We still have our foster cat Cassie after I dunno, 6 weeks?

She isnt fussed by aged Ren, they largely ignore each other, seems McGee loves her and wants to play but Cassie isn't that into him (yet), but Cabbage is being a turd.

Im keeping McGee and Cabbage for the most part, they can follow us up if they like, but not at bedtime, they stay in the kitchen. The front room door is always ajar, so is Cassie want to come down she can.

Shes coming down more and more now, when McGee sees her, his tail goes wild and he goes into play mode (very unusual for my boy, he is a weirdo who doesn't really get playing when Cabbage tries but shes a bit of a bully, nicking his toys etc but this isn't about them), but Cassie is still a bit wary of him.

Anyway, when Cassie puts her head round the door, Cabbage starts yelling and chasing her (yorkie, loud little brat). Cassie bolts, but ive seen her take a swipe. If Cabbage is sleeping, Cassie comes in and settles down, but if Cabbage wakes she just has to have a go! The cat doesnt necessarily dislike Cabbage but I dont want it to get that far.

Anyone got any advice on the best way to get Cabbage to chill out and let Cassie come into the front room and chill? I get the feeling if she wasnt around, McGee and Cassie would eventually be friends, but Cabbage just spoils it all for everyone!

did I just step into a parallel universe?

are yours the same like?

Still early days I would suggest but you need to stop the chasing, could you use a house lead and keep cabbage on a lead until they get used to each other ?

1) Does Cassie only try and come into the room when you are also there?

2) How are you currently reacting to Cabbage's behaviour - what do you do when she starts barking and chasing?

It's difficult to advise on your approach unless we know what you're doing now or have tried.

That's what my brother did when he moved into his girlfriend's place. She had dogs and he had a cat.

1 - No idea, I'm not there

2 - We were shouting her back as she has got good recall, but now we're trying the oh just let her get scratched, she'll soon learn approach and then blanking her when she comes into the room all full of herself.

Saying that, Cassie did get all the way through the front room into the kitchen and back without Cabbage doing anything, but then, still not sure she spotted Cassie.

Don't shout !! if they are going to get on well together you need to keep the interactions calm and quiet. By shouting anyone back you set the wrong tone entirely and they may perceive danger where there is none. That's why the house lead works so well you can pull the lead silently and not add to the tension.

I didn't mean shout as in yell at her Shouting her, not AT her

Anyway, I talked to my husband about these responses just tonight.

Because Cassie is upstairs most of the time and because Cabbage is snuggled up next to one of us most of the time, it seemed impractical (and confusing to Cabbage possibly) to keep her on a lead. She does always have her harness on, so, if the door moves we get ready to get her harness, so if she does dive for her, we can keep her well away and at the same time ignore her til she calms down, then let go once Cassie is out of the room.

To be honest, my loyalty would have to be to my regular pet ie the dog. I'd stop fostering, I couldn't put him through that stress.

You have a point I had assumed the cat was becoming a permanent member of the family but if it is a short stay I would stop doing it too.

Does your dog know "watch me" or "focus" or something similar?

We taught our border collie puppy (who is from working lines - with a very strong chase and herding instinct!), those commands, so he had something else to focus on when the cat was around. It worked a treat, and he got out of the pattern of associating the cat with instant playtime. The cat can generally walk around unhindered now.

Something else to try, moving on from "focus", i.e. when he is at the stage of not automatically getting excited by the cat. You can ask him to "wait", and then teach him "say hello" so he can interact with the cat on your say so. That way you are controlling the interactions.

If he gets too full on with the cat while you are training, you could get one of those leather pull handles attached to his collar, then you can pull him away if you need to without pulling him by the collar.

Good ideas but if the cat is just visiting ? not sure I would use a lead even as I earlier suggested it's the dogs home it needs to be free to enjoy it IMO.

I suppose it depends on what your dog already knows. Our dog already knew "focus", and the desensitisation took only about a week to crack.

Could you use "stay", or something your dog already knows?

Rather than a lead, you could try something like this:

http://www.fordogtrainers.co.uk/inde...jqhehqu8dob8t4

So, to spell it out for you, you never walk into the room and find that Cassie has gone in there and settled by herself? She only ever walks in while you are sitting with Cabbage?


If you are shouting (whether it’s at her or not) then the dog will associate the appearance of Cassie with a strong reaction from you and every time you react strongly you will be embedding this response in Cabbage. Even if you are sitting with Cabbage and don’t shout, you’ll have to control your body language when you get ready to restrain her or Cabbage will pick up your tension.

Oh just let her get scratched has its risks. Cats tend to swipe at nose and eyes. Your dog is small and a similar size to the cat so the ideal height for a nasty scratch at the eyes and a visit to the vet. In addition, a scrap could wind up the other dogs and suddenly the cat is having to defend herself / retreat from several dogs, not just Cabbage. A friend re-homed an adult cat, thought that all was well with her two dogs and the cat until, two weeks later, one of the dogs cornered the cat and killed her.

If you are planning to foster successive cats or this one long-term, it’s worth persevering with Cabbage but you’ll have to train your own behaviour before you can influence Cabbage.

If this is just a one-off fostering or an experiment, then I agree with Duff'sDad that it may not be fair on the existing dog/s. Or the cat. If the cat begins to feel less safe, you may end up with stress soiling in places it does feel safe.

Having integrated a number of cats, kittens, puppies and adult dog combinations over the past 30 years I know that with patience it can be done calmly (and easily, in our experience) but none of our dogs have ever been yapsters who’ve shared a sofa with us.

The cat is for keeps now.


This sounds good. Cabbage is a smart cookie as well, she would pick it up no bother.

This weekend, they've crossed paths twice now without trauma, barking, chasing. I think we might be getting somewhere.


Im sure you have some good advice, but no need to be rude.