forum will disagree with me, but in my experience the only way to make the Frenchie stop is aversives, and even then it sounds like you let your cat outside, so it has the opportunity and may be smart enough to rehome itself. I used a squirt bottle with water on rescues with some success (squirt right in the face), but in some cases it took something stronger, like a mixture of water and lemon juice (which stings - I squirted it in my own face to see how much). I imagine a citronella collar would work.

However, IMO all you do is if the prey drive isn't so high the dog kills the cat before you teach it anything, you teach them to behave around the cat in certain circumstances. Remove those circumstances and the cat is in trouble. Never, ever leave the dog loose in the house with the cat no matter how well you think you've got them getting along. Because I was once naive about canine prey drive, I had the miserable, guilt-provoking experience of one of my cats being killed by a rescue I thought I had convinced to co-exist with the cats. Don't let it happen to your cat.

 

[gimsji]

Other than considering all the recently referenced tips, it's prescribed to expand the time they spend together step by step. In that manner, you'll assemble a solid relationship without making an object. When your French bulldog and your cat began to feel without a care in the world in their condition, you can be certain you've made a triumph.

 

[3GSD4IPO]

It is the cat's house. Not the dog's house. If the dog comes over, the dog should be in a crate and not loose to harass your cat. The dog should not come over at all in all reality. Letting the dog loose in the cat's house is RUDE to you and unfair to the cat.

Dog stays home or the dog is in a crate when visiting. Period.

Either that or rehome the cat. I would be more inclined to rehome the "partner."

 

[petpeeve]

we have tried keeping them apart in the house to slowly introduce them, but the cat bolts and doesn’t come home until the dog has left. The cat has taken refuge at a neighbours and comes home to feed but stays outside and seems edgy.

What measures have you taken to provide refuge inside your home? ie: elevated areas for escape, secure baby gates for positive separation, increased oversight of entrance ways etc.

If you're trying to introduce them with the high hope they'll eventually become best buds? .. that's not likely to happen. I'm skeptical that any amount and any type of home training will help, in your particular situation. Learn to effectively manage the environment instead. Or hire a trainer / behaviourist to assist you. Or better yet, do both.

Perhaps off-topic, but I would also suggest switching to a strictly indoor lifestyle for your cat.

 

[Peppersmommy81]

If it's all cats it might be bigger issue worth attemping to resolve if your willing. Have you tried desensitiveation training? Put them in 2 adjoining rooms with a gate (see through) you sit with the cat, partner sits with the dog, distract them and reward them for ignoring each other. Watch out for resource guarding behavior as that can be a trigger. Remember it's the cat home, the dog needs to be respectful, and indifference is the first step. Also keep the dog in "public" space so the cat can leave if he chooses, just incentivise it being where the dog can see him. They dont need to be buds, they just need to be willing to ignore each other

 

[Knute]

The choices are simple.

Partner leaves the dog at her home.
Dog is crated when in your home.
You visit the partner in her home.

Eventually, the cat will have enough of the nonsense and find another home during its free outdoor roaming. Then the concern will cease to exist.

 

[petpeeve]

2 parrots in the house. And apparently it's a global thing.

 

[DannyL.]

You need to introduce them gradually. In general, it is not a fact that a cat will ever stop being afraid of a dog.

 

[DaySleepers]

This thread is going on two years old so I'm closing it to further replies. Feel free to join in any of our current discussions, or start a thread of your own