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 Pet Central
Q&A
Q: My fiance and
his 6-year-old male cat (he’s a Leo) have moved in. I have a 4-year-old
German shepherd (he’s also a Leo). Both animals are wonderful, although
spoiled. Neither had experience with the other species. The cat walks
around hissing, and the dog is goofy, just wanting to play. What’s your
advice? -- J.S., Detroit, Mich.
A: Instead of consulting
an astrologist, we opted for Amy Shojai, author of "Competability
(cq): A Practical Guide to Building a Peaceable Kingdom Between Cats and
Dogs," (Three Rivers Press, New York, N.Y., 1998; $12). She points
out that if your cat is walking around snarling, he’s certainly not pleased.
Back up a couple of steps, and give your cat a part of the house, a room
or two, as a refuge from "goofy." Use a baby gate or other obstacle
the shepherd can’t get around.
Remember, aside from
dealing with a dog, your cat is learning how to deal with entirely new
surroundings. Design places around your house with altitude, places where
your cat can get away from the dog or just lie back and observe. A plush
kitty bed positioned at a window ledge, a bookshelf or on top of the fridge
would do nicely; also consider a cat tree. Meanwhile, whenever the pair
are together, supervise their meetings. The best time for these gatherings
is meal time; both will learn to associate food with their get togethers.
It’s imperative that
you teach your goofy dog how to behave around royalty (that’s the cat,
of course). Rule 1: No chasing the cat. Keep your dog on-leash if he won
t heed commands. Of course, once the pets get to know each other, kitty
will pester your dog until he does take chase. That’s what we mean by
the cat acting like royalty – setting his own rules.
After dinner,
give your pooch a Kong toy stuffed with low-fat peanut butter, and tell
him to lie down and enjoy. While he goes at the goodie, play with your
cat in same proximity. Use an interactive toy, such as a Cat Dancer (available
at pet stores) but not a toy that will encourage the cat to run around
because that just might trigger your dog to chase. After the game, everyone
gets praised. Act relaxed while you play; if you’re uptight and
worried, your pets will pick up on the tension.
When your cat no
longer walks around the house snarling, and appears more comfortable and
confident, remove the barrier. Some animals — cat and dog, cat and cat,
whatever combination -- become the best of friends, some don’ t. But at
least when you take your time and encourage trust, they can learn to co-exist.
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