Cats and dogs living together.. Mass hysteria!

[tridim]

So my dog lived with my previous cat for 8 years very peacefully. I recently moved into a new house with a resident cat and they end up fighting every time they meet, seconds after sniffing nose to nose.

I don't get it, my dog is nice, the new cat is nice, but so far they just don't get along. She was 100% fine with my previous cat. Zero confrontation.

Any ideas how I can put a stop to this quickly? I'm guessing they'll get used to each other after a few weeks, but I feel bad because I'm living in someone else's house and it just not cool.

[knowbody0]

1. cuz you're in the CAT'S house

and the cat cannot back down straight away.

our new dog Pooka moved into a trio cat house. Pooka is a shar pei/pit bull, and one year later, she submits to the kitties. believe it or not, there is peace. feeding time is a good time for one and all to understand the expected pecking order.

good luck

[BrklynLiberal]

2. My cats and dogs have always gotten along...in the past...

but when I brought in a new dog, there had always been an "elder" to show them the way to live with the cats.

Sadly, when I lost Boen, I had no other dog. Sooo..Lucy my new GSD came into a house of four cats with no clues whatsoever.

Lucy is about 1 1/2 years old..and she LOVES to chase the cats. They all got along fine with Boen, who was mostly oblivious to them..or licked them.

It has been three months, and one of the cats, Cassie, has taught Lucy how to behave around her. The other three tend to stay away from her...Two will approach a little bit...but one is totally staying away from Lucy

Lucy is a work in progress. I have tried to be very patient with her. I do not think she would want to hurt the kitties, but her "playing" would be too rough for them, and she might hurt them unintentionally.

Not worth the risk...

So when I am not home, Lucy goes into a crate..the first time I have ever used a crate.

I feel better about leaving the house knowing see is safe from their claws and they are safe from her "play"

I try to reward her when she stays calm around them....and reward the kitties if they do not run from her.

I think it will be a long process.

PS The cats always need to have a safe place to run to be away from the dog. I have gates on the kitchen, and that is their safe place.

[tridim]

3. I've been keeping the dog out of the cat's room so he has a safe place to run to.

I've seen the cat walking around the house today, so I don't think he's very afraid. They seem to coexist fine until we try to let them sniff each other. It's just when they meet face to face that they seem to get annoyed.

I'm going to try a few supervised "getting to know ya" sessions over the next week and see where that leads. It will involve holding on to my dog's collar tightly and forcing her to submit in the cat's presence, Dog Whiperer style.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Try putting the cat into a carrier...and then let the dog sniff. That way they will both be safe,

but near each other.

When they are close like that...give them both high value treats...so they will associate being together with great rewards.