Frankly speaking, once you find out that your sweet dog has killed someone’s cat, you’re bound to look at your dog differently. So many questions and thoughts will go through your mind on the reason your dog committed such a vile act. Some of these questions could be:
- Why did my dog kill the cat?
- What was the motive or intention behind it?
- Is my dog aggressive?
- Should my dog be left with other dogs and animals?
- Are my children safe with my dog?
One of the first things that cross a dog owner’s mind once a situation like this has occurred is putting that dog down. Killing another animal is not a small case that should be treated lightly as this could be a big indication of a more serious problem.
It is even more painful when the dog is a cherished and loved member of the family. So this big question now is, what do you do after your dog kills a cat?
Although it is normal for people to rush and take hasty decisions because of what the dog has done, it is important to calm down first and try to understand what happened and why it happened. There could be different reasons why your dog killed a cat.
If you were in the area of the crime, then you may be able to get little hints and tell tales. Was your dog playing with the cat? Did it look rough? Did the cat come too close to a resource? Did the cat meddle in the dog’s zone? Was your dog chasing the cat?
Here, we will bring to light some of the factors that may provoke such behaviors in your dog and preventive measures you can take so it does not happen again.
Seek a Behavior Professional
Most times, employing the advice of a professional is the best thing to do when you cannot think clearly. A professional will know what to do and what you should do when such situations happen.
If you notice that your dog has a reputation in chasing and killing animals, and you are worried that it may get worse and become very dangerous, quickly consult a behavior professional to assess and come up with management options for your dog.
Dogs Who Chase and Kill Fleeing Cats
It is a normal hunting instinct for dogs to chase cats as well as other animals and objects. This is probably the reason your dog enjoys playing chase or tug of war.
Dogs are hunters by nature and there are some breeds that have a very high prey drive which will make them dangerous to animals like cats regardless of whether they are playing or not.
If you see your dog chasing a fleeing cat and it turns out that your dog has injured the cat in the process, you should know that while this may look serious, it is normal for your dog to behave this way thanks to their prey drive.
Why Dogs Chase Cats
Many people have dogs and cats living peacefully and comfortably at home. Seeing your dog chase your cat can be perceived as play but this is not even safe.
Sometimes, your cat may not understand that this is your dog’s way of having fun and may try to defend itself by fighting or running to hide. If your cat engages in a fight with your dog, the chase and prey drive in your dog may cause it to become more violent in the process.
Early Prevention Works Best
For owners that already have cats and are thinking of bringing in a dog as part of the family, it is usually advised to get a dog before it is three months old. From then, you can easily raise him with your cats and he will get used to having them around, and playing with them.
Although they may not want to play with the puppy at first, do not interrupt any issues or activities between the cats and the puppy except if you notice there is danger or violence.
Cats are bound to show defensiveness when they are not okay with certain things getting in the way of their privacy and intruding on their boundaries. With this, your dog may be able to learn how to behave around your cat.
As your puppy grows older, he will know how to act not just around your cat but other cats as well.
Separation and Containment
Once the tragic situation of your dog killing a cat has occurred, observe your dog’s behaviour. If your dog continues to chase after cats, the best option is to keep your dog alone in an open and fenced area.
In absence of a fenced area, you can opt for a large kennel area. With this, your dog will be kept away from other loose dogs that may encourage his aggressive and violent behavior.
In addition, cats are usually very active at night. When taking your dog out on walks, it is recommended that you do this before it is late and in areas where there are no cats.
Make sure that your dog is always on a leash during those walks and that the leash is strong enough to hold your dog if he mistakenly spots a cat and decides to chase it.
What Not To Do
Do not rule out your dog or ignore him because he has killed a cat. It does not make him a bad dog. It just means that your dog has very strong prey drive and hunting instincts which you may need to control.
Also, do not punish or hit your dog for killing a cat. Best believe that you are in no way helping matters by disciplining your dog. Instead, you are only worsening the aggressive behavior in your dog.
Do not condone any chase between your dog and a cat even if they are just playing. Over time, it could lead to serious problems as they could run into a cluttered area or in the middle of the street during such a chase.
FAQs
What do you do after your dog kills a cat?
If a dog kills a cat, chances are that your dog might do that again. As such, if you have other cats, protect them from your dogs in the meantime. Make sure that your dog has no access to the cats to be on the safe side.
While considering other options, you can either choose to rehome your dog or the cats.
Should a dog be put down if it kills a cat?
Once your dog kills a cat, it should be put down or quickly taken to another home that does not have any other animals.
Do dogs eat a cat or just kill them?
A stray dog may kill and eat a cat, but a well-fed dog won’t take the time to eat a cat.