How to stop my new cat from attacking my dog over food and attention?

Hi there. Resource guarding behavior, such as growling at other pets who approach their food bowl, is a very normal behavior in dogs. Some cats may show this behavior as well, especially if they have come from a background where food was scarce. If this is the only time there are any aggression issues between the animals, it's best to just make sure that everyone is fed in a separate area so that they can eat in peace. Then pick the empty bowls up and put them away to avoid any problems.

I’m not really sure if Leo is a dog or a cat. If he is a dog then you should restrict access to the cats and allow only supervised interaction for awhile. Reward him for calm behavior around the cats. If Leo is a cat then you should make sure all cats have separate spaces with food, water and litter. Feliway diffusers can also help.

Cats are notoriously apathetic to our wishes, aren't they? :) Young cats often have a ton of energy that can sometimes be displaced as aggression. Make sure there are lots of places/things for the cats to explore. Elevated areas like cat trees or cat shelves on the wall are great; window perches, scratching posts, toys, etc. Its also important to make sure that the cats aren't "competing" for resources-- make sure there are multiple food and water bowls and at least 3 litter boxes (if you have 2 cats.... the recommended number of litter boxes is the number of cats +1). Here is an article I think you will find helpful. The website this article is from is a great resource for cat behavior. Thank you for asking PetCoach! https://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/why-your-cats-may-not-be-getting-along/

That actually sounds like very normal behavior for a cat who is adjusting to a major change. It sounds like Arlo is working on getting comfortable in his new environment but isn't so sure about the humans there yet. I would recommend giving him lots of space, not taking the growling personally, and giving him time (probably a week or two, maybe even months) to warm up. Let him be the one who chooses to interact with you, not the other way around. you can definitely use food and offerings of toys to try to entice him to come interact with you, but it should still be his choice. Congratulations on the new addition, I hope he settles in soon!

Mealtimes are a common trigger for aggression between dogs in the same household - this may be a resource guarding issue related to the food itself, or could be redirected aggression that is happening when Harvey gets excited and/or frustrated while waiting for his food. The simplest solution would be to put both dogs in separate rooms with the door closed (or in their crates, if they are crate-trained) prior to getting their dinner ready. Feed them in their separate areas (again, in different rooms with the door closed if possible - separate parts of the same room isn't enough), then let them out once they have both finished eating. Pick up the bowls and put them away afterwards to avoid any resource guarding issues with the empty bowls. If this doesn't help, or if you are interested in a more detailed training plan to work on this behavior over time, I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist. He/she can evaluate both dogs in person to hep determine what is causing this problem, and put together a detailed plan for you to work on the problem. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

It sounds like Cali is suffering from food aggression, which is typically a more common problem in dogs, but it can uncommonly occur in cats. There are a couple things you a try to fix the problem, including leaving food out all the time for her to graze at, or feeding her more frequently, and I will attach a link to a website that details out some methods you can try: http://www.petcha.com/how-to-manage-food-aggression-in-cats/

In addition to a gradual introduction or acclimation, consider using a pheromone product such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser. Either may decrease any anxiety or aggression. Correct any aggression or negative behavior immediately. Praise and reward good behavior. Be consistent and be patient.