Hi all, I thought I was doing fine with my cat/dog (dog hates cat) integrating them etc, but tonight while I was making the meal I was shocked that my cat just jumped into my dog's mouth!!  They had been sparking off all night and dog wasn't happy but cat was winding up as usual.  I thought this was just normal and everyone would cope.  I think the cat was just jumping to the floor and the dog saw his chance and pounced. All is well as I yelled and the cat escaped easily without injury and I ordered the dog to his basket, which he went to without any bother.  Will they ever get on?  Dog knows cat is out of bounds.  Cat knows dog is there to be teased.  But they still want to bait each other.  I don't mind that but I can't stand the thought of either  seriously injuring the other.  Anyone been in this situation??

CG

Think the cat needs to be taught a lesson, you can bet your life it will be the dog with a septic wound or a damage eye.

my dog hates my cats and my cats hate the dog they have now decided the cats own upstairs and the dog owns down stairs so they now live in realative peace unless one or other decides they want a bit more good luck I hope yours get to like one another

when we first got our cats (arnie and barnie) we only had one other cat (puss) the 2 brothers were scared of dogs but we got tess, then polly, then toby, when polly was rehomed we got jack, the cats coped well and the dogs dont bother about the cats at all, the only time the dogs pay attention is  when the cats run so then jack gives chase, when the cats want a 'fuss' from the dogs they rub against them and jack shakes in fear as he scared of them when they too close :D , yours will soon learn to get along

If I remember rightly your dog is a rescue Border Terrier. Borders were bred to work on fox, and I am afraid still have most of that instinct lying latent in them.

I hope that you can sort the situation, but to be honest Borders are notorious as cat killers if they have not been brought up with cats, this is the reason that Border Welfare will never rehome to a home where there are cats.  This the reason that I always have a cat in the house, so my pups get use to having a cat about from very young.

One of the nicest bitches I have ever met was wonderful with other dogs, humans and puppies, but killed next door neighbours kittens without a bye your leave.

A few years ago I had a friend come for Christmas with her 4 Borders, 3 were fine with the cat, the other one very nearly killed her, she lost an awful lot of her coat in the process, she survived but only because we were on the spot when he sparked at her.

My only suggestion is as someone else has said is to keep separate territories for them, i.e. keep cat upstairs and dog downstairs.

Hiya
Our staffords love our cats! Our cats love our staffords!  The only one i have problem with is our cross breed that wont tolerate cats of any kind! (he doesnt harm them he just walks away if they go up for a love ) Our staffords also love (and i mean love!! ) our tortoises!

Donna and charliex

Gus our Staff is also fine with Noodles the cat - he wants her to be his playmate :)
His tail is constantly wagging when he approaches her but she is having none of it - although they are at the stage where they will sit either side of me on the  sofa at night (sometimes)  ;)
If your dog is a rescue that may be part of he problem - as in how he was introduced (if at all) to cats prior to rehoming .
Then again I suppose some just never get along due to inherited traits.
Good luck

A friend of mine has Vizslas and a Burmese.  She had five dogs in the house when the kitten arrived as she had some extras staying with her and the kitten soon took over.

It is nothing usual to be there and to see a dog running past with the cat attached to its neck and on the way back for the dog to be carrying the cat, next round will be the cat attached to the dog's back and on it goes.  It is hilarious to watch and neither ever seems to get hurt.

I dread to think what would ever happen if I got indoor cats!

Christine

Thanks everyone - I will most definitely be much more careful with them both.  To be honest I was warned off about cats before I got the dog (he is a BT) but me being naive thought we would all cope.  To be fair to the dog, he does do as he's told when I tell him off but then maybe telling him off isn't fair as he's only doing what he thinks he should do.  It's not a massive problem (they both have a good life) as the cat spends a lot of his time outside and the rest on top of the kitchen cupboards but I did think things might have improved.  Now I know better!

CG

It isnt easy introducing cats to Terriers.  I remember many years ago my sister bring a cat to us that had been abused, I had a Jack Russell at the time as well as 3 other dogs.  I had just lost my previous cat and aquired the Jack Russell afterwards.  She very nearly killed it within seconds.  My other dogs were fine.  However, my other sister had to re-home her Persian, a very friendly laid back cat.  I took "Katie" round to my sis and "Smokey" cat came charging up and rubbed all round the dog.  She was gobsmacked and that not retaliating attitude meant Smokey came home with us and lived with us for the rest of his life.  I think this is quite a rare solution, as in April I bought a Kitten because I had just lost a young Cat.  My Borders had all had Cats here when they came, so they were fine, but, this fluffy, spitty, GINGER (fox like), kitten would of been killed in a shot if proper precautions were not taken.  I put him in a large cage for him and the dogs to get used to eachother.  I had him out when I was there and only on my lap, within a few days the situation had calmed and now they are the best of friends.  I can 100% guarantee that "Connor" my eldest Border would of killed this kitten if I hadn't done this.

I don't think Copper is a cat killer, otherwise your cat would be dead now or at least seriously injured, perseverence may see your cat and dog live together in harmony.
DAwn.

Thanks Dawn - I have hope!  I think Copper sees the situation as a bit of sport and Harley sees the situation as a major inconvenience.  The cat's young but he's not daft and after the few incidents we've had he does mostly keep out of harms way, although he just loves to taunt the dog.  I would never leave them alone together but it makes for a lively life!

CG

Hi Dawn

Strange you should mention Connor as the bitch I was talking about was his Grandmother, so you don't surprise me when you say to start with he would have set out to kill your kitten.

Its a question of if it runs its fair game!!!

Nice meeting you at long last by the way at LKA

Jayne

Nice to meet you too!

Connor has been an excellent worker all his life, his instincts are exceptionally strong, and yes if it runs, chase it! (unless I see it first!)
Dawn.

Hi Copper Girl,

I also have a 'game' breed, my burmese cat was not impressed when we got our Bedlington and has pushed things to the limit on several occasions.  We have dealt with this in two ways.  Firstly we have ensured that the dog has a really good response to the 'OFF' command and he has also been taught that the cat is not for chasing, despite being desperate to play!!  At the same time we have made sure that the cat knows that she is not allowed to taunt the dog.  Our voices are very effective for this and if this doesn't work then she is put out of the room (and she hates being away from us!!)  Despite this there have been occasions when the cat has lost some of the fur on her back ( she's elderly and slower than she thinks ;) ) but the dog hasn't really done any damage.  If I catch an 'incident' (which is always started by the cat) they both get told off - mainly because I don't want the dog to think that its ok to eat the cat!!.  Friendly encounters are always rewarded and things do seem to be improving, on several occasions we have arrived home to find them curled up together despite being in separate rooms when we leave.

  Our dogs are fine with the two cats and vice versa in the house. The cats are Lucys boss but Penny's hunting instinct gets the better of her and she makes a grab of  at the cat but she stops almost instantly. Lucy is petrified of the cats and they lord it over her. But this is inside the house only.
  Once the cats and the dogs are outside the roles are reversed and the cats are scared of the dogs and even Lucy chases them.
I would suggest a water spray bottle with the squirt nozzle set on mist. Then when the cat goes for the dog squirt the cat.
  I used this technique with my cats and dogs, and now the cats will rub aginst the dogs and sleep in the basket with them. But the dogs always roll their eyes and shudder.

                                                                                                                                                          Good Luck

My staffords are completely different.  Jasper will run in the other direction tail between his legs ears back from a cat.  Tammy on the other hand will chase a cat all day if she could just to play.  I don't take either of them to my mother in law as she has a border collie and several cats.  Her border collie and the cats get on really well.  Fly will even let the cat have her kittens in her barrell.  She will let the kittens eat out of her dish.  They are brilliant together.

Hope it all calms down and sorts itself out soon.