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Thread: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

  1. #1
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    Default Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    I just got a new roommate, and she has a cat. I have 2 dogs. Oh boy, they do NOT get along. The kitty hisses a lot and chases after the dogs. The dogs couldn't care less that she's here. They ignore her, but she's very aggressive. My roommate says that she might get the cat declawed so that she can't cause any damage to my dogs.

    I don't want the cat to hurt my dogs either, but I don't want to declaw the poor thing. And my house doesn't have any doors, except for the bathroom door, so it's not like my roommate can put her in another room. Suggestions???

  2. #2
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    Dont get her declawed..it takes an adjustment period for cats..esp those not used to any other animals...to become accustomed to the situation. The dogs will smack her if she scratches them. She'll learn. And either they will get along or they will avoid each other. Sometimes it takes a cpl weeks,sometimes a cpl months...but they WILL adjust.

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    God/dess pookie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    the kitty might just be jealous that she is not longer 'Queen of the House'




  4. #4
    Kaylinn
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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    My cats hate my puppy. They both will hiss or swing at the dog. I think they just can't deal with high energy puppy running around. The rule is the cats can hiss at him to make him go away, they can bat at him, but NO CLAWS. Once the cat clawed at the puppy, and the claw got embedded into his little head.

    ANyway. What we have been trying to do is get the puppy calm and laying down, and then we pet the cats till they are purring and content, and we bring them close together and pet everyoen so they are all happy and purring. We are hoping the cats will associate calm happy purs with being near the puppy and eventually they will get along better.

    If a cat tries to claw at the puppy, or go after him unprovoked thats when we bring them together and try to get the purs going.

    We also are giving the cats extra attnetion and tryign to teach the dog that if it's kitty time he must lay down and be quiet.

    I hope they will adjust eventually...It's been 2 months, but the cats have ruled the house for 3 years, so I'm sure it'll take time.

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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    I had a dog that kept tring to eat my cat. They got used to each other.

  6. #6
    ajbaer
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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    Whenever introducing two animals it is best to keep them in seperate parts of the house. So, if the roomate can keep her cat in her room for a week, or you have your dogs in your room for a week, that allows for sniffing under the door and getting used to new smells. Then slowly introduce the way Kaylinn is.
    Also you can get your roomate to put softpaws on her cat. They are easy to use and place, last a long time and come in fun colors! It's not at all harmful, and if she's uncomfortable placing them usually a vet or groomer would be happy to



    I hope that helps!!!!

  7. #7
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    I'm so glad you stepped in against the declawing! Whew. I was worried for a second. Declawing is so cruel and horrible, I can't imagine any decent vet agreeing to do it anymore. I declawed two cats several years ago when I thought I had no other choice, and I still haven't forgiven myself. It breaks my heart to think about it.

    The cat will eventually learn to tolerate the dogs, even if she never likes them. There's some good advice in this thread on how to help her get used to them. They'll probably never be friends, but that's okay.

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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    Cats are very sensitive to place, and socially they don't really think like humans or dogs. They're not pack animals and they're very territorial. Introductions are most successful when they happen slowly. If she's never had a cat before, it's likely she's done some things the wrong way as far as introductions. I just looked at your top post where you say you have no doors in your house. Generally when you move a cat you confine him or her to a smaller space like a room for at least a couple days (can be less if it's a very calm space or the cat is extra easygoing), and then start expanding the area when they get more comfortable. You don't just set them down in a house - especially with new animals - and expect them to adjust well (unless he or she is the very rare very easygoing cat). I don't know if there's some way to begin the introductions again in a very supervised and controlled way (like it sounds like Kaylinn is doing), if you've got no doors in your house.

    In particular if she ever decides to get another cat or move in with someone with a cat, she really needs to do a little research on this stuff. Cats are not so adaptable as dogs, and how you approach their move and new introductions can make all the difference between a calm house and one that has a freaked out, upset cat in it.

    I think you or she should do some really specific research on the net about introducing or re-introducing cats to other animals in a house.

    Good for you for swaying away from declawing. Some countries have even banned it as cruelty. Anyway, it's not the answer to deal with an upset cat - she'll still be horribly upset. The answer is not to change her and take away the only way she can defend and assert herself, it's to figure out how to change the situation so that she's more comfortable. She clearly feels very threatened right now - even though she is behaving as the aggressor.

  9. #9
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    I'm so glad you stepped in against the declawing! Whew. I was worried for a second. Declawing is so cruel and horrible, I can't imagine any decent vet agreeing to do it anymore. I declawed two cats several years ago when I thought I had no other choice, and I still haven't forgiven myself. It breaks my heart to think about it.

    The cat will eventually learn to tolerate the dogs, even if she never likes them. There's some good advice in this thread on how to help her get used to them. They'll probably never be friends, but that's okay.
    I've DONE declaws myself before(in one hospital I worked at the techs did most of them..not the vet) It is horrible and cruel. I cant tell you the amount of complications we saw. I'd never do it again or have it done.

    One of my cats is declawed..but we found him that way.

    and declawed cats will resort to biting if they cant scratch which is more dangerous.

    When I got my new cat(well..not NEW..we've had him for years now) by first cat hissed and swatted at him and blocked him from going inthe master bedroom. After a few months...we came hom eto find them snuggled up together on the bed. Now they play all the time and are buddies.

    It just takes time and patience.

    I suggest getting some catnip. When the cat is all happy and high...walk the dog up to her on a leash. Give him some treats right near where shes playing in the catnip.When they are both calm and happy...it helps tp re-introduce them that way.

    If the cat was there FIRST..she is alpha. The dog WILL learn to accept that. And vice versa. Let them work it out themselves..they will find a hierarchy between them that works.

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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    Does the cat have places to go that the dogs cannot get to? That can be helpful for her to have a "haven."

    The other thing I was thinking is that you can create "doors" with baby gates, if you'd like to do some sort of re-introductions.

    Another thing that may be helpful is that maybe just your roommate's room could be baby-gated, with a cat-door baby gate, as the cat's safe space. I saw a gate at Petsmart that has a cat door actually inside the babygate so the cat can come and go, but the dogs cannot.

    Here's an example
    http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2755235
    If you go to their site http://www.petsmart.com and put in "dog gate" in the search engine, there are actually quite a few different kinds/prices.

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    God/dess Pretty_Penny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    when my bf and i started living together we had to combine our animals. the cats were super super pissed off and stressed out. it took maybe 2 months total before they settled down, but they did.

    they make this spray (also comes in a plug in) that's supposed to make cats feel relaxed or whatever. i haven't tried it but i hear it works great. you can get it in any big petstore (petsmart, petco, etc). it's odorless to people.

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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    My cats don't really like the spray, it has an alcohol carrier or something and the spray sound frightens them. However, I would get at least a couple diffusers (make sure to order replacement cartridges too, as they last a month or less):
    http://www.amazon.com/Farnam-Electri.../dp/B000FH708I

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    Default Re: Kitty hates Doggies...HELP!

    ^ yeah. that's what i'm saying. get some of that and it may speed up your cats transition period. i'm pretty confident that she'll adjust regardless, but it can't hurt to have a little "help".

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