Cat terrified of puppy

[tinkywinkyshandbag]

Hi , all we got a puppy nearly two weeks ago now and the cat is still terrified. She is coming home which is good, and is eating. But when she comes in she is running straight up the stairs. She is sleeping on our beds which I am okay with, and I am feeding her upstairs otherwise she will not eat. When she wants to go out she ventures downstairs to the door, but otherwise will not come down. If she hears so much as a whimper from the puppy she runs a mile. She is not the most confident cat in general. I am keen to socialise the puppy with her before she gets too big but don't want to force them together. Is it just a case of giving her time? Any tips? I have a feliway, and have given her a blanket with the dogs scent on to sniff. Do you think I should start feeding her downstairs to encourage her down? Thanks.

[MidnightVelvetthe4th]

I have no experience but I have some thoughts :)

You are expecting your cat to adjust to a situation which to her is terrifying, I don't think you should feed her downstairs as cats need to be confident & relaxed when they eat. Feeding her downstairs will probably intensify her fear not cure it or she may stop eating.

Leave a puppy toy on your bed for her to sniff & to be able to examine in her own time. Don't let the puppy charge at her, if you can confine the pup behind a stair gate when she's in perhaps she will realise that she's safe.

The poor girl give her some time, she's had a totally unknown intruder start living in her territory.

[cozietoesie]

Time - and making sure that the puppy doesn't go upstairs so that she's absolutely certain she has a safe place to retreat to. If she wants to socialize in due course, she will - but to be honest, puppies can be a whirling dervish sort of PITA at times so I don't blame her one bit. They know each other is there so I also wouldn't worry about the dog 'getting too big'. They'll eventually find the accommodation that's right for them both.

Do you have a stair gate around? They can be very useful for acclimatising dogs in the presence of a resident cat.

[tinkywinkyshandbag]

Hi thanks we have a stair gate and the dog is not allowed downstairs. The cat can see the dog through the stair gate when she comes downstairs as it is is on the kitchen door rather than the stairs. Thanks I'll just carry on as we are...hopefully time will be a healer and the dog is actually quite calm for a puppy so maybe it will not be too bad. Thanks.

[cozietoesie]

They may not ever be bosom buddies - some cats don't much like other animals - so it's possible that a living arrangement is the best you can hope for. And that's fine because it's still possible for both animals to be content.

It sounds as if you're on top of things.