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My Dog Keeps Playing With The Cat – The Cat Is Very Tolerant But We Don’t Want Things To Go Too Far?
Posted on November 25th, 2009 5 commentsWe have 3 cats and a 4 month old Bichon Frise. Two of the cats want nothing to do with the dog and just stay out of the way, swat him if he tries to come near them. The other cat is a Ragdoll who has a high tolerance for pain and doesn’t react to much (she hates being brushed but I can grab her by the scruff and brush her without more than a scratch or two). The puppy loves charging at her, climbing on her etc which she doesn’t seem to either love or hate. He does start to go too far and start mouthing her, snapping at her, trying to bite her ears or grab her side if she squirms away which is all clearly not ok.
He likes to cut her off if she tries to escape and overall treats her the same way he would another puppy.
My husband and I disagree with how to best address this. He thinks the dog should not be allowed to interact at all with the cat. I think that we should wait until she protests his behavior, then back her up and reprimand/correct him.
I don’t think its prey drive – just playfulness and him not knowing when enough is enough. I don’t want to separate them and have the dog not ever know how to interact with the cat. His puppy exuberance makes it easy for him to get overexcited while playing but I know if he can learn how to get along well with the cat now, the better it will be.
Any links or knowledge or the breed that will help us decide the best way to correct this situation? I’m really looking for some backup for my point of view but will listen to sound advice that supports my husband as long as the the breed of the dog is taken into consideration (a Bichon does not have the same aggression/prey drive of a hunting breed).5 responses to “My Dog Keeps Playing With The Cat – The Cat Is Very Tolerant But We Don’t Want Things To Go Too Far?”
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you should definitely let them interact with one another when you think the dog is being to much for the cat then correct his behavior that way he knows what he is allowed and not allowed to do with the cat if you keep them separated it makes things alot harder for you in the future because you will always have to worry about keeping the dog in one room cats in the other and all that nnonsense
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?PomMom? Happy Thanksgiving! November 25th, 2009 at 15:28
Just let them handle it. If one has had enough, they will let the other know. As long as it isn’t aggressive, they will be fine.
I have had many cats and dogs and they have a way of communicating with each other without intervention. -
Khellend November 25th, 2009 at 16:39
I have 3 dogs and 2 cats. One of my cats absolutely hates the dogs and hides until they go to bed, the other cat is really tolerant. He will let my 4 month old Dobermann pup rough him up until he’s had enough and then he’ll “box” her nose and stalk away. With my 2 adult dogs, he tells them off by biting them. They all seem to have an understanding that when kitty has had enough it’s time to rough house with each other.
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let him play with the cat. The cat will tell your puppy when enough is enough. She has claws, right? What do you think they’re for? As he gets older and tries to play more roughly, she’ll start swatting at him, and he’ll learn his place. Separating the dog and the cat will make them unable to cope with each other when reintroduce them.
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I don’t know specifically about a Bichon, but any cat will tell any dog when they’ve had enough. We have a black lab who loves playing with our cats. 2 will swat his nose and run away. The third loves it, and lays down purring while the dog paws him, chews his ears, stuff like that. When the cat has enough, he gets up and walks off. If the dog won’t quit, the cat will let him know it’s time to stop.
Since your puppy is only 4 months old, I wouldn’t worry too much about it, the cat will teach him when to stop, and they’ll be fine to play with each other till then. If nothing else, you can always call your vet and see what he says.
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Budda_we November 25th, 2009 at 14:43