Help My Poor Cat

[Smiles]

So I've had this cat about eight years or so, although she has always been a spaz and a coward she usually got along with other animals preetty well. she once caught a baby bunny and started taking care of it like it was her own. poor bunny was traumatized but nonetheless.

Anyways, my brother recently decides to get a dog, or a puppy to be specific. the puppy is no bigger than my poor cat however, the cat is absolutely terrified of him and despises him. their fist meeting did not go well, as the cat attempted to eviscerate the puppy. now the puppy fears the cat, and the cat hides away in the back of the house not even coming out to eat or anything.

I am afraid she may starve herself to death while being too afraid to come out to eat, even when the puppy is nowhere in sight.


does anyone know ahything I can do to make them get along, or at least make the cat less of a pussy?

 

[iblis666]

you had the cat longer so i think you will need to have your brother find another home for that dog

either that or keep them in the same room for a few years never letting them out until they get used to each other

 

[El Poncho]

Put them both in a carrier and put both of the carriers facing each other on the floor. Every now and then move the carriers closer together, maybe they will grow comfortable around each other after that.

I don't know if this will work but it's worth a try I guess.

 

[Smiles]

yeah I tried the carrier thing, didnt really work. the cat started making those terrible noises like its hell to pay for whoever opens the cage. truly terrifying...

The puppy, being that he is a puppy, seems kinda cool about the cat he just doesnt want to get his face scratched off.


also getting rid of the puppy is not considered an option in my brothers eyes, because he had to suffer the cats for eight years. even though I am the one left to take care of the damn thing... :/

 

[MrTub]

I had the same problem when my mother decided to get a dog and after about a week our cat got really pissed at the dog and scared the shit out of him and for about a month there was quite tense between them but after that they could at least be in the same room and being relaxed and about 3-4month later they slept next to each other

 

[RabbiiFrystofsk]

Yeah you've just got to let the dust settle for a while OP. Cats are extremely territorial animals so some unknown animal coming into its area won't go down well. You've just basically got to let them get on with their own thing, i say let them fight because 1) your cat is telling the puppy who's the boss in the house 2) setting ground rules. If it gets too rough break it up but try and let it run its course. My cats (one who has been here for 5/6 years, the other a year) have had fights, initially when the new one came the other hated him beyond belief and would snarl and hiss but they got over it.
Now and again they've had skirmishes which my older cat has won even though the other starts it and letting it run its course works well because, as i said, it sets ground rules and shows whos boss.
Godspeed Op.

 

[Gekkeiju]

Also make sure that they both have very separate sleeping/eating/toilet areas so Cat knows it still has its own space. Make an extra fuss of Cat so she knows she's not being replaced and you still love her.

 

[Smiles]

alright cool will try those suggestions

not gonna let my pets fight though....

 

[bluepilot]

New pets take time to get used to each other.

Sit down in a room with the cat to one side of you and the puppy to another. Stroke the cat then let the dog smell the cat's scent on your hand. Then stroke the dog and let the cat smell your hand. Repeat this a few times so they can get used to each other's smell.


When both are calm, you can allow contact. Let the cat come to the puppy as cats are usually the ones to take control. Once the cat is used to the dog, the cat will probably bully the dog a little though since dogs are naturally submissive.

So, I think more time is necessary