My female will not leave my cat alone!

[Tommy&Amber]

I have a beautiful year and a half old female boxer names Daysha, we adopted her as a rescue almost 4 months ago, she has adapted well to our house, except for dealing with my cat Felix. She stalks him constantly. We also have a year and a half old male boxer named Mojo that we've had since he was two months old, we adopted my cat felix when mojo was 6 months old and it took Mojo about 2 months to finally become disinterested in Felix. We thought Daysha would be the same, she had not been around cats in her foster home, so we did not know of her interest in cats. As to my knowledge she's never tried to hurt my cat, she's snapped at him once but I think that was more out of curiosity. Most of the time she just wants to chase him, corner him, things like that. It's gotten to where my male boxer Mojo will join her in these activites which he was over before she came into the house. Felix seems to take it okay, I am really worried about him, he stays in the pantry now, (thats his safe spot) even when the dogs are kenneled during the day, he hasn't been cleaning himself very well, he still seems to be in good spirits as long as Daysha isn't around. Daysha is more interested in stalking Felix than playing with us, or even eating sometimes. Is there any way to break her of this? Or should I consider finding Felix a Daysha-free home? I love my kitty and I don't want to see him go but I want him to have a good life too.

 

[TheBoxerCrew]

Lillie was like that with my cat Stanley, and now Mack is doing it too. I found that by sneaking up behind the dog, grabbing the scruff and yelling "NO KITTY" besides just saying "No Kitty" and redirecting finally seemed to get the point across. Has Kitty tried to smack your girl? I have noticed the ones who strike out at the dogs BUT NOT RUN AWAY AFTERWARDS are the ones the dogs learn to leave alone.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I went through this when my son moved back home with his kitty for 3 months. Maggie did the exact same thing-in the beginning she didnt eat.She held vigil outside the kitty's door. (We keep the cat in a separate room.) The cat was so sweet too. But it drove me nuts!!! I had hoped it would wear off, and it did a little. I was glad to see my son and kitty go. I hope you work this out, it's hard when your dog becomes obsessed.

 

[myroxygirl]

Roxy does the same thing. Our cat will swat at her and it does not phase her. I feel so bad for the cat. He is use to drinking of the same bowl as the dogs and sometimes can't. I keep on Roxy to try and discourage the chasing of the cat. It seems to helping, but she is still a puppy and I know it will take time. I just hope it will get better soon.

I did buy the cat one of the high cat tower furniture things and it helps. At least he has a place to get away from Roxy.

 

[Tommy&Amber]

We scold Daysha when we see her stalk my cat, she will shy away, she knows we don't approve of the behavior, but she'll just run behind the couch or where we can't see her and sit there and keep stalking the cat. As long as Felix (my cat) is around my husband and I he knows he is safe and will perch on an end table, or in our lap on the couch, and Daysha is fine, she'll even come up and sniff Felix and lay down next to him. But the minute they become unsupervised Felix freaks out which prompts Daysha to chase and it goes from there. I'm hoping Daysha evenutually bores of it, or maybe theres some kind of positive training I could try (no clue what it could be) I'm just hoping theres something out there other than Felix being chased for the rest of his life.

 

[Mom2tyson]

Well I hope you get some good advice so I can reverse it and use it on my cat! I have the opposite problem. My cat won't leave my dog alone! He won't even let him through the door without hissing and crying at him. Then when he does turn to walk away Tyson decides that the kitty might want to play with him and runs behind the cat and then the cat kicks his butt. He'll literaly chase him across the room slapping and biting his legs. He even gets the poor dog when he's sleeping. I don't think they'll ever get along.

 

[Tommy&Amber]

Will she be afraid of water after that? Well, she is already, sorta, I guess a little squirt won't hurt her anymore.

 

[boxer]

I would be a bit worried about that situation, and be very careful never to allow Daysha to be loose unsupervised around the cat. Right now, it seems fairly clear that she sees him as a prey item. You're also starting to see the beginnings of pack hunting behaviour - and that can end in disaster.

I think it is important that you work very hard on desensitising Daysha to your cat. In addition to teaching her to 'leave it', you need to work in some rewards for when she does. So start rewarding her with lots of praise, treats and games when you can distract her attention from the cat. Just like little kids, dogs respond better to being taught what *is* appropriate behaviour than just told what isn't.

Contacting a trainer, or better yet, a behaviourist to come and work with you on this is probably a very good idea.

 

[Dieselsmom]

Is the cat's litter box in a certain room. I have this problem and i am going to be getting a baby gate of sorts that also has a little pet door in it for the cat to get through, my cat is too fat to jump over it. That way he has his little safe place where the dog cant get to him and when diesel is in his crate, he has full run of the house. Also the gate is sold through Dr. Foster & Smith, its the easy step high guard gate, its like 41" tall.

Best of Luck