How to Deal with a Cat-Aggressive Pooch (Guest Post)

Do you have a dog who constantly attacks your cat, to the point that you’re afraid to leave them alone together? Does your home often feel more like a war-zone than a comfortable and inviting place? Dealing with an aggressive dog can be a stressful experience, especially if you have children in the house. Dogs can be aggressive in many different ways; if you have a cat or kitten and your dog is less-than-thrilled about it, here are some ways you can make your home a more peaceful environment.

Introducing your dog to your cat for the first time

If you’re just bringing a cat or kitten home to your resident dog, ease into the introductions. Leave your cat or kitten in its carrier and bring your dog over for a meet and greet. If your dog immediately shows signs of aggression, take him out of the room, and keep them separated for a day or so; then try the process again. It may take a few tries to get your dog used to the new addition.

Once they both have the run of the house, there may be territorial issues. After all, your dog was there first, and your cat will naturally want to rule over all of you, including the dog! Your cat’s instinct may be to run away when the dog is near, and that will encourage your dog to run after it, as they are natural predators. They may see the cat as prey and your pooch will go into predator mode.

Is your pooch just playing?

Most dogs, particularly puppies, are playful by nature. They may just be wanting to play with your cat, but don’t realize that they are being too rambunctious or aggressive. To help solve this, have your pets play together when you’ve taken your dog out for a walk, or when your dog’s energy level is not at its highest.

Show your animals plenty of love and affection

No matter how old your pets are, or how long you’ve had them, they will get along better if you show them plenty of love and affection. Try not to show favoritism – for instance, allow your cat on the couch, but not the dog; or ignore your cat while paying attention to your dog. They each need to feel loved and needed by you; yes, cats are much more independent and may not appear to like the extra attention, but in reality, they need to feel loved just as much as dogs.

Feeding Time

If your dog is showing signs of aggression, having their food dishes in the same room could exacerbate the problem. It’s best to keep their food in completely separate rooms. Investing in an automatic cat feeder, or dog feeder can provide timely meals as well as portion control.

When giving treats, never exclude on or the other if they’re both in the room. Always treat them equally. This will allow your dog to see the cat as less of a threat.

Is your dog a sociopath?

That may be an extreme diagnosis, but some dogs can suffer from anxiety, depression and anti-social behavior just like humans. The difference is that dogs don’t often have access to medication or therapy like humans do.

If your vet has diagnosed your dog with an extreme personality disorder, it may be best to keep them away from other pets, for the sake of all involved. There are sprays and plug-in pheromones that may help with the issue, but it’s best to talk to your vet before self-diagnosing.

Get your cat and dog at the same time

In a perfect world, you would get your cat and dog at the same time, preferably when they are about 6-8 weeks old. This way, they would grow up together and there wouldn’t be any territorial issues. They still may get aggressive with each other from time to time (think of sibling rivalry!) but generally, they would likely become the best of friends.

But of course, this is not a perfect world, and if you have a feline addition to your family, your dog may be less than impressed.

Always make sure that your pets are in a safe environment – i.e. fully supervised, while they get used to the new order of things. When you are away, put your cat in a separate room with a door that they can’t get out of, or crate your dog (although don’t start crating him just because of the cat, or he won’t understand why he’s being crated, and may end up being even more aggressive.)

The good news is, that once your dog gets used to his new ‘playmate’ things around the house should settle a bit. They may never be the best of friends, but they will tolerate each other and life won’t be a constant struggle.

Author Bio:

Annie is the founder of MeowKai, where she and her associates write about cat behavior, health issues, and tips and tricks on how to get your cat to behave! It concentrates on creating the best life for you and your cat so you can enjoy each other’s company and build that trust that is so important between pet and human.

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What Cat Parents Can Learn From Dog Parents

I’m the textbook cat lady everyone talks about. I interact with cats more than I do with people! So why am I here on a blog dedicated to dogs?

To humbly submit that cat owners can learn a LOT of things from dog owners.

In the world of four-legged companions, it seems that you’re either a dog person or a cat person. Sure, there are those who love both, but there does seem to be a divide between the two pet worlds. In fact, many studies have shown that dog and cat owners tend to have different personality types. Dog people tend to be more outgoing, and cat people fit the cat lady bill by being introverted.

Of course, everyone is different (and I have had both dogs and cats throughout my life, so what kind of person does that make me?), but the general statistics make sense.

The consensus seems to be that Fido is outgoing and needs lots of attention and love from his owners, while Fluffy does her own thing while giving her owners a judgmental stare. An outgoing person would love to own a pet they can bring outdoors and interact with other pet owners, while an introvert wants a low-maintenance pet they can interact with whenever they feel like it.

However, if you think cats don’t need any social attention, you’re wrong! Cats still need plenty of attention, and can get separation anxiety just like their canine opposites. Think of it this way: antisocial people don’t like attention as much, but they still do need some social interaction occasionally. Cats are the same way!

With that in mind, many things dog owners do should be done by cat owners as well, such as:

Playtime!

Cats are never going to catch a Frisbee if you throw it, but they still need playtime.  Just like you, a cat needs some entertainment to relieve stress and cure boredom. Cat toys are the perfect solution for many cat owners. Catnip, scratching poles, a fake mouse, and other toys tend to keep kitty busy for hours.

But sometimes, a cat needs you to play with it. Cats are born predators, and they usually want something to chase and catch, which most toys can’t provide. That’s where a human comes in! You can attach a toy to a string and wave it in front of your kitty until they catch it. A simple playtime activity like this will keep your cat physically and mentally stimulated.

Dog owners are going, “duh, of course you play with them. What kind of monster are you?” I know! And that’s why I’m here because you guys can back me up in the hopes that my fellow cat parents get something out of this and start loving their kitties better!

Dogs often demand playtime and make sure they get their way, but the personality of many cats leave it up to the cat parent to remember. While forgetting is no excuse, it happens! And if we’re more conscious of their need to play by reading articles like this, then we’ll be more likely to remember.

Exercise!

Just like a dog, a cat needs daily exercise. For some, the idea of a fat, lazy cat is funny, but it’s no joke when the cat is faced with serious health issues. Cat obesity can cause diabetes, deteriorate cartilage, and shorten its lifespan quite a bit. Sometimes, playtime isn’t enough.

That’s where cat owners should look at dog owners. Most dog owners take their pup out for a walk daily in order to give it a good workout. Walking your cat isn’t as strange as it sounds, and many cat owners are giving it a shot.

If you do want to go for a “W-A-L-K”, as we used to spell so our dog wouldn’t go mental when she heard the word “walk”, make sure your cat is trained for the outdoors, buy her a collar or a harness designed for a feline, and start small. Take Mittens out for a walk around your yard. If she likes it, work your way up. Go to a park, or take kitty around the city. If she seems anxious and doesn’t like the walk, don’t force it on her. But you may find that your cat loves being walked, just like a dog.

But not all cats want to go for a walk, and that’s OK - the principle holds true.

Finding indoor games to play to give your cat the run around she needs is super important, and if only we could take the obvious cue from our dog-owning neighbours, we’d all be happier and healthier.

Petting!

Every dog owner can’t keep their hands off their pup, and the dog seems to love it regardless of what’s going on.

Cat owners, on the other hand, usually let the cat come up to them, or make it rub its head against their legs. There was one study misinterpreted by the media that said cats hated being pet, and that has caused some cat owners to be hesitant when petting Fluffy.

Don’t be. Many cats see petting as a sign of affection, and if they’re purring as you’re stroking their fur, then you’re doing something right!

With that said, petting your cat is an art. There are some spots your cat loves being pat on, such as the head, and others it hates, such as the tail. Cats are different, so your kitty may have its own preferred spot, but this is the general rule. Pet it and see what it likes.

Also, if your cat doesn’t want to be pet, don’t force it. Some cats just don’t like that much interaction, or they get in moods, just like you, where they don’t want any attention. Study your cat’s behavior and see when it’s a good time to pet and when it’s not.

I can only imagine the happiness and general wellbeing improvement for cats across the nation if their cat parents would just smarten up and take a page out of the dog owner book. And why shouldn’t we be petting our cats? Studies even show that interaction and petting can relieve stress and be good for lower our blood pressure!

As I said before, cats need a lot less attention than dogs do, but like any creature, a kitty will get lonely if its owner ignores it. If you’re owning a pet and not giving it any love, why own one at all? I make sure to give my kitties equal attention!

So while some cat owners may not be too fond of dogs, you better believe they can learn learn a few lessons from the pet owners on the opposite side. If you’re not giving your cat enough love, make like a dog owner and get playing, exercising, and petting!

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How To Make Your Garden Safe and Pet Friendly (and Update)

I've always talked about dogs before... Today, I want to talk about pets in general. After all, we have crazy pigeons and a pond filled with shubunkins and kois.

This is our fish pond at night!

We are a nation of animal lovers without doubt. Pets are almost as important to some people as their children, and they will go to any expense and effort to keep their furry friends safe and happy. You can find cats and dogs with diamond studded collars often being carried everywhere by eccentric masters. I often wonder if their feet ever touch the ground. This attitude completely dumbfounds other people. I guess being an animal lover is just a part of your genetic make up.

Siamese Cat 01 by Tigikrak, CC-BY-2.0

Keeping pets can be an expensive business. Take for instance, veterinary bills for inoculations or illnesses that can run into thousands of pounds. The cost of a pedigree animal to begin with is astronomic. It can be an emotional and financial disaster if harm comes to your pet. We will address here, a few things you can do to keep your pet happy and safe in your garden.

Dogs

Your pedigree pooch is probably your best friend too. What can we do to make his life a little better? Well, if he spends a lot of time in the garden, he will be glad of a drink and somewhere to cool off occasionally. A shallow pond is ideal for this. The pond will need to be filtered to some extent and biological filters can be found in aquatic centres or online for a low price.

A suitable area of shade from the sun should be arranged, dogs aren’t keen sunbathers and suffer readily from the heat. The shade can be provided by a tree, bush, or a purpose built shelter. It need not be a complicated affair.

Dogs love to dig so an area of unplanted ground may save your lawn from devastation. It is best if the ground is not too compacted so may benefit from being turned over occasionally.

Jackson, Lawn Ornament by Greg, CC-BY-2.0

Good quality and sturdy garden fencing is a vital part of your scheme. Dogs can scramble over high fences, but you are usually safe with a fence of six feet or more. This is achieved with 1 foot gravel boards and 5 feet panels. The gravel board could also be half buried to prevent your dog digging a way out.

Avoid thorny planting in the garden for dogs, they are not as agile as cats and can cut themselves. If the cut becomes infected, it could lead to more vet bills.

Cats

Cats are far less demanding than dogs but still need a little consideration. If your cat is the love of your life and you wish to keep it enclosed in your garden, adaptations are available for your existing fence and are easily installed.

It is always a good idea to provide your cat with an enclosure into which a dog could not fit, if one gained access to your garden. A bolt hole, if you will.

A clean water source should be kept in the garden at all times, though the cat doesn’t need to cool off in a pond.

I Luv Catnip by barockschloss, CC-BY-2.0

Investing in some catnip plants could give your cat a constant high. It is probably best to keep these plants in pots and just put them out for a treat occasionally.

Fish

The poor fish will be under attack from cats, dogs, and birds. If your situation requires it, a mesh cover will need to be placed over the pond. Koi carp and other fishes are very expensive and need close care. Ensure that your fish have the best filtration system you can afford. That is, of course, unless you have a natural, self-sustaining pond.

Planning your garden correctly need is a one-time expense. With a little imagination, and by using the tips here, you will be able to keep your best friend healthy, safe, and happy. We owe them that at least.

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Going to the Beach and Meeting New Animal Friends

Chooey Update: Chooey's healing well. Unfortunately, China's quite under the weather! He tested positive for Ehrlichia and we had to leave him confined at the vets with an intravenous drip. 

Please send us some POTP for China. The doctor just called to inform us that China's condition is critical. They had to inject him with a medicine that makes the heart pump blood faster. He's also on oxygen.

A couple of weeks ago, Chooey was being fed soft diet composed of Cerelac and Royal Canin Recovery Food for 3 weeks straight. When I checked dogfoodadvisor.com, it didn't have any rating so I decided to switch Chooey's canned food to Solid Gold (with Cerelac) and Go! Natural. Both are grain-free and rated pretty well.

So you must be wondering where we guys are. We're just preoccupied with my sister's arrival. She hasn't come home for 14 years and it's a big deal that we spend as much time as we could with her. Sorry if we haven't visited your blogs. We know we owe you guys big time!

Marui was kept in "bars" while our rented van entered the resort because he likes running out of the gates and through the streets. 

We went to the beach this weekend and stayed in a very nice place. It was a private establishment. The owners had two dogs- a Shih Tzu and Chocolate Lab. The Lab was such a friendly gentle giant. He reminded me of the sea lion we watched that day.

This is one happy sea lion!

While talking to his caretaker, we asked what dog food they were feeding him. He said it was Purina. The first thing that came to my mind was Pro Plan Chicken and Rice because it used to be recommended by my old vet (back in the province). It's definitely a lot better than feeding the dogs leftovers or human food.

This is Hachi. The owners derived his name from the dog named Hachiko. 

We played with Marui the entire night. He loved being stroked. We also played with the little puffball. Not to mention the cat...

This is Bob (or so we named him). He is also a beach resident.

So that's the rest of the beach crew. 

Hope China gets better. The vet says that the medicine for Erlichia is highly effective and they're just keeping an eye on him tonight.

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