My blind dog attacked my kitten. Can dogs and cats coexist safely?

Yes, you got it right. They often can't distinguish between kittens and other small preys and will attack and kill the kittens as well. The same can apply to small children, that in their eyes can be considered something not human as they are not fully grown up, make funny sounds and have different smells. This does not apply got every dog, but does apply to dogs like yours that feel the instinct to attack. I would advise against rescuing a kitten or it might end up in a tragedy ! Best wishes

I'm so sorry you experienced something so scary last night. I'm glad your older kitty is doing OK. I certainly can't tell you that Ellie will ever be safe around cats. Often dogs that attack and shake cats in the way you described have a strong prey drive and will always be a risk to be around cats. If you are interested in keeping Ellie, I would recommend consulting with you veterinarian and consider consulting with a veterinary behaviorist ASAP. A veterinary behaviorist is a veterinarian who has additional years of training in behavior. They can also prescribe medications if needed. Hopefully you can find one near you here. http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/ In the meantime, be sure that every member of the household (including your children) are committed to keeping Ellie away from the cats. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I would be glad to help you! I'm very sorry Coco was attacked by the cat. It could be that at night, Coco is trying to play with the cat, and the cat (who isn't used to dogs) is reacting with aggression. It could also be that the cat simply doesn't like dogs and doesn't want to share her home. Depending on how long you have to live with your daughter, I can suggest a method to make them more comfortable with each other so Coco doesn't have to go to the kennels. Introducing them should be done slowly. I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. Make sure the cat has a litter box, food, and water in her room. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. You can also place a blanket with Coco's smell in the cat's room, and a blanket with the cat's smell in Coco's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for the cat and a DAP for your dog. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once both pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing the cat in the Coco's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce Coco on a leash to the cat while she is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward the dog for being calm and quiet near the cat. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure the cat has a cat tree where she can escape from the dog as needed, and I would keep them separated at night until they are getting along better. Hope this helps :-)

I am sorry to hear about your loss. That is definitively possible unfortunately as soft tissues injuries could be not immediately visible and even minimal bleeding can be fatal to kittens of that age unfortunately.

Bringing a kitten into a home with a dog that has high prey drive, especially if that dog has a history of killing small animals like squirrels, etc. can be very dangerous - because of this, I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate your dog in person and help you do this as safely as possible. You will likely need to keep your dog on-leash at all times around the kitten for quite a while, so that you can prevent any chasing and reward calm behavior with treats and praise. The kitten and dog should never be loose together when you aren't home, or when you aren't able to supervise. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who can help you in person here: www.dacvb.org

I would be concerned that a blind and a deaf cat may clash simply because they would not be able to predict each others movements by being unable to see/hear the other coming and could both be more reactive as a result. It may be worth fostering the new kitten for a trial period but I would recommend insisting that a swab is tested for infectious causes of eye disease prior to bringing her in as any condition which could be transmitted affect the vision of your blind cat would have a serious impact on her quality of life. Not all kitten eye conditions are infectious as birth defects are also possible

If your dog is forcefully and aggressively sniffing at your cat I would recommend keeping them separated. It will only be a matter of time until the cat decides to lash out at the dog that is bothering her. This could lead to severe injury in both the cat and dog. As for your elderly cat that is having seizures, I would recommend that you take him in to be evaluated by a veterinarian. There are numerous causes of seizures in cats and by doing a physical exam and lab work, your vet may be able to determine the cause of the seizures and prescribe a medication to help them stop. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.