have a cat hating dog

[garvinsmum]

I would leash the dog around the cat. Cats and dogs really only live well together if the cat is the boss and everyone knows it. The cat has to know the dog will never be allowed to chase it (and so does the dog )

If you control their interaction in this way, the cat will learn not to run - that's the problem halfway solved - and the dog will learn he is not allowed to chase. Eventually the novelty will wear off.

 

[coree]

I think I'll try that (having the dog on a leash) Maybe we could start with like just 5 minutes a day or something and work it ue p to 10 and so on. Until eventually we can just let them roam freely. Thanks everyone for the ideas. Wish me luck.....

 

[leeshie45]

The problem is that a cat is a small animal - Alot of dogs LOOOOVVVEEE to hunt and kill small animals, sometimes you can't break them of this - and sometimes you have a dog that loves cats.

If the dog has a high prey drive, than the future is probably not so good for the cat.

You're saying that you think the dog will eventually hunt and kill the cat?? :eek:
I also have a cat, and Champ kind of stalks him all the time and then he'll pounce, but he's playing - not trying to hurt the cat. I have a hard time believing Champ would ever kill him to eat him.

 

[Leila'sMom]

We have quite the zoo at our home. We have Leila & Oscar, watching Buddy (mini schnauzer mix), Bucky (manx cat no tail thinks hes a boxer), Romeo (tabby), Mufasa (Siamese mix) & tons of fish. When we rescued Oscar we were told at his last home he used to kill and eat chickens (he was starved and beaten daily) anyway he was so curious about chasing the cats. We have taught both dogs to "settle" when they want to chase the cattys. They still really want to love on them or chew on them but it is a continual teaching and learning process. We are lucky however Oscar has no interest in eating bucky just laying with him or playing with him. Leila wants to smell or lick all the cats. Our Bucky is also a rescue from Hurricane Katrina and he thinks since he has no tail that he is a small boxer! :D

Good Luck! Coexistance is possible! Romeo and Mufasa have nothing to do with the Boxers.

Oh yeah & we also have three cat trees for the cats to escape from Leila & Oscar if they need a break.

 

[garvinsmum]

You're saying that you think the dog will eventually hunt and kill the cat?? :eek:
I also have a cat, and Champ kind of stalks him all the time and then he'll pounce, but he's playing - not trying to hurt the cat. I have a hard time believing Champ would ever kill him to eat him.

If he wanted to kill the cat, you would have seen it by now. My DH brought home a dog he found wandering one day and when he saw Rosie he went after her with a vengance. He was definately a cat killer. But even cat killing dogs can be trained to leave the cat alone.
If your dog is playing with the cat he probably won't run it down and kill it. And if the cat is OK with it and not intimidated it's not a problem. If the cat doesn't feel able to defend itself against the dog then you could have a problem, the game can get out of hand.