I have a dilema. My mom is now living with me. She is from New Orleans and lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. I was able to go to our house in New Orleans last weekend where I found total devastation. By some act of God when i got there I found her 2 cats alive but very hungry after a month with no food or water. They were dehydrated and skiny but were alive. My mom is thrilled to have her 2 buddies back. Enter our problem. My mom is no living with me and I own a 1.5 year old female boxer who is extremely playful. She's a wonderful companion and I love her to death. I need some suggestions on how we can get them to get along with her. Please any thoughts would be helpful. Right now we are keeping them separated in the house. I love my dog and I love her cats. I'm hoping eventually they will all get along.
Cats and Boxers
- Thread starter MikeAM
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Dempseysmama
Boxer Insane
Olly opened a sister site at www.catbulletin.com I think If you post this question there, you will get more responses. Other than that I'd say my condolences to your mother for her losses. And has your boxer ever been around a cat before? Some Boxers can have very high prey drives. Mine is being introduced as a puppy and I am breaking the chase habit. Pretty much just try to keep the boxer from chasing. Try to test his small prey drive. I hope you find more info! Good luck to you and you mother! Oh and the fur babies!
Dieselsmom
Boxer Booster
One thing you might want to try is getting a baby gate and setting it off the floor enough for the cats to run under it but the dog not and then the cats have their own safe place to hide. Also both my dogs know the gentle command so when they see the kitty and want to go play with him I tell them gentle and they just lick and lick the kitty, although Diesel has been stepping on him lately.
Keep in mind my cat is nearly 30lbs and doesn't move to fast so if you have more agile cats i think they will get used to each other on their own.
Keep in mind my cat is nearly 30lbs and doesn't move to fast so if you have more agile cats i think they will get used to each other on their own.
K House
Boxer Booster
I have a Boxer and 4 cats! I would continue to keep them separated for a little while - let them get used to each other's smells. When I got my last 2 cats, I put a screen door on the spare bedroom and kept the cats in there so that they could smell and see the other cats and dog, but there was still that barrier of the screen. Then when you let them roam around, Dieselsmom has the perfect idea - get a baby gate and place it far enough up that the cats can run under or hop over but the dog can't. My Boxer still chases one of the cats - just out of sheer curiosity, not malicious or hunting - so I keep a laundry rack in the hallway so that Lucy can run straight through it to the safety of the spare bedroom but Nala can't follow.
And I wouldn't necessarily equate prey drive with the safety of your cats. My dear sweet Nala has killed a squirrel and 2 chipmunks so far this year. And if she sees a guinea pig at a pet store, she's mesmerized for hours. But she would never ever dream of going after one of the cats because she knows they are family. She even attacked a neighbors dog once when one of the cats went under the neighbors fence and their dog chased him. Just protecting her family.
Once your Boxer understands that the cats are family members, I really don't think you'll have a problem.
And I wouldn't necessarily equate prey drive with the safety of your cats. My dear sweet Nala has killed a squirrel and 2 chipmunks so far this year. And if she sees a guinea pig at a pet store, she's mesmerized for hours. But she would never ever dream of going after one of the cats because she knows they are family. She even attacked a neighbors dog once when one of the cats went under the neighbors fence and their dog chased him. Just protecting her family.
Once your Boxer understands that the cats are family members, I really don't think you'll have a problem.
DannyB
Super Boxer
I had two cats before I got Danny (about 3 months ago). Danny has high prey drive and loves to chase so it's been exciting! I use a baby gate with a cat-sized hole cut into it. Initially the gate closed off one room and the cats were fed in there so they had their own safe space. I also worked hard on the "leave it" command if he started to run after them. Just last week I moved the cats' food bowls back downstairs so that everyone has to interact more. Dan rarely chases the cats now unless they take off running. He has occasionally "trapped" one behind furniture or on top of a radiator but they usually hold their own and whap him (they both have front claws but have been amazingly restrained about using them). On their side, the cats are learning that if they walk by slowly he's a lot less likely to try to chase them than if they run. Hopefully you'll be able to get your family to merge but it may take some time for everyone to get used to the situation.
CC
Completely Boxer Crazy
I'm having a horrible time with this myself - Diesel wants so badly to play with the kitty (kitty was my bf's, me and the dogs just moved in a few weeks ago). The first time we introduced them, we did it completely wrong and just let Diesel off leash, so of course he chased the cat and the cat clawed up his face. Now the cat is terrified of him (and not too fond of Indy either, even though she didn't do anything). There was one other incident where the cat got out of the basement and they were head to head when I was out of town. Again Diesel got a bloody face.
We've been trying "therapy" sessions where Diesel is on a very short leash, tied to my waist, and we go into the basement and DBF sits with the cat, pets him, and comforts him, while I make Diesel sit stay and tell him what a good boy he is. Next, we're going to add treats and toys and teach them they can be in the same room and not be focused on each other. Hopefully they'll figure out that they can co-exist.
I don't know what else to do...I've never had animals that have to be kept apart before!
We've been trying "therapy" sessions where Diesel is on a very short leash, tied to my waist, and we go into the basement and DBF sits with the cat, pets him, and comforts him, while I make Diesel sit stay and tell him what a good boy he is. Next, we're going to add treats and toys and teach them they can be in the same room and not be focused on each other. Hopefully they'll figure out that they can co-exist.
I don't know what else to do...I've never had animals that have to be kept apart before!
Thanks
I appreciate everyone's help. This has been a very trying time for me and my family. To see my home and my mom's home in New Orleans completely destroyed by the flood waters is painful. I was so happy to find Poppi and Deuce alive when I finally got to the house. I had written them off. I figured there was no way they were alive but they were. Truly remarkable. So now I just need them and my Laila to get along. I'm trying the baby gate thing tonight to see what happens. Cross your fingers for me. Yesterday she happened to squeeze into the room where they are right now and one of them completely freaked out so I hope he's not too spooked and will recover. I noticed though when she got to one of them she simply just wanted to play. All she did was try to lick one of them. She wasn't barking or trying to bite so I will take that as a good thing.
Again thanks for everyone's help!
I appreciate everyone's help. This has been a very trying time for me and my family. To see my home and my mom's home in New Orleans completely destroyed by the flood waters is painful. I was so happy to find Poppi and Deuce alive when I finally got to the house. I had written them off. I figured there was no way they were alive but they were. Truly remarkable. So now I just need them and my Laila to get along. I'm trying the baby gate thing tonight to see what happens. Cross your fingers for me. Yesterday she happened to squeeze into the room where they are right now and one of them completely freaked out so I hope he's not too spooked and will recover. I noticed though when she got to one of them she simply just wanted to play. All she did was try to lick one of them. She wasn't barking or trying to bite so I will take that as a good thing.
Again thanks for everyone's help!
Slobber Baby
Banned
Sorry to hear about your mothers losses...I use a baby gate and leave it up a couple inches off the floor this is his safe place...good luck..sending hugs to you and your family! BTW did you check out www.catbulletin.com ??
Laura
Laura
mmichaelson
Banned
Slobber Baby said:
OOh - you are good Laura!
Mike - I am so sorry about your homes. I know how you feel. I am SOOO glad you found your furbabies alive and well though, and that they are with you now. It is so nice to hear of happy endings.
I would try the babygate as well - it lets them get used to each other. . .
Getting better
Well, I've been trying the baby gates. They are slowly getting use to each other but I can see that this will take time. Laila simply wants to play with them like any young boxer would. They simply don't know she wants to play so they are a little scared. Heck i would be too if I weighed 8 lbs. and a 60 lb. dog was chasing me(LOL).
I'll keep everyone posted.
Well, I've been trying the baby gates. They are slowly getting use to each other but I can see that this will take time. Laila simply wants to play with them like any young boxer would. They simply don't know she wants to play so they are a little scared. Heck i would be too if I weighed 8 lbs. and a 60 lb. dog was chasing me(LOL).
I'll keep everyone posted.
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