Help! Have I wrecked my cat’s life?

[Terferama]

I do know it’s early days. The attention-grabbing headline is my worst case scenario!

My cat was a stray and I got her from a rescue 18 months ago. She settled in very easily with my old dog, and had lived with. two other dogs at her fosterer’s. My dog died last August, and this week I brought home a new rescue who had also lived with a cat in her last home - I’ve got a picture of her cuddling it. She is a very sweet, easy dog but did bark excitedly the first time she caught sight of my cat through a window.

The cat, who has always slept with me, will now only creep into the house very late at night, when the dog is sleeping in a closed room with someone else. Then she’s off again first thing in the morning and staying out all day (she is a great hunter, to be fair, and it’s a busy time of year for her).

Apart from giving her extra good meals and lots of attention while she’s here, how do I move things on with the dog? I am trying to let them see each other at a safe distance whilst distracting the dog, etc., and their scents are thoroughly mingled in the house by now. I’ve often had dogs and cats together in the past, but I didn’t expect this cat to be so freaked out, as she takes things very calmly as a rule.

Any and all tips most welcome.

It sounds like you’re doing all the right things. Now just give it time. Cats do tend to change their routines when the weather gets warmer. She just needs to know that she’s still number one.

I think she's just making sure you know her nose is out of joint. Give her time. A filthy rainy day will probably have her back in!

It took about 6 months, but then the cats suddenly seemed to accept the dog almost overnight. I gave treats whenever he was calm around the cats. Also Feliway friends I think is the one I used. Is there a room that the dog doesn't have access to, for the cat? I didn't allow the dog upstairs until the cats were cool with it all. It's important for them to have a safe spot.

I thought I'd ruined my cats lives too (despair!), but they're all the best of friends now.

Ahh she’ll be fine! My dog is way down at the bottom of the pecking order, the cats (and I!) made sure of that when he came home.

She’ll likely sulk for a few days but just give her lots of fuss and cuddles

Thank you all very much. Yes, cat does have a room of her own, but she has to navigate from the back door to the stair gate to reach it. Also, in a day or two, when there will no longer be someone else here to sleep in the same room as the dog, I shall have to, as she’ll need that. So cat will have to sleep alone, and I think she’ll mind…

Yes, I am a worrier!

Could you put some cat shelves up? Then kitty can navigate the house without having to worry about dog?

Poor cat.
Why does someone have to sleep with the dog? I've had several dogs and have never slept in with them..(cat sleeps on my bed though)

My poor cats have to put up with a succession of foster dogs as well as mine. One likes dogs and one hates everyone and everything in the world alert from me.

Both tend to make themselves scarce in the early days/week but they have multiple points of access/exit so they are largely unfussed.

Both tolerate my dog and the friendly one has become good friends with a couple of my longer term fosters.

It takes time - as much time as it takes - months sometimes.

My friendly one was a kitten when I had an elderly foster greyhound and they fell in love (way too old to chase) unfortunately she now thinks all greyhounds are her friends.

Thanks again to everyone. It’s so kind of you all to answer.

I would love to know if you’ve managed to overcome wild excitement in a dog when faced with any sight or scent of a cat. My two have just had another distant encounter and the dog is taking ages to calm down although the cat vanished again after a split second. I’ve had five dogs before, all with cats, but none have reacted like this. And none of those dogs came, like this one, with a testimonial saying they loved cats!

Perhaps she loves them too much…

I think it also depends on the cat...
One of mine is hugely skittish and it just invites a chase. (My other cats also chase her!) But one of my others is very canny with dogs and always has a discrete exit planned but almost never runs. This perplexes most dogs.
I also have a dog - all of my cats, even the skittish one are unafraid of her, she's terribly meek. But I had to wait until my previous dog died before I could get a cat, I just wouldn't have trusted her.
If your cat is nervous around your new dog i think you will find it hard to get them easy with each other. Have you any plug ins?.Adaptil for dogs can be very effective at calming them. But you might need one for your cat too.

Thank you, I was thinking of drugging them! I’ve ordered Adaptil AND Feliway for delivery tomorrow. Today’s ‘controlled meeting at a distance’ was noisy (dog shrieking and having to be hustled away). Oh dear.