Hi All

Please help me, my cats are just not adapting to having a puppy in the house adn I'm feeling very stressed in deed.  Kiera (12 week old Lab) has just realised they run when she gives chase adn she thinks it's great fun. We are restraining her and telling her off and isolating her for 5 minutes when she does it but she just isn't learning.

I feel like I'm at a complete loss of what to do - I love my cats and I could never part with them and now I feel the same way about the dog...I am so stressed it's really upsetting me.  Do these things sort themsleves out over time?

Thanks
Nicky

Yes, make sure your cats can escape upwards & it will lessen the stress Depending on the cat of course the more stubborn the cat the longer it takes but it will resolve itself. Don't forget to reward your puppy when it ignores the cats

I don't know what your set up is, but we are going to put a stair gate at the bottom of the stairs to keep the pup downstairs, but to allow the cat up stairs so she can have some peace. Don't know if this would help?

The cats are afraid to come in if they are out or go out if they've made it in - Kiera attacks the cat flap, we've tried everything to stop her but she just ignores us.  We have managed to stop her from going up stairs, but she'll chase them up the firts couple of steps.  :(

we have 4 cats and 2 dogs .
Two of cats  have learned not to run so that the dogs dont give chase (I think it confuses them slightly) one will lie in the middle of the floor and look as if to say go around me!!
the dogs dont even give him a second look........he sorted them  out a while ago with a few little clips on the nose.
My pup is 9m the older girl 2yrs I shout "NO" when they are on a cat hunt (they listen out for the bell) they have realised I mean business and  usually stop but as a precaution I always keep a newspaper on the worktop and bang it down hard on the unit if the chasing gets out of hand they then get in thier crates.
They block the doors when the cats are in the kitchen they are Beardies so they like to keep the cats altogether in one place!!
I have a gate on the stairs with a little gap on the side so that the cats can slip in and out because jumping over excites the dogs more .
In the evening when everyone is sleepy they all lie quite happily together so dont be despondant .....hang in thier and they will learn to live with each other but it does take time as long as the cats have somewhere they can escape to where they can rest.

Good Luck
Roni

I have 3 dogs and a cat. The cat deliberatley used to tease my 3 year old male. No way will he do it with the 10 month old bitch! I don't have stairs, or gates. But I do have a very large crate in the middle of the living room floor. (Will I be glad when I can move that ;) ) When the pup gets too much for the cat she is given 'time out' in the crate :) She is starting to realise that the cat lives here too (he's now 5 years old and has lived here since he was 7 weeks old!

Just make sure that your cats can escape. It does take time, but you will get there in the end. They all have to learn that they all live together. Keep telling the pup that it is wrong to chase the cats and she will get the message, eventually :D

You could try putting your pup on a lead in the house, to help learn her its not acceptable to chase your cats I find this works wonders when introducing a new dog to our cats :)