I adopted Max from an animal shelter yesterday. He is VERY interested in my cat Oliver, but Oli is scared of him and goes nuts when Max is around. My other dog Dex and the cat get along GREAT, they play all the time and rough. Max and Dex are the same size and same temperament. Is there any advice on how to get them to get along. I can not have a dog that makes me ostracize Oliver.
i think you definately can have a dog that doesn't get along with your cat. Keep them separate animals in the same house may NEVER like each other. You really should have tried to introduce these animals before you adopted to avoid this situation as it would be a terrible thing to adopt a dog and then turn it back in because you didn't prepare for the advent of dogs and cats not getting along.
Obviously your cat is used to dogs so it may just take awhile for it to get used to this new dog. It's hard to say why your cat doesn't like the new dog seeing as obviously it already know a dog.
We spent hours at the shelter with Max and our current dog Dex before bringing Max home. Since the cat, Oliver, loves loves loves Dex, we did not foresee this issue.
As an update, we held onto Max and brought Oliver into the room and Oliver got really close showing that he is curious. We think that over time they will get along. We love Max and will find a way to make it work.
Cats are not as open to new pets as dogs. It took my cat almost a month before he felt comfortable with the dogs and would come out and join us. Then the dogs were all over him becasue they knew he was intimiated. I had to hold him and make the dogs approach him slowly, but they ended up being the best of friends and played all the time.
Love takes time for cats. It's not an overnight thing for them. Espcecially when it comes to dogs.
I think they will eventually work it out. My friend has had numerous changes of cats and dogs over the years and they eventually work it out.
Have the cat in the room and then bring in Max (several times) and every time Max enters the room give the cat a special treat and comment here comes Max and give kitty the treat. Eventually the cat will think hey Max is a food magnet.
People think that this only works on dogs, but I tell you it works for my cats. Toby used to hate grooming and then I discovered if I do it for only 5-10-15 minutes (whatever she is in the mood for)and then give her special treats every time, she now gets cozy with the clippers when it is just sitting on the floor. I give her a treat even if I don't turn it on. She thinks those clippers are a good treat machine.
try introducing them through a gate. make sure you hold on to max. open the fence bit by bit . if oli gets unconfortable, close the gate completely and start over
