Dogs and cats have not made great friends in many fairy tale books. In real life, dogs and cats have not been the best of friends.
To stop your dog from attacking your cat, I have created a few things you should know about your pets. In addition, I listed what to do to help them stay at peace. Let’s read on!
Match Personalities
Figure out the personality of your dog and know whether it is right to adopt a cat. If you know that your dog has a high prey drive, then you want to reconsider getting a cat because your dog will surely chase after that cat.
Also, cats have their own personalities and can be difficult to handle as well. If your cat is the type that swats and hisses at dogs all the time, then you may be safer without a dog in your house.
With an energetic cat that enjoys playing around, you can have a playful dog. Rather than seeing each other as prey or competition, they will both be playmates and enjoy each other’s company.
With a relaxed older cat, you can have an easy-going older dog. Just make sure that the personalities of your cat and dog complement each other.
Teach Basic Commands
Basic commands are very important to make sure your dog acts right at specific times. It is important to teach your dog some basic commands such as stay, come, sit and leave it.
Once your dog has learned these commands, you can test how well it can follow these instructions in the midst of distractions and things that grab his attention the most.
You must make sure that your dog obeys these commands no matter what. With this, you can be confident that when your dog begins to chase a cat, he can stop as soon as you command him to.
Note, however, while training your dog, make sure he is kept on a leash especially if the cat is present. If you are unable to train your dog by yourself, you can employ the services of a trainer or a dog behaviorist to help you out.
Most times, dogs that have very high prey drives require training from professionals before they can learn to stop chasing after a cat.
Redirect the Behavior
Observing any aggressive behavior early in your dog will help you to redirect and stop it entirely before it leads to something worse.
As soon as dogs realize that they enjoy chasing cats, it can be very difficult for them to stop. However, if you discover this on time, you can try to stop your dog from doing such.
Teach your dog basic commands and make sure he follows them strictly so that when you catch him chasing after a cat, you can tell him to stop at once.
In addition, if you notice your dog fixating on your cat, distract him and redirect his attention as soon as possible. Tell him to come and then give him rewards or treats for obeying.
Do not forget to reward your dog for being accommodating to your cat from the beginning. As time goes on, you can provide a longer leash for your dog.
For safety reasons, ensure that your cat has a way to escape. Cat condos, cat shelves, tall furniture and cat trees are highly recommended as escape routes for your cat.
According to some trainers, you can give your dog a reward every time he remains calm around your cat. Regardless, make sure that your dog is kept on a leash.
Keep Your Pets Entertained and Busy
Once you keep your dog engaged in several activities, it will be less likely to cause a cat as it simply will not have that energy. You can take your dog out for long walks every day and then add some games like catch, fetch, agility courses, and even training sessions where you can teach your dog basic commands and tricks.
By engaging the mind and body of your dog in several activities, your dog will not have the extra energy to chase after a cat.
On the other hand, you can also engage your cat in activities as well. This can make your cat less prone to pouncing on your dog and triggering its prey drive in the process. Play with your cat and opt for clicker training and interactive toys to keep its mind busy.
Also, provide a space where your cat can go to relax without interruption or disturbance from your dog. To relieve stress, make sure you have a comfort zone calming diffuser in the room. Thanks to this drug-free solution, your cat will feel happy and very relaxed.
FAQs
Why is my dog so obsessed with the cat?
Most dogs have a strong prey drive. Once this is present, you’ll notice that your dog enjoys chasing after and catching smaller animals as it sees most of them as prey.
Why is my dog being aggressive towards my cat?
If you notice that your dog is behaving violently towards your cat, the reason may be that your dog sees your cat as prey especially if your dog is one that has a naturally high prey drive.
If your cat has a bad experience with a cat or is in the presence of a cat, aggression might be a response to that fear. Some other dogs may become jealous once they notice that you spend most of your time with the cat.
Why does my dog charge at my cat?
Dogs will usually chase cats because of their instincts especially if the breed of dog is one known for chasing or herding.
Another reason why your dog may chase your cat is that they want to play. Just like how dogs behave in a game of chase or tug of war, your dog might chase your cat like they chase a ball or stick.
Why does my dog lunge at my cat?
Most times, your dog will lunge at your cat in an attempt to scare your cat off. This may be due to reasons such as your cat invading your dog’s personal space. However, your dog usually does not have any intention to harm the cat.