what would a dog do to a kitten!

[Italiangreyhound]

Our neighbours dog got into our garden today. Kitten actually stood his ground and dog retreated. We need to fix fence. It's our fence but we didn't know dog could get in as it has bushes etc in it and looks secure.

The dog owner seems to think if kitten had run the dog would have gone for him! DH thinks that means chase him, I think that means try and kill him! My friends cat was killed by a dog, not completely but I think he had to be put to sleep as a result of injuries.

Any experience of this.

Kitten currently having supervisied visitors to garden but hoping to be able to let him out alone soon and to be honest if he makes a bolt over neighbours fence we can't really stop him.

Tried a cat harness and lead and he would not have it. He is desperate to get out and about, a total tom! He will be 15 weeks very soon.

Any thoughts, please?

[starsandunicorns]

My dafty dog mothered two kittens they were strays which the dds came home with instead of going to the vets ( they were at one of their friends houses) dafty would clean them follow they around

My sister had a freale kitten turn up at her door step she has a massive wolf thing and kitten owns the dog reg takes swipes at the dog to annoy her but they get one kitten used to get to higher ground when she first came to the house the dog eats all the voules the cat catches now

[cozietoesie]

I think it depends on the dog, its breed and temperament, and the kitten/cat. (Big flubbly dogs like labradors are almost always all right in my experience but I would be more cautious with eg one of the smaller terriers who were originally bred for ratting and such pursuits.)

As your kit stood his ground and the dog retreated, that's likely set the tone of the relationship but it's always a good idea to keep an eye on interactions at the beginning - and I'd fix that fence so that at the very least the kitten has a safe place to run to if the dog does decide to aggress.

Have you made plans to have him chipped and neutered just as soon as he's old enough?

[Italiangreyhound]

He's chipped, thanks, the kneedle was massive!

I will get him neutered at 6 months. He has calmed down massively! He sleeps next to me while I surf the web! I am typing now and he is snoozing. He is so cute.

[Floralnomad]

If a cat got into my garden my dog would definitely kill it , he's not particularly big but has typical terrier instincts towards anything that is furry and moves and isn't a dog . It may be your fence but its your neighbours responsibility to keep his dog in his garden .

[GrimmaTheNome]

Most dogs can't catch a cat - I think that's one reason greyhounds have a bad rep, because they can (we had a cat which needed vet treatment after encounter with one).

My dog pretty much ignores most cats - he joins in the chase if I'm getting rid of one from lurking under the bird table, but it'd be over the fence before he ever got near. He once encountered a very hostile cat (the other side of a wire fence, fortunately) and let out what is best described as a scream and retreated behind us.

[Italiangreyhound]

Thanks guys. The dog is a collie/sheep dog and must be at least 10 years old, definitely over 8 year old. So that must be like 70 in human years!

[cozietoesie]

Collies are generally OK with cats in my experience and cede dominance to them. (Bar a distinct tendency to try to herd them when the collie is younger and if it's from working stock - but cats view that pretty much with disdain.) The only serious spat I ever saw between a cat and a collie was one day when I roasted a leg of lamb which was clearly so unutterably delicious that the collie wasn't giving up scrap rights to anybody, cat or no - and the cat immediately recognized force majeure in that case and vacated the scene.

[ClaraOswald]

Our dog always submitted to any cat that stood it's ground against her. She would chase a runner, when she was young, but after a few years would ignore.

Our Dog was a Border Collie. My sisters Border terriers have never really bothered with my mum's cats, and a neighbours Jack Russell has been trained to leave smaller creatures alone.

[tabulahrasa]

Most dogs will chase a cat if it runs...it's what they do if they catch it that's the problem, my last dog just looked confused and came away, the current one licks them.

Obviously some dogs would bite, but not as many as would chase to start with.

[cozietoesie]

Quite so. My collies chased any cats who came into the garden - but if they had caught them would have stopped dead and done the splayed front legs inviting a game. Luckily for the garden birds Sadly, all the non-resident cats misinterpreted this and ran for it.

[GrimmaTheNome]

In short - while most cats are murdering bastards, most dogs aren't

[Italiangreyhound]

Now there is bloody eagle hovering over the garden (we live in the countryside)!! This is nerve racking!

[cozietoesie]

Actually - keep an eye on the eagle. (There's a story I could tell.)

[Orangeena]

Italian I have recently taken on a kitten and have a collie/retriever cross who is 5 and the kitten has really stood her ground.The dog retreats all the time when the kitten is trying to play etc.Even when the kitten tries to nibble the dogs toes and claw the dogs face the dogs instinct is not to attack but to get up and go away.

[Italiangreyhound]

Orangeena (great name) thanks so much. Good news.