Would it be kinder to have the cat rehomed?

[gotareason]

We got a jack russell puppy a year ago. We have two cats, mother and son, aged 6 and 4. Our dog is a typical Jack - boisterous, playful, barks like mad at anything. The older cat has managed to stand her ground and they seem to have reached an understanding more or less where he doesn't bother her (unless he wants his face clawed off!) Unfortunately our poor little younger cat has always been very nervous and he has been pretty much living outside since the dog came. Because he so rarely comes in the dog treats him like an intruder and barks and chases like crazy. It's a vicious circle.

I have tried bringing the cat in and trying to keep him in the same room while I calmed the dog but as soon as he can he bolts.

Anyway - would it be better to have the cat rehomed? He is very loving and really needs feeding up and lots of attention and cuddles and at the moment he's not getting any
On the other hand it would mean separating him from his mother and the only home he has known. What does anyone think?

You're looking at rehoming the cat....not the dog?
I wonder if with some work on training the dog to just let the cat come and go past him, without him making a fuss they could get on with their own things.
The dog's pretty young - I would think he should calm down soon.

Thanks Paisley - the dog was a longed-for present for my son so there's no way he could be rehomed and of the two I think he would suffer the most anyway.

I'm not as hopeful as you of the dog calming down soon - from what I know of Jacks they are pretty boisterous by nature and tend not to calm down til they keel over!

OK, some thoughts:

Set up a couple of stairgates so the cat has some places it can go where the dog is never allowed.

Make sure the cat has some high-up havens.

You're going to have to look at teaching the dog some calm behaviour around the cat. Make sure he's had a good long run before you even think about embarking on this - in fact, increasing his exercise regime in general will make life easier on all of you. Reward any and all calm behaviour particularly when near the cat. Ignore barking/quietly remove to another room (make the dog wear a long line in the house if that helps).

Sometimes teaching one command which excludes the possibility of the behaviour happening and reinforcing it until it is totally ingrained in the dog's subconscious - eg my dog barks when the doorbell rings - I just ask him to sit, and he struggles to leap around yapping when he's sitting on his bum, so he sits, shuts up and then I reward the shutting up.

Takes perseverance but worthwhile

It does sound dreadfully inconvenient
You have two cats. Get a dog who bullies the cats then one of the cats has to go because the dog is a breed you think is untrainable?!

I think you need to see an animal behaviourist to see if they can help you train your dog to behave. Poor little cat.

Thanks for the sensible advice ohExpletive - it sounds a good idea to create a 'haven' somewhere - anywhere inside the house will be good start! The dog does get a lot of exercise but of course he is young and full of energy. I think the main problem is a territorial one - that he views this cat as a stranger. I will persevere tho - I don't want to lose the cat but I just feel so sorry for him.

enormarse - I didn't say that I thought the dog was untrainable, only that he is likely to remain 'excitable'. He has learnt a lot in a year and on the whole his behaviour is pretty good but like most terriers he doesn't hold back when defending his 'patch'.