recently adopted adult dog just killed a cat

He is very cute.

Congrats! Sounds like a good match.
All of the dogs I’ve had who were raised with cats from the time they were young puppies ended up great with them. The few that weren’t introduced until they were 6 months + could never be trusted.

I have one dog that can’t be trusted with cats. Ever. He’s never allowed access to cats (I have two) I have two cats who catch and kill baby rabbits. Such is the life of a barn cat. They also keep my garage and barn mouse free.

LauraKY barn cats are the best! Though mine is taking a break in this heat, just trying to stay cool and not doing any hunting lately.

As for adult dogs that can be cat friendly, absolutely. IMO it depends as much on the cat as it does the dog. Having dog savvy cats available for training and introducing the dogs to makes all the difference in the world.

1 Like

In urban and suburban areas cats really should be kept indoors. Dogs should be kept on leash, unless behind a secure fence on their property. Free roaming cats and dogs in urban and suburban areas just do not belong. The country side is perhaps a somewhat different story-- barn cats and dogs, etc. But a free roaming dog can harass livestock— urban dogs let out for a countryside “run” might harass livestock or people or both.

People can be incredibly obtuse about their own animals. I recall walking my 2 dogs ON LEASH at a nature trail ( where all dogs are meant to be leashed). Out of nowhere, 3 dogs came running up to us mid point on the trail, no human in sight, barking, growling, lunging at my dogs and me. I grabbed a big tree branch and fended them off, screaming my head off for help all the while. In time a disgruntled middle aged man showed up. They were his dogs. He told me I was crazy and the dogs were no threat. Whatever. I was surprised to see a human claim the dogs-- they seemed like a feral pack.

Same trail-- using a different portion of it now to avoid the haunts of the man with his feral pack dogs. Loose dog comes flying along the trail, barking and lunging at mine ( leashed) and me. Snarling, teeth showing. In time a jogger turns up. Tells me her dog is gentle, no threat, and I am crazy to think it was a threat. All the while, the dog is standing there, hair up, hackles raised, growling and snarling.

I am sure the man with the feral pack and the jogger with her snarling canine think they are good responsible dog owners that had their loose animals in full control and would argue for their “right” or “need” to let their dogs off leash to run.

Free roaming animals pose a risk, whether the owners want to admit it or not, and are at risk. There are very limited exceptions.

5 Likes

I had a wonderful lab/hound cross who was the sweetest dog. Never bothered our own cats, but any small critter or strange cat was fair game if they came into our fully fenced yard…Our cat and our tenant’s cat would just stroll across the yard and give her “the look”. She gave them a sniff and walked away.

I dont understand how its ok for the local,foxes, coyotes, etc to kill cats, bunnies, etc but let the local dog, a predator just like the fox and coyote, kill one and OMG the sky is falling. Euth stat! I dont understand that reasoning.
we were in the midst of a bunny explosion a month ago and it was so bad that even this old gsd who could barely walk managed to catch one. He dropped it when
I told him to and it got away. 2 nites later a fox shows up. Thank goodness. The bunny pop has decreased drastically. I hope it stays that way.

5 Likes

OP, ![]('m sorry to hear about your dog, but I’m glad you now have another.

I have ridgeback/Shepard mix with an insanely high prey drive. She has never killed a cat but came close once when I was dropping her off at the kennel at night and didn’t realize the resident cat was hiding under the chair. Thank god she was leashed and the cat darted away but it was waaay to close for my comfort and I stopped taking her there. I have zero doubt she would have killed it without question.

And no, I dont think that is something I could ever “train” out of her.

I would not have her euthanized if by some awful circumstance she did kill a cat even though I would feel absolutely horrified. But I am also SUPER diligent in making sure she never has the opportunity. And there are bold notes in her records at the vet and kennel that she is never to have access to any animals besides other dogs. People are always surprised when I tell them because she is so friendly and sweet.

I always smile and say, “dont let that cute face fool ya.” :wink:

[IMG]https://www.facebook.com/rsrc.php/v3/y4/r/-PAXP-deijE.gif)
[IMG]https://www.facebook.com/rsrc.php/v3/y4/r/-PAXP-deijE.gif)

2 Likes

I am SO SO SORRY about the kitty!

Everything Zu Zu says!!!

1 Like

Coming to this thread late, and haven’t read any of the replies…but… we’re involved in breed rescue and adopted a Ridgeback that seemed fine with our cats. He also had fear anxiety, so we dealt with his issues every day for four years. One day…totally out of the blue, he killed one of my cats during one of his anxious moments, a cat who he’d lived with peacefully for several years. Even now, years later, I feel guilty. I still feel like I should have known, should have done something to protect her. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Believe me, when I tell you…that you don’t want to feel like I do. It’s early enough… find him a home without cats, there’s bound to be another dog in need that fits in with your lifestyle. …

4 Likes

Seriously?

Wild rabbits and pet cats are not even comparable.

2 Likes

Your opinion.

1 Like

Depends on who is doing the comparing. Some dogs don’t distinguish between the two. Furry animals that run are furry animals that run until taught differently. And even then, they might not care.

3 Likes

Definitely NOT my opinion. Dog, coyote, or human, anything that harms one of my cats, dies. Cats are not prey animals. They are predators. They do just as good a job at keeping down the rabbit populations that so threaten and frighten you as anything else.

Then make sure your cat stays on your property. If your cat wanders on to my property and I own a dog with a high prey drive and it kills your cat, its your fault. Not the dog or mine. I guess you have no idea of the destruction that an overpopulation of wild rabbits can cause on local vegetation.

2 Likes