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Urgent help required nervous cat lives with cat hating dog!

4 replies

happygardening · 21/05/2013 09:00

I posted this on the dog section no advise hopefully more help on here.
One of my dogs used to live with what can only be described as an alpha cat. He completely ruled the roost and the dog was frankly terrified of him. The cat could go where ever he wanted sleep where ever he wanted eat what ever he and god help any dog or even human who got in his way. The large scar across the dogs nose is a permanent reminder of what happened if you crossed him. Four years ago he was very sadly run over (dog smirks).
We now own a more normal cat whose a nervous cat by nature and has in the past refused to pee due to the stress of living with another cat he's quite cautious of dogs. The dog has decided "never again am I giving up the best seat/food/place in the sun to a bloody cat." So when ever he sees him he growls and leaps at him the cat then runs away although not far this is currently okay becasue they have live in different parts of the house and are separated by a stair gate. But all this is about to change when I'm at home it will no longer be possible to separate them I actually don't think the dog would harm the cat he's all mouth but I think he's going to make the cat exceedingly anxious and unhappy.
Just to add when upset he pees n everyones beds and I'm not prepared to live with this long term as its costing me a fortune washing duvets.
Any ideas?

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GoblinGranny · 21/05/2013 09:12

You know the answer, rehome the cat.
How did you come to choose one who was so unhappy with other animals?
Is a development due to his living circumstances? Poor little beast.
Unless you can keep them separate and ensure that the cat has a place where it will feel safe and secure, I can't see a solution.
He's obviously not happy at the moment.

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CocktailQueen · 21/05/2013 09:16

Yup, agree with Goblin granny - that's so unfair to the poor cat. Poor thing must be terrified. This is not going to end well.

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happygardening · 21/05/2013 09:41

I do know the answer really and we can get another cat same breed as the alpha cat we lost who are known to be aggressive unbothered by dogs. My husband loves cats to bits (and hates dogs) and he hopes that we can find a solution he thinks he just need to "man up" about dogs. I more realistic he's never going too.
They are currently separated and he's very chilled he's currently very secure and knows that he's very safe he's currently lying on my best most comfortable chair on his back sleeping. But we're moving and the layout of the house is going to make satisfactory separation from both the dogs and cats point of view difficult. He currently has run of 3/4 of the house including our bed at night and the dogs are restricted to two rooms. To satisfactorily give him the same freedom we would have to restrict the dogs to a small utility room which would be unfair. He's fine with one dog who he just views as completely ridiculous which he is and the worse thing he does is lick him (cat visibly winces).
I've never had to rehome a cat (30 years of cat ownership) I understand rescues are groaning under the weight of cats needing homes.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 21/05/2013 21:02

Ok, could you train the dog or muzzle him? During training I mean, not forever.

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