News1 min ago
Territorial cat attacking dogs
78 Answers
Now stop laughing, this is no longer funny.
For the third time this week I have had a complaint that my cat has attacked someone's dog. We get a lot of dog walkers round here. Last night apparently he chased an alsation.
What on earth can I do? For his safety and the dogs? I can't keep him in - he is used to freedom. He is 19 and always been a bit feisty (ie if a dog comes near his garden he will take it on), but now he is actively looking for trouble.
For the third time this week I have had a complaint that my cat has attacked someone's dog. We get a lot of dog walkers round here. Last night apparently he chased an alsation.
What on earth can I do? For his safety and the dogs? I can't keep him in - he is used to freedom. He is 19 and always been a bit feisty (ie if a dog comes near his garden he will take it on), but now he is actively looking for trouble.
Answers
Well I've kept "The Terminator" in today. He has been allowed into the back garden, but only while I am here to keep an eye on him. I've blocked the gap under the back gate so he is effectively "confined to barracks" (since his poorly leg, he can't jump the fence anymore).
Talking of his poorly leg, this was quite strange. The vet seem to think it was a "pulling" injury rather than an impact injury. Mr BM was talking to our other neighbour the other day, and he told him that about the time Arnie was injured, a bloke was pacing up and down outside our house early one Saturday morning. When the neighbour challenged him he said he was looking for the ginger cat that had attacked his dog. Strangely, Arnie got his injury early one Saturday morning. We now suspect that this was a revenge attack. I hope (if indeed it was a revenge attack) the big brave dog owner feels suitably proud of himself in injuring a 19 year old cat and seriously upsetting two children when it was thought that he might have to have his leg amputated.
Talking of his poorly leg, this was quite strange. The vet seem to think it was a "pulling" injury rather than an impact injury. Mr BM was talking to our other neighbour the other day, and he told him that about the time Arnie was injured, a bloke was pacing up and down outside our house early one Saturday morning. When the neighbour challenged him he said he was looking for the ginger cat that had attacked his dog. Strangely, Arnie got his injury early one Saturday morning. We now suspect that this was a revenge attack. I hope (if indeed it was a revenge attack) the big brave dog owner feels suitably proud of himself in injuring a 19 year old cat and seriously upsetting two children when it was thought that he might have to have his leg amputated.
It's not a matter of whether you love cats or not. It's what happens next. Suppose he decides he can attack a person, especially a child. I know how startled I was a couple of years ago when I was talking to my neighbour and a completely strange cat leaped upon my back. I had a thick coat on so was not hurt but those claws can be pretty devastating. I think you will have to see the vet about calming him down barmaid. No other way.
I can't say "never" because you cannot say "never" with an animal but I have certainly seen nothing to suggest he would attack a human. I manhandle him all the time with not so much as a hiss. My step son is always fussing him and he has NEVER shown any aggression whatsoever towards a human. He seems to know that humans are "the boss" (which is a damn site more than other cats). It's just dogs he has a problem with. He even puts up with ASBO tormenting him. Oh, and chickens are his other bete noir, but frankly if the chickens will take the P*** and try and take his food off him, they get what they deserve.
I didn't call the vet, but I did have the benefit of some vet's advice which was to keep him in. So I've kept him confined to the back garden and we've temporarily blocked the flap up. Lord knows how we will cope tonight with 4 moggies in the house being unable to access the outside - we've already had one poo accident so I put down a litter tray.
I found my over dominance drops which is now in his water (he's the only one who really drinks from the water bowl, the others prefer muddy puddles or the lake - muppets). I also found my feliway diffuser, but wasn't sure whether the things that they had at Pets at Home were the right things so I have to go back tomorrow with the diffuser!
We've decided that we think he is just old and cantankerous.
I found my over dominance drops which is now in his water (he's the only one who really drinks from the water bowl, the others prefer muddy puddles or the lake - muppets). I also found my feliway diffuser, but wasn't sure whether the things that they had at Pets at Home were the right things so I have to go back tomorrow with the diffuser!
We've decided that we think he is just old and cantankerous.
It's a total pain Alba. It means I either need to decide whether to keep them all in or let them all out since they won't be able to come and go as they please. I've also got to put down more litter trays since you really should provide 1 per cat plus 1. So that's five litter trays I need to hunt out tonight.
The alternative is that I unblock the flap but get up at about 5am and get The Terminator in (ie before too many dog walkers get about).
The alternative is that I unblock the flap but get up at about 5am and get The Terminator in (ie before too many dog walkers get about).
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