We had two cats, a brother and sister. We got them in 2017 and unfortunately the girl one was run over in 2020, from that point, the boy became a complete and utter wanderer. He’d be found in other people’s houses, he came home once with a collar on (doesn’t wear a collar, with a note in saying basically is this your cat or can I have him) my DS’s friend would tell DS he was always round theirs, our neighbour would constantly let him in despite us asking him not to and over time, we saw him less and less to the point, around 2022, he completely disappeared and we didn’t see him for over a year.
We decided to get a dog in summer 2024…a spaniel jack Russell cross, who is adorable and we are obsessed with him. I bet you can guess what is coming next…
Last month, the cat returned and we were all delighted. At first, my dog was curious but not overly bothered, however one day, the cat ran and my dog did the obvious thing of chasing him (despite us obviously telling him no) and we are now in a nightmare situation. My dog has a very strong nose, the cat comes to the cat flap which is a micro chip one which beeps, the dog hears the beeps and sprints to the cat flap and then the cat runs… we’re in a never ending cycle of the cat coming home and the dog being so excited or who knows, territorial/aggressive and I don’t know what to do to get the dog to ignore the cat.
We reprimand the dog, tell him to go to “his spot” which he does reluctantly but I’m so worried the dog will get the cat and hurt him when we are out or something…. I’d love any advice or strategies??
Please note, nearly two years had passed before we got the dog.