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LunaSky asked in PetsCats · 3 years ago

Two dogs and a cat?

So I have two dogs. One 1 1/2 year old and one 9 month old. For YEARS my daughter has been asking for a cat so four days ago, I got her a cat for her birthday.

I’ve tried all the introducing methods I could find online and only show the dogs the cat a couple times a day. Each time it’s the same. The hisses and spits and dogs lunge for him. If I introduce the dogs one at a time the dogs are actually really good with the cat but once the dogs are in the house together it’s like their confidence is up and they attack the cat.

I’ve been keeping the cat locked in the bathroom when the dogs are in the house but this morning the dogs somehow got in it woke me up. Luckily the cat is unharmed. I starting to feel like this isn’t going to work and now my daughter is going to be crushed. Should I wait a little longer? Is there something I am missing? What have you done to introduce your dogs to other animals?

10 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    3 years ago

    Cats and dogs don't go together

  • Ocimom
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    What kind of dogs do you have. Many terriers (especially Jack Russels) are known to be cat killers and rarely will get along with any cat - they have the instinct to attack and will do so. Also Husky types and some sight hounds are not good with cats.

    Crate the dogs and let the cat approach the dogs. The dogs should be trained well to sit or lay down when the cat is near and not allowed to harass or chase/attack the cat.

    Use a baby gate so the cat has a safe place. Locking the cat in the bathroom will never work.

  • Anonymous
    3 years ago

    U should rehome either cat or your viceous dogs

  • Anonymous
    3 years ago

    I wouldn't have got a cat to begin with. Too many parents let their kids run the house and you're one of them.

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  • 3 years ago

    The dogs are going to kill this cat if you don't keep it safe.

  • 3 years ago

    I have never had a problem with my cats and dogs. They all have gotten along for years. I would try the baby gate suggestion. Get a good gate. Once they are use to each other, they should be fine. Or get something for your cat to climb and be out of reach of the dogs. If nothing else works, you may have to rehome the cat.

  • 3 years ago

    Why did you cave and get your child a cat when you know she will never take care of it and once she's bored of it you will be the one taking care of it. The dogs are going to kill or maul the cat. Get rid of the dogs or the cat. You can't train out high prey drive or small prey aggression. All you can do is get rid of the cat or the dogs

    But you won't and then you will have to explain to your child how you were too lazy to keep them separated at all times and were lazy enough to cave to her whining and now the cat is dead due to you

  • Laura
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    The cat needs her own space. By that, I mean space high up that the dogs can't reach. Get a tall cat tree, and have spaces high up that the cat has access to that the dogs don't. My parents have bookshelves in their living room that the cat sits on top of, and uses the cat tree to access. The dogs can't reach past the second level of the cat tree, but the cat feels safer up there.

    This is a natural instinct, to want to get up high to observe the situation.

    You also need to punish the dogs. Its natural for a cat to puff up and hiss, the dogs need to learn to calm down and behave. Its much easier to train a dog than it is a cat.

    If the dogs just won't calm down, consider rehoming the kitten, and getting an older cat who was fostered in a home with dogs. The cat will be more understanding of the dogs, and your dogs should be a bit more comfortable with an older cat.

  • Anonymous
    3 years ago

    it was better to start with a KITTEN.

  • 3 years ago

    What you should try is having them in adjacent rooms with a baby gate in between them. They all need to get used to the sight and smell of each other while keeping the cat safe. Your problem is your dogs are untrained and if they're going to be lunging at this cat, the cat is, quite rightly, never going to trust them. Give it a few more days with them seeing much more of each other.

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