Our cat just attacked our dog.

cardmonsta

Viciously.  My dog is bleeding (not life-threatening, and I treated her at home) and our cat lost a few nails and is also bleeding (not life-threatening as well).

I am at my wits end with this.  This cat is very dominant and has acted out for the past three years (mostly because H lives with us now).  We've tried to find him a home before, and decided to keep him, and now he's getting worse.

We've tried everything - behavioral therapies, medications, herbal remedies, etc. to keep his behavior in line.  The reality is that he's only sweet to me, and hisses at everyone else.  He's bit a few of my friends and scratched others.

I really don't know what to do anymore.  My mother was going to take him in when we moved, but now she won't, because she has a dog, and we don't want to put that dog at risk, either.  I'm trying a ton of rescue places, again, but they're all at full capacity.

I has a sad.

ETA: I should add that the attack was completely unprovoked.

kimheartsscott

 I has a sad for you!  What a crappy situation, I'm sorry.

Blueyed228

My friends cat lives in the basement (by choice).  Can you put her there until you find her a new home?

Make sure you clean the wounds good.  Cats have dirty paws.

TheCranberry

Oh, that sucks CM.  How is your dog feeling?

cardmonsta

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:a897a0b9-0039-40fb-af11-94f5d94bb483">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]My friends cat lives in the basement (by choice).  Can you put her there until you find her a new home? Make sure you clean the wounds good.  Cats have dirty paws.
Posted by Blueyed228[/QUOTE]

<div>We don't have a door to our basement, so unfortunately it wouldn't work.  And I cleaned the shiiiiit out of my dog, because cat paws are gross as all hell.</div><div>
</div><div>We tried letting him be an outdoor cat and it didn't work, either.  We tried the garage, and that's just only good for the spring/fall, because it's not insulated very well for the summer or winter.</div><div>
</div><div>The dog is moping around because she's miserable.  She didn't do anything to deserve it, and she's our version of "simple dog," so I feel terrible for her.</div>

aggiebug

I sorry that really stinks.  Its obvioulsy not a great life for her or you.  I wish rehoming her was easier.


has she always been like this?
how old is she?

Blueyed228

Can you de-claw it?

cardmonsta

He's probably 9 or 10 years old.  He hasn't always been like this - he's declawed in the front feet, so he only has his back claws (for the defensive position attack, if need be). 

He has a variety of other behavioral issues, most recently spraying, which is making my life miserable as well.  I have to clean the entire house twice a day because of him.

I really wish rehoming was easier, but the truth is that no one wants a 10 year old male cat with behavioral issues.

aggiebug

The spray is because he is stress with a change in his environment so FI and the dog.

If he hasn't always been an aggressive cat, it could be that he has metabolic imbalances.  Some bloodwork may show a lot and give you a treatable problem. 

It probably is just behavior and stress are the causes of the outburst but its worth checking right?

littlestowl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:bc20d909-2e7a-4552-a90e-3925870a9e3d">Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]The reality is that he's only sweet to me, and hisses at everyone else.  He's bit a few of my friends and scratched others.
Posted by cardmonsta[/QUOTE]

<div>For this exact reason, H and I can't have any other animal than our current cat. She hates everyoen aside from the 2 of us, animals especially.</div><div>
</div><div>We can't give her away because she's too antisocial and hateful to everyone else. So I understand your sad. </div>

cardmonsta

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:4f5adfc2-74f4-4121-8d61-ec5e0e6377b0">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]The spray is because he is stress with a change in his environment so FI and the dog. If he hasn't always been an aggressive cat, it could be that he has metabolic imbalances.  Some bloodwork may show a lot and give you a treatable problem.  It probably is just behavior and stress are the causes of the outburst but its worth checking right?
Posted by aggiebug[/QUOTE]

<div>Well, the spraying is a direct result of my H, actually.  The dog has always been here, before the cat was.</div><div>
</div><div>We've had bloodwork done on him at least twice a year, and no metabolic imbalances have shown up.  We've been through three behavioral therapists, countless different vets for second and third and sixteenth opinions, etc.</div><div>
</div><div>Really at this point it's my H or the cat, and I'm forced to pick my H.</div>

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

When you say behavioral therapies, do you mean a behaviorist? If so, what did they say about the cat and the situation?

My in-laws put a baby gate at the top of their basement stairs. Maybe that would help the cat stay down there.

cardmonsta

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:ae9e716e-0d21-4c8b-a39e-878e1b58ecdd">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]When you say behavioral therapies, do you mean a <strong>behaviorist</strong>? If so, what did they say about the cat and the situation? My in-laws put a baby gate at the top of their basement stairs. Maybe that would help the cat stay down there.
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

<div>Yes. Animal behaviorists.</div><div>
</div><div>They said that the cat is feeling very protective of me since my H moved in, and his emotional outbursts are a result of that.  We went through about a year's worth of animal training with them, and there were no improvements.  So then, we attempted medicinal therapy (first valium, then an anti-depressant, then another) with no improvements after two years.</div><div>
</div><div>The baby-gate is a novel approach, but he's quite the jumper and I'm positive that he'd get over it, haha.  He can jump like you would not believe.</div><div>
</div><div>I don't mean to be putting down everyone's ideas, it's just that we've really tried a zillion things already.  I'm also very depressed in this moment, so that's why I'm a negative Nancy.</div>

allisong23

Kitty Prozac? Don't laugh, I have heard it works.

cardmonsta

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:088d7f06-fa25-4007-a5a8-42202a4e3c88">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]Kitty Prozac? Don't laugh, I have heard it works.
Posted by allisong23[/QUOTE]

<div>Oh, I know - I used to make it in the pharmacy, haha.  We tried it, and it didn't work.</div>

Girlie1030

That's a tough situation Monsta - I'm sorry you're going through it.  Does the cat have a "condo" or anything of his own (a high, safe place) that he can get to but the dog can't?  You can also make it his "free zone" where neither you or  H will approach him if he's there. 

I'm sure you've read all of this before, but just in case there's something helpful in it...  http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/aggression.html

jasmineh7777

Is there any way to put a door up to the basement? (Really, I don't know if you can, so maybe this is a silly question.)
 

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Ditto Blue - cat scratches can have really nasty, bad infections!  Clean clean!

My aunt's neighbors have two golden retrievers they got when they were puppies.  They are brothers.  One day, the dogs viciously attacked each other and bled all over the place, and the owners could NOT pry them apart.  My aunt said the screams were terrible Then all of a sudden, the fight was over, and the dogs were licking their (and each other's) wounds.  It was weird. 

...I dunno why I shared that.  Sometimes animals just don't get along for whatever reason.

I hope you get this sorted out, chica I feel so sad for you. 

jasmineh7777

AATB- Tell them that throwing cold water on dogs can shock them enough to make them quit fighting.

kimheartsscott

If my dogs started viciously attacking each other and bleeding everywhere, I'm pretty sure I would start bawling my eyes out.

cardmonsta

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:3938f5b9-6dda-495c-aa75-152d5044d2cc">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]Is there any way to put a door up to the basement? (Really, I don't know if you can, so maybe this is a silly question.)  
Posted by jasmineh7777[/QUOTE]

<div>No. :/ Not a silly question.</div>

AllAboutTheBenjamin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:512fd264-25f8-4eb9-b69a-3edaf1820959">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]AATB- Tell them that throwing cold water on dogs can shock them enough to make them quit fighting.
Posted by jasmineh7777[/QUOTE]

Totally will (and will remember this...)!

jasmineh7777

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:4f3dc978-a2ce-4b37-a0d8-6ccc10a15a6b">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]If my dogs started viciously attacking each other and bleeding everywhere, I'm pretty sure I would start bawling my eyes out.
Posted by kimheartsscott[/QUOTE]

Could you cry enough to drench them and make them stop?

Monsta- Is there any other way to seperate their spaces?

cardmonsta

Ugh. 

Everywhere is full.  My only choice is to surrender him at a kill-shelter.

I really don't know if I can live with myself if I do that.

cardmonsta

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:17db4c69-2f23-4359-99a7-3e3ce7663c84">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Our cat just attacked our dog. : Could you cry enough to drench them and make them stop? Monsta- Is there any other way to seperate their spaces?
Posted by jasmineh7777[/QUOTE]

<div>The only thing I could do would be to put him in a tiny room, which is not any life for him, and leaves us without our office.  So, it's not a very viable choice, especially since he sprays.</div>

jasmineh7777

Monsta, give him one room of the house for now, even if it is the bathroom. Buy a big jug of Nature's Miracle for cats, and keep trying.

kimheartsscott

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:17db4c69-2f23-4359-99a7-3e3ce7663c84">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Our cat just attacked our dog. : Could you cry enough to drench them and make them stop?
Posted by jasmineh7777[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Yes.  It's my secret power.

</div>

reils

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_cat-just-attacked-dog?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f290270d-11b6-4d65-b299-c95c940d5b42Post:73a6db0d-6ab2-44ea-9009-d81d07878781">Re: Our cat just attacked our dog.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Our cat just attacked our dog. : For this exact reason, H and I can't have any other animal than our current cat. She <strong>hates everyoen aside from the 2 of us, animals especially. We can't give her away because she's too antisocial and hateful to everyone else</strong>. So I understand your sad. 
Posted by littlestowl[/QUOTE]

<div>This is us with our dog. He has had a trainer come in and our dog has been medicated. We have seen some improvement and he seems to be slowly getting better but I am fairly certain we would never be able to find him a new home if we ever needed too. So I understand where you are coming from. </div>

cardmonsta

I just need like, ten thousand hugs right now.

My only options are:

-Keep him just until we move (within the next six months)

-I left a message for a girl who does emergency fostering

-Kill shelter.

I'm hoping this girl will call me back and help me, because option 1 is only good for the next few months, and then we're back at square one again.

graceb15

Have you tried the Feliway diffusers yet? I know the ladies over on TN Pets board recommend those to a lot of people. Its worth a shot if you haven't already tried them.

http://www.amazon.com/Farnam-Comfort-Diffuser-Feliway-Milliliters/dp/B000FH708I

jasmineh7777

Take it one day at a time.

Even living in a small room is preferable to going to a kill shelter. I'd seriously make the bathroom his area right now. Put down puppy pads if you need to, or whatever else needs to be done.

Things WILL work out. Keep being persistent. You're doing your best. Hugs.