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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Please help - kitten won't stop chasing the dogs

110 replies

PaperDoves · 20/12/2022 22:16

I'm sorry this is long. Any advice appreciated!

We got a kitten two weeks ago. He's now 11 weeks old. We have two big dogs. I wanted a kitten because it was impossible to find a rescue adult cat that was used to dogs, and having had puppies I know how much easier it is to socialise babies than it is older animals.

I spent so much time researching how to introduce a kitten to dogs. We've spent the last two weeks being painstakingly careful and slow in our introductions (it's honestly been one of the most stressful things I've done). We started by keeping them in separate rooms and after a few days swapping them around so they could get used to each other's smell. Then we had the kitten in a crate and the dogs on leads, lots of treats and praise, kept the sessions very short (to keep it positive, but also because the kitten did not at all appreciate being in the crate!). Eventually we moved on to having the dogs on short leads while the kitten was free. The dogs were so good and relaxed and everything was looking positive.

The next step was supposed to be having the dogs loose also, but keeping the leads on so we could pick them up if anything seemed tense. This is where it all went pear shaped. Kitten saw the dangling leads and chased them, then didn't like how close he ended up to the dog attached to the lead and puffed up and swatted his face. Both of my dogs went from being relaxed and cool with the kitten to thinking this cat is a holy terror who will murder them at the first opportunity. :(

The dogs now get up and leave when kitten gets close. I'm okay with this, but the kitten seems to think he's a big man who's chased them off and he puffs up, squares off and then actually does chase them down. The dogs run in fear. He doesn't seem scared of them at all and I feel so sorry for my poor dogs, whose lives have been, as far as they're concerned, completely ruined by this tiny, vicious menace. They're both so stressed, and I'm worried one of them will literally snap if the kitten won't stop.

I don't know what to do. Will this get better with time and patience? How do you teach a kitten to stop? I can't use a spray bottle or one of those air spray things because it will punish the dogs too, and I'm trying to reward them for being calm near the kitten.

I should add I'm not subjecting the dogs to the kitten all day. They're still separated for most of the day and only around each other for a half hour to an hour at a time. Both cat and dogs have safe rooms that the other can't access, so they're not just mushed together!

Any insight at all would be so helpful, thank you.

OP posts:
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Original poster
PaperDoves · 20/12/2022 22:38

I'm going to add that everyone in real life laughs when I tell them about this and thinks it will all sort itself out in time! I really want that to be true, but at the moment my heart bleeds for the dogs while at the same time I'm terrified for my brazen but very vulnerable, tiny kitten.

Pic for proof:

Please help - kitten won't stop chasing the dogs
OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 20/12/2022 22:44

😂 sorry! Poor dogs. Looks like a low prey drive dog though? Animals are quite forgiving compared to humans.

They probably won’t eat him.

Mamoun · 20/12/2022 22:59

The way you tell the story is funny to be fair! I have no advice as I have never been a pet owner! Would love to see the kitty being all scary though ☺️

MrsMontyD · 20/12/2022 23:07

To be honest after a week of slow introductions I let them get on with it, the dog was more scared of the kitten than the other way around and they could both get away from each other.

Original poster
PaperDoves · 20/12/2022 23:25

They're both collies so more herding than attacking, and they both identify as the prey in this situation! It's a little funny. But would be funnier if I could guarantee everyone would be happy, healthy and most importantly alive six months from now!

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 20/12/2022 23:30

I have nothing to offer but I do like your hall and stairs 😁

FairlyNew · 20/12/2022 23:32

I really think they'll sort it out themselves. I introduced a massive rescue dog to my tiny cat and the cat rules the roost... She's the boss and just hisses at big dog if she doesn't like what he's doing! Dog carefully moves out of the way.

Yarnosaura · 20/12/2022 23:37

It will pass, you're doing great, honest!

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 20/12/2022 23:47

Some cats just have attitude. My Siamese kitten appeared to be two huge ears and a tail joined up with a piece of string, but she would cheerfully menace the Labrador next door ( though she did do it from the top of the fence, so self preservation was a factor). The poor dog used to creep around looking terrified and abasing himself .

As she got older and larger ( relatively) she also became less aggressive to dogs and wild animals, I think her growling and menacing was probably fear driven to an extent, although she was always pretty sassy and self confident. Her sister just thought everyone loved her, and she loved them back.

I think you are doing everything right. The cat will probably wake up one morning and believe that the dog is her brother.

dragonbreaths · 21/12/2022 00:05

My ragdoll kitten spent half his time hanging off our very patient Labradors jowls, or trying to take her down by the back leg, like a lion takes down prey. They became best of friends but cat rules the roost

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 21/12/2022 00:11

Cats are the boss. You are the slave. The dogs are just submissive. Know your places.

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/12/2022 08:27

You can’t stop him really, a big part of the cat brain is devoted to noticing movement and chasing the movement.

Kittens are little nutcases, adult cats are calmer.

NoSquirrels · 21/12/2022 08:36

We rehomed 2 farm kittens at 12 weeks old, and we’ve got a dog the size of yours (soft as shite, already lives with adult cats).

One kitten is unphased by her presence, and realised quickly that if the dog is hanging out in the kitchen there’s a good chance of snackies, let’s be friends.

The second kitten puffs up and swipes if the dog gets near his personal space (this is totally subjective, one day it’s close, one day it’s a room wide!) and the poor dog is nonplussed.

Both introduced and treated the same.

If your dogs aren’t generally aggressive them definitely ditch the leads indoors, and let them avoid each other/run away. If the kitten does need telling off, the dogs will do it and it’ll be a warning. They won’t kill it if they’re not generally aggressive. Keep plying them all with treats.

GetThatHelmetOn · 21/12/2022 08:43

I had a similar situation with dogs, my dog was scared of the two tiny dogs I was fostering who were basically bullying him out of the areas we were at… until dear dog realised she was bigger and more dangerous to them. She simply decided these little annoying things were rabbits, prey instinct kicked off and it didn’t calm down until a week later when the smaller dogs were picked up.

I spent a week worrying about either dog escaping into the others’ space and someone getting killed so… I would be tempted to send the kitten back especially if it looks as the life of your dogs will change for the worse with kitten around.

Original poster
PaperDoves · 21/12/2022 08:45

dragonbreaths · 21/12/2022 00:05

My ragdoll kitten spent half his time hanging off our very patient Labradors jowls, or trying to take her down by the back leg, like a lion takes down prey. They became best of friends but cat rules the roost

This is the dream! 😍 I can't see my dogs allowing him to do more than get within ten feet of them at this point, but I do hold out hope.

OP posts:
PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 21/12/2022 08:46

My adult cats stalked my puppy until he got bigger than them! He knew his place and they lived peaceably together for the rest of their lives.

Original poster
PaperDoves · 21/12/2022 08:46

KnickerlessParsons · 20/12/2022 23:30

I have nothing to offer but I do like your hall and stairs 😁

Aww thank you. I spent an entire weekend painting the stairs just so, and the dogs have been chipping away at it ever since 😂

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 21/12/2022 08:51

We had a bearded collie, he absolutely adored our cats, we had two before we got him as a pup and one as a kitten after. The cats could do no wrong in his eyes, they were boss. He would go completely mad if he saw a cat in the street though, it was almost like he didn’t see ours as cats!

Outtasteamandluck · 21/12/2022 08:56

Oh my how cute. Sorry nothing helpful to add but It's made me smile 😊

wheresmymojo · 21/12/2022 09:13

This made me laugh 😹

I introduced a big German shepherd cross rescue to my four cats this time last year. She was terrified of them.

Then, a couple of months later she got over her fear and started to chase them a bit. At that point they gave her a good few bats around the face with claws out.

Now, a year on, we're at healthy respect stage. Sometimes they curl up and sleep together. Other times she irritates them and gets a bop on the nose.

She actually has a high prey drive and goes nuts when we see other cats out walking but no matter how much my cats hiss and bop her in the face she never, ever retaliates. She knows they're part of the pack; even when they're really annoying.

She does turn to me and whine about it though like "Mummy...the cats are being mean to me again!" 😸

I promise it will all work itself out. It might take a couple more months for them to figure it all out though. Sometimes it will feel like they never will and then one day you'll see a glimpse of a friendship forming (or at least a truce!)

Toddlerteaplease · 21/12/2022 09:19

My mums friend had a German Shepherd, our tiny but feisty cat scratched her on the nose!

Hopeyoursproutsarealreadyon · 21/12/2022 09:23

Our 25kg ddog won't even pass through the utility room to go outside if dkitten is in there on the post... She rules the roost here...

Please help - kitten won't stop chasing the dogs
ipreferthecat · 21/12/2022 09:29

@PaperDoves

I would love another picture of the killer kitten in action please

That would be wonderful

Julen7 · 21/12/2022 09:31

No advice sorry but thanks for bringing a smile to my face 😘

Thatsshallot1967 · 21/12/2022 09:31

Oh sorry, op, no advice but your post has made me really chuckle. The look on your Ddog's face in this standoff against a little kitten...pathetic 🤣 I also love your hall btw!