Staffy and new kittens

[Vinnyinny]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me. I have a 6 year old staffy and a 10 year old cat, and we have just brought two kittens home (yesterday). I mistakenly let the dog catch sight of them in the lounge last night and his reaction was really upsetting. He barked and cried and shook, and looked like he wanted to go for them.

He tolerates my other cat (they can sit together on the sofa, they just ignore each other really, but I wouldn't say they love each other).

I'm wondering if I've made a terrible mistake. I've had a shitty couple of years and finally feel ready to bring some new life into the house, and I really want this to go well. How do I integrate them safely?

They are currently upstairs in my bedroom and he is downstairs and calm.

I'm suffering with quite severe anxiety about it. My kids in particular are so thrilled, and it means a lot to me to be able to have them. But not at the expense of my dog's happiness.

He's such a lovely boy with me and the kids. Patient and soft, but he does have a strong prey instinct.

I mean this in the kindest possible way - but what did you expect with an animal with a high prey drive?

You have GOT to keep the kittens away from him. Even a slight slip up will be catastrophic. I can imagine how anxious this is making you, I would be the same. Are you sure you are the right home for these kittens? Sad kids is better than traumatised ones after seeing a kitten torn to shreds.

Hi, thanks. I thought I was sure I could manage it, given how he is with my other cat. The kittens are well away from him and I can keep them apart to protect them. But it's really about whether there are things I can do that will help my dog to learn to tolerate them in the future, like he does my other cat?

I appreciate your response. I'm a really responsible person, and really am trying to do the best I can for everyone. I really thought kitten joy would be great for us all.

Terriers should not be kept with cats. It's just too great a risk. They are hunting dogs, bred for centuries for rabbiting and ratting.

My neighbour had a staffy and two cats for five years. She came home one day to find that the dog had torn both cats to pieces. There were body parts everywhere and she was greatly distressed by it all.

I love dogs, but would never ever keep a terrier or sighthound breed with a cat.

I would re home the kittens, the joy you feel for having them is going to be overridden by the fear of the dog getting to them, I just don't think it's worth the risk.

You should also consider the risk to your existing cat - if your dog has it's hunting instincts aroused and cannot get to the kittens it may very well turn on your cat. There is a reason cats are often stolen to act as bait animals for training dogs used in dog fighting - those dogs usually being pitbulls or staffies, which sadly have been bred by irresponsible individuals to be more aggressive than those breeds were intended to be.

Please do the responsible thing and rehome the kittens as quickly as possible.

Sorry to be so blunt but you have made a terrible mistake here.

There is some good advice here on introducing dogs to cats and kittens.

Seeing as you now have the kittens, I’d be inclined to spend a lot of time training and trying to make it work, obviously making sure they are completely separated in between and that the dog is kept on a lead for all training and introductory sessions.

If it is successful, make sure they are never left alone together and that the kittens always have somewhere high or where the dog can’t follow that they can escape to.

I would be inclined to gently let the DC know that the kittens will only be able to stay if the integration is successful and have a back up plan in mind in case it does not work.

Why did you decide to get 2 more kittens?
Some dogs can accept kittens and some can’t do if in any doubt don’t do it.
My dog is pretty soppy and is a breed not known for its prey drive but I wouldn’t let him near a small furry thing (he would probably sit on it)
Enjoy the animals you have who seem have it worked out and take the kittens back,it’s not fair on either you dog or cat

We introduced a kitten to our 2yo beagle six months ago. We already had two older cats who were here before we got the dog.

We brought the dog in the car with us to collect the kitten and let him sniff through the box. When we got home, we put the dog on the lead and got the kitten out - he had a good sniff, licked him on the head and that was it! They get on fantastically now and the kitten often sleeps on the beagles' head

I happily leave them all together and they're absolutely fine. There's never been any injuries (apart from the dog receiving the odd smack on the nose), no fights and they all exist nicely together.

However, I have no doubt that a lot of it is luck. Beagles have high prey drives so it could very easily have gone wrong. I think it helped that we already had two cats who were well-established and who got on fine with the dog to start with. If their relationship had been strained in any way I'd never have added a third.

The only thing you can do is take it slow. Put the dog on his lead around the kittens to make sure they can't get injured. Lots of treats for the dog if he's calm around the kittens and don't leave them unattended for a good while.

Hysterical staffy haters that think they rip animals apart get a grip!!

If you want to get rid of them do your dog is going to pick up your anxiety. You know your own dog no one can tell you what to do.

The dog was probably wondering why these strangers on on his territory!

Introduce them carefully and slowly, but keep them apart when not supervised

You will have to be very very careful.

Kids always forget to shut doors.
It’s only a matter of time before the kittens accidentally come out and the dog sees them. And you may not notice until it’s too late. Stafford are muscular, heavy, prey driven dogs I believe. Not an ideal match for small, fragile kittens.

So best introduce them again with the dog on a lead and see what happens. Preferably with a mesh stair gate cross the doorway and the kittens on one side and the dog in the other, in case the dog goes for the little ones. They need protected.

If the dog looks at all aggressive and not just curious then you have to rehome the dog or the kittens. Right away.

So many people have followed their heart rather than their head during lockdown and bought pets that quite frankly they should not have.

I hope you are a responsible guardian and will do the right thing once you see how the dog is with the kittens.

I don’t see how most people would have enough time for a dog and three cats as well as a child at the best of times to be honest. It sounds like a lot of work and a decision made based on cuteness and perhaps being at home more due to covid. Or the stress of covid and needing some joy in your life, rather than a sensible decision. Sorry OP. I know that’s not what you want to hear but I’m really worried for those babies.

@Orkneys

Hysterical staffy haters that think they rip animals apart get a grip!!

The dog is already showing aggressive behaviour. It’s not insane to be read a dog’s body language and understand what situation could arise from it.

I think it’s hysterical people will defend a dog breed to the hilt without actually realising is doesn’t matter what dog breed it is, if it’s showing aggression signals you need to think logically.

Only a matter of time before he kills them. A staffy and kittens WTAF

@Elieza

You will have to be very very careful.

Kids always forget to shut doors.
It’s only a matter of time before the kittens accidentally come out and the dog sees them. And you may not notice until it’s too late. Stafford are muscular, heavy, prey driven dogs I believe. Not an ideal match for small, fragile kittens.

So best introduce them again with the dog on a lead and see what happens. Preferably with a mesh stair gate cross the doorway and the kittens on one side and the dog in the other, in case the dog goes for the little ones. They need protected.

If the dog looks at all aggressive and not just curious then you have to rehome the dog or the kittens. Right away.

So many people have followed their heart rather than their head during lockdown and bought pets that quite frankly they should not have.

I hope you are a responsible guardian and will do the right thing once you see how the dog is with the kittens.

I don’t see how most people would have enough time for a dog and three cats as well as a child at the best of times to be honest. It sounds like a lot of work and a decision made based on cuteness and perhaps being at home more due to covid. Or the stress of covid and needing some joy in your life, rather than a sensible decision. Sorry OP. I know that’s not what you want to hear but I’m really worried for those babies.

It's the kittens that rehoming not the already existing dog. I have five cats and two dogs and a baby on the way, it's already hard work but I have a pug and a spaniel who aren't interested in hurting my cats (when we got a kitten the spaniel was actually quite scared of her ) - if the dog (no matter what the breed) is already showing aggressive behaviour towards them then the best thing to do is to rehome them as an accident can happen and a kitten has no chance against a fully grown dog (unless you plan to keep them separate for the rest of their lives?)

If the Staffy is well trained it will not kill the kittens, if it had a high prey drive it would have killed the existing cat, it probably just needs a proper controlled introduction with positive reinforcement.

@Svrider

Only a matter of time before he kills them. A staffy and kittens WTAF

So because the dog is a staffy, it's guaranteed to kill the kittens?

Any particular reason you think that?

@Svrider

Only a matter of time before he kills them. A staffy and kittens WTAF

Staffies and cats/kittens can co exist, it depends on the temperament and training of the dog (like with any dogs) it usually helps having older cats with a staffy puppy so they know who is boss sort of thing but as this particular staffy has been aggressive from the on set then I think it's better to rehome the kittens

From personal experience I would never introduce kittens to a SBT. To much risk and heartbreak.

I'm not being hysterical either, but I used to know this lovely persian cat (his owner would often bring him into work for the day and he'd loll about the place). He was very chilled out, and got along well with her partner's 2 airedale terriers, they all lived together. One day she came home from work to find the poor cat in pieces, there were scratch marks all over the gate where he'd tried to scramble away. It pretty much broke his owner.

Betty94
I agree, they need to be rehomed.

You can never trust a staffy IME

You've put your existing cat at risk by bringing home 'prey' and then concealing it from your Staffie. Rehome the kittens, now.

Staffies are lovely dogs, but they can also be unpredictable around 'prey' animals.

You can't keep the kittens locked up in a bedroom their whole lives. It's not fair.
Rehome them so they can live the best life possible somewhere more suitable.
You have enough on your plate already by the sounds of it.

@Jaxhog

You've put your existing cat at risk by bringing home 'prey' and then concealing it from your Staffie. Rehome the kittens, now.

Staffies are lovely dogs, but they can also be unpredictable around 'prey' animals.

All dogs can be unpredictable around prey animals. This isn't something that's unique to staffies.