My cats are mean to my dog. How do I stop their aggressive behavior?

Hello! That's really quite sweet of Isabella, but I can see how this would be problematic to your cats. Frankly, there is no simple way to change her behavior other than intervening and telling her "no" when you see it. Issues like this usually require management by providing the cats with ways to escape, rather than expecting the dog to change. Depending on how agile your cats are, it may be beneficial to put up baby gates to keep Isabella out of a room where the cats can choose to escape, or provide more elevated and protected areas such as a cat climbing tree like this one: https://www.chewy.com/frisco-52-inch-cat-tree-cream/dp/119898?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Frisco&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn-uNiJml1QIVU5R-Ch2P2gFNEAQYAiABEgKxMfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds I know this isn't a perfect solution, but it's natural for many dogs to want to be a bit more interested in cats than the cats would like them to be. Usually we can't change that, so we have to give the cats ways to escape so they can be comfortable. However, if you do want to work with your dog at correcting the behavior, it would be worth connecting with a good trainer who can come to your house and watch Isabella in person - your vet should be able to offer recommendations. Hope this helps!

Yes this is okay. I would try to make that room like a “cat room” if possible by making sure they have plenty of things to climb on and to entertain them. For these types of situations, I have known people who even build heavy duty shelving/walkways on the walls for them to walk on. I would also try to give them some attention for a little more than 10 minutes a day if at all possible. Some cats love affection and other don’t care so the time you spend with them really depends on their personality. At the end of the day, they are probably happier in there than stressing about the dog. Also, just make sure they are continuing to eat and drink normally. I hope this helps!

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 :-)

Hi there. Without being able to evaluate Oreo in person and watch her behavior with the cats, it's hard to say why she is doing this. It may be play-related behavior, fear-based aggression, or predatory aggression. Specific treatment recommendations will vary depending on the underlying cause. This is a very dangerous situation for your cats because Oreo is such a large, powerful dog, so I would strongly recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can work with you in person. You can search for one here: www.dacvb.org or here: www.ccpdt.org In the meantime, I would recommend keeping the cats physically separated from Oreo (in another room with the door closed) at all times to prevent any further problems until you can get a professional in to help.

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

That is very strange! It could be that something startled Beanz, she got very frightened, and reacted by attacking the closest thing to her: The dog. I would separate them, and slowly reintroduce them to each other. I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure Beanz has a litter box, food, and water in her room. You can place a blanket with the dog's smell in the her room, and a blanket with her smell in the dog's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for Beanz 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 Beanz in the dog's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of this reintroduction. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face again. I would introduce the dog on a leash to Beanz 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 her. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure Beanz has a cat tree where she can escape from the dog as needed.

Keep them separated for a few days. Gradually introduce one to another then introduce the third. A pheromone product such as Feliway spray or plug in diffuser may decrease any anxiety or aggression in the home. As the instigator, have Ripley examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury. Either can cause sudden behavioral changes. (Love the names for your trio. "Alien", great movie franchise)