New cat attacking our dog

[SkyUnicorn]

Any advice welcome!

We adopted a rescue cat yesterday (so yes, it's very early days). She is 1 and very sweet and affectionate - to humans!
What's the best way to try for a peaceful co-existence? We let them sniff at each other from behind a door and she's seen him with us holding him on a short lead. Within a couple of minutes of first seeing him she rushed forward and attacked - hissing, scratching - the works.
Today she's been in 'her' room for much of the day and then we let her explore some more of the house. Dog was outside and they saw each other through glass door. Cat then settled on sofa and I had dog on my lap. Then DH took dog out for a walk and when he came back into the house the cat literally streaked across the room to attack him again. I had to dash to grab her and I ended up scratches across my face in the process
She's now in a large crate with bed, litter tray and I've been feeding her treats and dog at the same time. When the treats are flowing it seems fine but he then moved a bit and she went for him (but couldn't because of the crate which is the whole point I guess).
So...where do we go from here? Will she always hate him? Maybe she was once attacked by a dog and loathes them, and we just don't know as she's a rescue?
I'm so worried...then I tell myself it's only been just over 24hrs that she even arrived and I need to calm the f*%# down!!

Has it settled down at all. Both animals sound terrified

We're taking it all even more slowly. I've been giving them both treats this morning and when she lunges to attack the dog she gets a squirt of water which is certainly making her stop to think.
At all times when we do these 'sessions' she is completely free to go, by the way, and dog is on lead.

Can you put a baby gate up? Just so they can see each other /have a sniff but not actual contact!

It will likely settle down after a few days. Make sure both animals can get away if tgey need to

Right - it will get better! We had this exact thing, and I'm now sat on the sofa with both dog and cat snoring away beside me.

The cat going for the dog is good - you want the cat to be the one in charge. Much better than the cat running away and being a potential thing to chase.

We couldn't bring the dog in the same proximity of the cat without the cat going full throttle for the dog, so we scrapped that. We started off by having their food bowls separate by two doors, and we would open each door at the same time (while they were eating) just for 10 seconds or so, so they could see each other, but were occupied with food.

Then we brought the bowls closer so they were separated by only one door. Then we kept the door open for longer and longer, until eventually the door was open for the whole meal time.

The first three weeks when the cat wasn't allowed outside was really hard, but as soon as we got him a cat flap, and he was allowed to go out whenever he wanted, it all calmed down. And then, as he got more comfortable and settled in our house, he got more and more laid back with the dog. He still can't resist giving the dog a little swipe on his back if he's sat on the table and the dog walks underneath him, but other than that, they're totally fine. Mostly ignore each other.

The other thing to remember (which I was rubbish with, but DP did really well) was to remember to stay calm, and sound happy and relaxed. I was on edge for ages when the two were in close proximity, and DP said they were really picking up on it.

Baby gate would not help as Cat is actively attacking Dog - she'd just slip through the gate! Solid glass partitions would be ideal 😉
I really hope she (Cat) calms down as we can't have our dog bullied in his own home...he's not doing anything to her, he's avoiding her and she has masses of space to retreat to but she's ADVANCING instead!
Water spray is working as she's now thinking twice before lunging forward but when we can't be there holding it she goes back in 'her' room.
I'm crossing everything that Branleuse is correct.

Oooh I posted then just seen a new post - will read now!

Thank you Gin!! That gives me hope!!

It's strange that when I'm feeding them both pieces of turkey, Cat is quite happy...food is clearly the best distraction!

Will try the feeding trick later. It means that Dog's bowl will be moved (while he eats) but I don't think he'll mind for a while

The rescue place have advised us to keep Cat inside for two months I'm not sure if that'll be possible as she's already gazing out of windows at the garden...but I guess it'll be at least a month. Oh dear...

I'd be wary about using the water spray - the cat is attacking because she's not totally comfortable and relaxed, and I'd worry about punishing that. I would go more down the route of constant happy reassurance that all is great, the dog is great, the home is great etc etc.

Two months?! God, our rescue said three weeks and that was hard work - he was mad to get out. Did they say why they advised such a long wait?!

One thing DP said to me (in attempts to pull me down off the ceiling when cat was going for dog) was that if the cat goes for the dog, the worst thing that will happen really is him having a few scratches on his nose. Vice versa, it would be a totally different story. You almost want the cat to do what she's doing - see it as a good thing, if you can

You mustnt spray the cat. Shes already terrified. You want her to settle dont you? Spraying her is cruel, shes not even established herself in your home yet

Of course shes looking outside. Theres a dog and a water spray in the house!

Great improvement this late afternoon and evening. We're taking it very slowly and protecting each animal all the time.
Branleuse, both the cat and our dog are rescues. We are the opposite of cruel - we're trying our best to make them both happy. I had read some advice that talked about a water spray so the cat would associate attacking the dog with something unpleasant and thus desist. After all, we have to protect our dog, too - we don't want him with a corneal abrasion.
Anyway - it so happens that we have not used the spray this afternoon and the situation is being managed by vigilance and separation, plus feeding them in the same room and letting them sniff each other behind a glass door.
Thanks all for your advice and comments.

Also - honestly, the cat doesn't seem 'terrified'. She is eating, sleeping, exploring and using her litter tray. If she was terrified surely she'd be cowering under a bed somewhere, not ACTIVELY seeking out and chasing our dog!?

Zyklene, adaptil collars and feliway plug in.