My Cat & Dog Are Fighting – Tips For Keeping Everyone Safe
A few ideas answering the question, “What should I do when my cat & dog are fighting?”. Keep then separated while training pets to coexist. When a dog chases a cat, some want to play but others have a high prey instinct and will kill. Cats will scratch and bite causing serious injury to a dog, especially small ones.
When stopping a fight it’s okay to grab a leash, but never pull on the pets collar. A broom can scare small pets away from each other. A loud noise or a dash of water may startle pets and send them running in different directions. Use a blanket to pick-up a small dog. Grab a large dog by the rear legs. Pull backwards with a circular motion to ensure the dog can’t redirect his anger to you.
Fighting pets attack anyone who gets in the middle. Be especially wary if bitten by a cat. Watch for signs of infection. Don’t yell. This encourages aggressive behavior in dogs. If you or your pets are in danger, get professional help.
Teach your canine that felines are off limits. Have the dog on leash in a sit/stay while a helper brings the cat into the room. Stop every time the dog gets excited. Tell him “leave it” and put back into sit/stay. The dog should ignore the cat and focus on you. Treats for both can help. Both pets will associate the other with a reward. If you’re unsure of your dog, use a muzzle when the cat is in the same area, allowing you to relax and enjoy both your pets.
If you have multiple dogs train each with the cat individually before combining the group. The danger is that 1 dogs misbehavior will trigger a pack attack. If in doubt, don’t leave pets together unsupervised.
Provide all pets a safe and private haven. Provide separate food and water bowls. Don’t leave food bowls on the floor. This can trigger food aggression.
Some cats and dogs are best buddies. Some ignore each other. Some will never be safe together. Sometimes the caring pet owner provides separate living spaces for their dueling pets.
Get the exclusive low down on how to stop your cat and dog from fighting now in our complete guide to cat care and everything you need to know about how and where to find the best cat furniture .
Tags: cat, cats, family, home, house, kittens, kitties, kitty, Nutrition, pets, training
March 09 2011 05:42 am | Nutrition