My new dog attacked my cat. Can she learn to live safely with cats?

Oh dear! This is potentially a very dangerous situation for your cat, so I would definitely recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist if you want to keep both pets - he/she can evaluate your dog in person to help determine the level of risk involved, and will put together a detailed training plan to work on the problem. Generally, treatment for this problem would involve rewarding the dog for calm behavior around the cat, while also managing the situation carefully to ensure that there are no injuries - this may mean that the dog needs to be on-leash at all times around the cat, or they should be separated using a baby gate or some other physical barrier during training sessions until things are calmer. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

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 of your loss, some dogs will never acclimatise to cats and will act as a predator -prey species regardless of age or infirmity. I would not recommend another cat or kitten as he is likely to attempt to attack again.

It sounds like Cece has serious aggression issues, and I would not recommend bringing another animal into the house if she killed your last cat. She will need professional behavioral training if there is to be any hope for having another animal in those, and I highly recommend hiring a behavioral expert to work with her. You can ask your vet for a recommendation, but please keep in mind that aggression is a very difficult behavior to work with, and even training may not be successful. I would not bring another animal into the house unless the behavioral expert says it is ok to do so. Otherwise, you may have to accept you cannot have other animals around Cece.

Hi there. This is a complex question that can't really be fully answered in forum like this, so I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer in your area who can help you in person. In general, you need to introduce them slowly (usually by having a separate "safe room" for the cat during the introduction process), and keep the dog on-leash whenever the cat is around at first. The dog should be rewarded with praise and treats for calm behavior around the cat. Over time, if all goes well, you can start to allow the dog off-leash for short periods around the cat, as long as she isn't showing any signs of aggression or intense interest. Be aware that some dogs with a strong predatory instinct may never be safe off-leash around cats, in spite of training. You can search for a veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org or a qualified trainer here: www.ccpdt.org

You should not have her put to sleep just because she attacked your cat, don't forget this is a natural behaviour and death punishment is really not a logical thing to do. I would recommend contacting the RSPCA they will take her and rehome her.

That is a decision only you can make. She may have acted out since it was not her familiar environment and it was a new, different cat. She may like yours because she is used to them and comfortable. I would not call it normal for a dog to attack a cat or anything else, but stress and uncertainty and cause this behavior. If you do not feel you can trust her at your house, then you will have to tell her new owners that she did attack a cat and she needs a home with no other ones to be fair.