Question:
Hi there
My cat is about five months old and we have recently addopted a one year old shephard/husky mix to the family. The cat is petrified of the dog. Everytime that the dog sees the cat and he barks and goes after her, and she growls and runs away hissing like I have never seen or heard before. We do have an 8 year old cat aswell and she does not bother with either of them. How can I get them to get along?

Answer:
First off, stop letting the dog chase the cat. You are teaching the dog that this behavior is ok. It is not.

Answer:
We restrain the dog when he tries to chase her, that is not my problem. I wonder why they do not get along.

Answer:
Is isn't the dog's fault...it's part of their nature. They must be taught that it's not acceptable to chase the cat. Being the one who knows better, it is your problem, not the dog's.

Answer:
I do not have a cat (I have dogs), but I would recommend doing what I do when introducing a new dog into my home.

You have to reward the dog for NOT being aggressive. Get them in the same room together, where the cat is in a safe place at a safe distance. Have the dog lie down when he notices the cat. Then reward him.
Reward him when he doesn't bark (or stops barking after being told not to).
Gradually, over the next few days, close the distance between the two animals. Rewards rewards rewards for behaving.
Also make sure that the cat is comforted during this time (another person can do this while you are holding the dog).
I've done this at home and it works well. Eventually I get to the point where I have one dog lying down beside me as I sit on the floor, and the other dog lying on the other side of me, with just my legs between them- petting them both and praising them for behaving. Then I get to the point where they will just touch noses curiously. More praise. At some point in time I get them to actually lie down next to each other for a few moments. PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE. And gradually lengthen the amount of time.
I know I'm being repetitive with the praise/reward thing, but positive reinforcement is really the key here.
I think this makes for a less stressful introduction, it happening over time. Neither animal should be forced into the company of another that makes it uncomfortable.
Let us know how it goes, and good luck!

Answer:
Great suggestions CF. If I get another dog I'll try what you've suggested.

Answer:
Just be aware that many huskies can be extremely predatory and aggressive to small animals, and you may never be able to leave them alone together.

Get a baby gate for a room and put all the cats stuff in there. Lift the gate off the floor just high enough so the cats can get under it. The cats need to know they have a safe haven. This will give them confidence.

The cat must do this in his own time and own way. Never try and force them to meet.

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