New puppy and resident cat

[blueroanmum]

We have a 10 week old Cocker girl; and a 14 year old resident cat.  The cat has lived with dogs all her life and if they don't chase her, she is fine with them.

We have the pup on a houseline in the house and after a week, the cat had got used to seeing the pup and realised she was 'under control' and is happy to be in the same room as her and also sits still whilst we pass her in the hall etc.

The pup shows interest but being on the houseline is easily controlled and encouraged to walk past the cat.. however especially in the garden, she is now starting to bounce up and down in excitement, tail wagging, trying to throw herself at the cat - who crouches down and growls/hisses/meows etc.  The cat normally would run and if Georgia wasn't on the houseline I know she would do ... and Georgia would chase her.

Whilst she is so young, we want to start off on the right foot and try and control the chase instinct - has anyone got any advice please on the safest way to achieve this?  Or how long we should keep G on a houseline?  At the moment we daren't let her off or she and/or the cat would get hurt.

We've thought of using the 'leave' command and click training with a treat but the pup is just so taken up with the cat, that it falls on deaf ears.  Unfortunately our cat is not the type to stand and defend herself much, she tends to run if in a threatening situation, which of course, is just asking to be chased.

We'd be grateful for any advice - as I say, the cat is happy to be around dogs if they don't bother her but as we all know, a puppy will chase.  We do have a safe room for the cat to go in but can't yet put up the baby gate as the pup would get through it and we feel it is wrong to lock the cat in that room after she has been used to the run of the house all her life.

[blueroanmum]

mmm 68 views and counting, but no replies.  Perhaps I should have put this on the Puppy board.

I shall remain hopeful though that someone somewhere has some advice 

[redlottie]

Hi blueroanmum

Sorry no advice with your issue but just wanted to say hope someone will be along soon to help.

Be lovely to see some pictures of Georgia.

[blueroanmum]

Thank you! I shall arrange a piccie too :-)

[Clare B]

Hi, I was waiting to see if anyone had better advise than I , as my cat is not timid and stood his ground as the boss when we introduced our cocker to the household.  Our cat was almost 6 when Flo came as a 9 week old pup, we gated off stairs and didn't allow Flo ( our pup) in the back garden because we had a pool.  So our cat had many escape routes , we did however relax our rules on the cat not being allowed to jump up on benches etc, so he could quickly get put of bitey puppies way.  Flo did manage to corner our cat a few times but Lu ( the cat) growled and whacked ( without claws out) just to warn off Flo.  Flo was always told NO when she barked or attempted to chase Lu, and had timeout if she became too excitable.  2 years on and they live happily together and often sleep curled up together , although Lu is the boss and Flo knows to keep out of his way if he is in an intolerant mood.  They do play chase, but only by Lus instigation.  Don't know if this is much help as your cat seems to be more timid than Lu.

[twiceover2]

I'm afraid I haven't got any advice but can sympathise with the problem.  My cat (Kira) lives upstairs and the dogs live downstairs.  Recently, Kira has begun to tolerate Barney being upstairs with her as he has learned to leave her alone and they just ignore each other.  He learned that she was not to be played with when he managed to get through the baby gate, ran upstairs and chased her.  She turned on him, hissed and swiped his nose.  He weed in shock and has left her alone inside the house since.  However, if he sees her outside he still wants to chase her and will if she comes into the garden not realising he is there.  He also dislikes all other cats.  If we go to my mum's we have to make sure her cat is out as Barney seems to think his role is to guard my mum's house from an unwanted feline intruder.

Pippa (1 year) still holds out hope that Kira might want to play with her and when I have tried to introduce them with Pippa on a lead, Pippa play bows, waggles her bum and generally tries to entice Kira into a game but Kira is not at all impressed and just makes a dignified exit.

I don't like the fact that Kira now lives upstairs (and outside) but we do try to spend time up there with her and when the dogs are out she comes down to visit in the living room - she loves it when they go to the groomers for a couple of hours.  I don't think there's a lot you can do other than wait and see how things develop as your puppy gets older.  Will be interested to see if anyone has any good suggestions though.

[blueroanmum]

Thanks Clare and TwiceOver.

Yes our cat is rather timid, she is a small cat and although she has been used to dogs, she doesn't like having to stand her ground. Mind you this last couple of days she has spat like mad and yowled... so maybe the message will get through.

[**purpleprincess**]

Don't really have any advice, but sounds like the houseline is a good idea, and that your cat seems to be standing its ground a little more.

For the first week Luca just ignored our cat for whatever reason! And the cat seems to be tolerant of pup.

Good luck!

[montsmum]

We have a similar problem...Milo at 14 months loves to 'play' with our elderly cat, who hisses and growls when he leaps on her. However, the cat is quite happy to sit there when he licks and fusses her, and I have seen them sitting quietly side by side! I don't have a solution, but they may learn to tolerate each other!

[blueroanmum]

Don't really have any advice, but sounds like the houseline is a good idea, and that your cat seems to be standing its ground a little more.

For the first week Luca just ignored our cat for whatever reason! And the cat seems to be tolerant of pup.

Good luck!

For the first week, our pup ignored the cat too - we were really heartened and thought it wouldn't be too much of a battle, but now she's making up for it!

[blueroanmum]

Thanks all for your replies.... we are still open for advice if anyone else has any to give; at the moment we will continue keeping the pup on a houseline so she can't chase.  Our cat is relaxed as she knows she can't be chased but when they meet in the hall or somewhere, she yowls like mad and spits. Has absolutely no effect on our pup... she just bounces around excitedly trying to jump all over her!