Sometimes I despair

[Sarah83]

If it's not loose dogs causing me problems it's loose cats! Had one come charging right up to Rupert tonight. Thought it was a dog at first and immediately got in front of Rupert and yelled at it to go away. Then realised it was a cat! Rupert thought Christmas had come early and I spent the next 10 minutes trying to force him back to the flat while preventing him beating this cat to death with his muzzle. It would NOT leave us alone, it really wanted to get to Rupert and give him cuddles. Apparently cats are impervious to the Voice of Doom. The the bloody cat lay right across the door to our flat, I had to contort myself to reach the buzzer to get Calvin to come down and save us!

I hope this cat isn't a regular around here, my dog is one of just 2 or 3 that are kept leashed. It won't last long if it approaches all dogs like this! Not a cat person myself, I'm scared of them but the last thing I want is to see it hurt or killed.

[jacksdad]

I know this isn't funny but sorry I can't help but laugh at this cat. The mental picture of Rupert going nuts while this cat is just strolling along like he is out with his best buddy then lying at your door.... maybe it's a suicidal cat

I do feel your despair, i really do.


No I don't suspect cats respond to the Voice of Doom very well. they do however respond really well to chicken or tuna fish might try a little "treat bomb" next time. toss a handful of treats on the ground near it see if it goes for the food.

[ClareMarsh]

Apparently cats are impervious to the Voice of Doom.

Sorry to laugh but I've tried this on the cats down our street as although Ted's only mildly interested they are TWICE his size (fatties) They just look at me with total distain Stamping at them sometimes works or I've tried hissing at them with some success (I have NO shame ). I like Jacksdad's idea although I'd have to tell Ted to leave it or he'd be nose down. Cats do hate water though so maybe a squirty bottle, I know this is supposed to be positive training but if you make the cat scared of dogs then it sounds like you're doing it a favour

[Sarah83]

I'd be doing it a favour if I just made it scared of MY dog, he's a confirmed cat killer! He killed a cat that jumped out of a tree at him, I have no doubt he'd repeat the experience given half the chance. I know he's muzzled while out but him attacking a cat while muzzled is still going to hurt it.

I might have to carry treats with me and try a treat bomb. However my experience with cats is that once you feed them good luck getting rid of them EVER! I was stamping my feet at this one, hissing at it, swearing at it, pretending to throw things at it (didn't have anything to actually throw or I would have done so! Better that than it being attacked by Rupe).Jacksdad, I can laugh at it now but at the time all I could think was "oh my god, he's going to kill it!" He never made contact thankfully but it wasn't for lack of trying! He's quite good at leaving cats on leash but this one so close was just way too much. I don't think it helps he doesn't bark or growl or anything so no warning to the cat if it is a dog savvy one.

[ClareMarsh]

However my experience with cats is that once you feed them good luck getting rid of them EVER!

Hadn't thought of that, it'll start hanging around waiting for you! Water pistol it is then

[thepennywhistle]

Sarah83 wrote:
However my experience with cats is that once you feed them good luck getting rid of them EVER!

Hadn't thought of that, it'll start hanging around waiting for you! Water pistol it is then

Or maybe try the penny cans that were popular in the 70s. Empty pop can, add a few small coins or rocks, then tape it shut.
Won't really hurt anybody if it hits them, but makes a terrible noise when you throw it, especially if you get a good
roll on its landing. Spray bottle is good, but it's a close range weapon. Hopefully this isn't one of the really forgiving
type of cats

[WufWuf]

I'd agree with the don't feed them they'll remember and seek you out!

Might sound strange but cats hate flappy noisy things like big bin bags flapped loudly in their direction, might not work on the bomb proof types but could be worth trying. easy to fold up and carry too! And yes voice of doom just falls on deaf ears and hissing only works until they realise it's just a silly human who can't scale walls

[Fundog]

I'm sorry, but that's hilarious--- I even feel sorry for the poor cat, wanting to make friends with Rupert, and getting rejected.

A few weeks ago my own dogs had a similar encounter with the cat, only the roles were reversed: the cat, being startled, ran straight through their legs trying to get away, and got himself stuck in our porch trellis. Luckily for the cat, all my girls did was drool on it.

[MPbandmom]

I do feel for you on the cats. We have one that likes to hang around our yard amongst many other places in the neighborhood. It has tags, so belongs to somebody. It will walk right down our driveway when the dogs are in the yard going absolutely bonkers racing from front to back and to front again barking like crazy the whole time. (I guess it gives them a good workout )

My son has a tendancy to leave his car windows open all the time and we have seen the cat exiting his car. The other day I planned on going out a second time so left my windows down. Ended up not going until the following day. Opened the door to put my shopping bags in the back seat and there was the cat curled up on the dog fur covered fleece throw.

Just this past weekend I watched the cat be very disappointed that the windows on my son's car weren't open sufficiently for her to fit through. She goes back and forth across the street in front of my house too. I am so afraid that one day she is going to be hit by a vehicle. She has managed to do this without incident for a few years now though, so I guess she is pretty street savy.

There are other outdoors, stray or feral cats that we see around from time to time, but this one little black kitty with the tags is a real regular and I'm pretty sure she knows the dogs can't get to her. Their presence really doesn't do anything for the health and safety of our elderly, indoor cat, however. Sometimes, Sirius especially comes in from having seen the cat outside, and she is a little too hyped up for the hunt.

[Erica]

Cats can be pretty smart - before Topaz got really really old, he would literally look both ways before he crossed the street; I'm guessing he was listening for cars. (Our future cats will all be indoor cats, though.)

[.:Shepherd Forever:.]

My dog has an exremely rare prey drive, and goes insane when cats are near. Although, most cats are scared to death of my big goof, he still got ahold of a stray one and badly injured the cat, flinging up and down, shaking it- a dreadful sight. I thought I was gonna die then. Long, sad story so I won't continue.
Anyways, my cats are fairly smart, one (which is the size of a Malteese), os trained to do tricks! XD Hilarious!
So, I'm a cat and dog person really, love 'em both. ;3

[Sarah83]

I'm sorry, but that's hilarious--- I even feel sorry for the poor cat, wanting to make friends with Rupert, and getting rejected.

A few weeks ago my own dogs had a similar encounter with the cat, only the roles were reversed: the cat, being startled, ran straight through their legs trying to get away, and got himself stuck in our porch trellis. Luckily for the cat, all my girls did was drool on it.

Rejected? He didn't reject it, he welcomed it! Only not in the way the cat wanted I felt kinda bad trying to scare it away when it was so obviously friendly but if I hadn't it would have been hurt.

I think I may start carrying a rattle bottle with me, don't like them really but this is the 3rd encounter with another animal in 2 days. 1 loose dog Wednesday afternoon, 2 loose ones Wednesday evening and then the cat last night. Rupert's not at all noise sensitive so if I teach him that rattle means treat I'm sure I can use one without upsetting him. Problem with using a big flappy thing is that I'm likely to traumatise Rupert with it.

[Flyby]

It's a very unpredicable situation all round. Will or won't the cat flee? Will or won't they fight? If they fight, who gets hurt?

Sadly, nobody has the answers, but sometimes things can surprise you.

Both my dogs are prey driven, if it's furry, it's on the menu, and neither are socialised with cats. That was my ommission, but believe it or not there are simply very few cats in my area to socialise them with. On the rare occassion they do see a cat, there is an unhealthy level of interest.

However, there's a cat lives near my mothers house called Thomas which is quite a character and fearless of dogs. I wasn't impressed with the story, that cat meeting my two dogs would very quickly be one ex-cat. However, when visiting one time, my dogs had the run of the house with the back door open, and to cut a long story short, we found Pippen and Thomas playing with each other on the grass out the back. Pippin looked incredibly curious, but was quite relaxed and not threatening at all. The cat was pawing him, but no claws out, on his back, but equally relaxed. I never thought I'd see that, especially with Pippin.

However, just as I came out the house, Odin was right behind me, and saw the cat straight away. The cat saw Odin, and for whatever reason, his size, his demeanor, or simply being the second dog to keep an eye on, the cat decided to run. Any animal fleeing is a red rag to my dogs, and the cat was lucky to get away, but he did.

I'd have loved to see the body language and exchange of signals going on when Pippin and Thomas first met. I suspect if Odin had met the cat in the same situation, the results might have been similar, but when he appeared quickly, there was no time for him and the cat to size each other up.

Conclusions? None. I think the 'right' cat can use body language to pacify a dog not to attack it, but the 'magic' isn't strong, and the cat is really playing with fire. He needs to be extremely careful, particularly about how he breaks off the encounter or turns his back for any other reason.

Was there any social lesson for my dogs? Maybe. A positive one for Pippin, don't kill a cat on sight, but a negative lesson for Odin. Cats run when chased. Hmmm.... Almost feel we need a cat to do more experiments with now, but unfortunately, I have a bad feeling sooner or later those experiments might not end as well as I might hope.

[Sarah83]

I know what you're saying Flyby but I can guarantee you Rupert would have at the very least hurt this cat given the chance. Cats that don't run get hurt or killed, he's proven that to us twice (one died, the other lived) and he would have certainly grabbed this cat last night had he had the chance to do so. There was no aggression as such from him the way there is towards other dogs, there was no curiosity, he was just deadly focused.

My Rottie mix was found curled up in the garden with a neighbours cat many times He'd never been socialised with cats and had chased and caught a cat and brought it back to me (unharmed except for slobber) on one occasion. SOME dogs can be fine with cats that don't run. For other dogs though a cat that doesn't run is just an easy lunch.

[jacksdad]

Jack is hit and miss with cats. Except when Luna is around, then suddenly he thinks he is mr hunter. but when it's just me and him, if the cat doesn't run, it throws him. he isn't sure what to do. But I have been working with him on cats just like I do with dogs and I am starting to get auto watches when he sees a calm cat. if they run...all bets are off he is going to try and go after it.