5 replies to this topic

[Tuxedodog]

It starts out so innocently. Pyr/GSD barks at squirrel on deck, BC joins in usually not knowing why, but it is a good excuse to bark. Border kitty - usually laying on the back of the couch, goes off like a fire siren,jumps down, attacks BC, screaming and shrieking, tiger cat comes running into room shrieking and leaps onto Pyr/GSD. Bloodshed ensues (mine) as I try to shove the dogs out the door while prying screaming shrieking cats off them. This only happens when the dogs are barking at prey, not someone is at the door, or we are going for a walk bark. Obviously I rush to get the dogs out as soon as the cat goes off. The border kitty is a bully and will sometimes not allow the dogs where they want to go, but the dogs never challenge him. Our kitten steals pieces of dog biscuit from the Pyr's mouth as she is eating them, and the tiger cat is indifferent to the dogs unless border kitty is instigating. I would like a way to diffuse this behavior on the part of the cat. It has only happened a few times, but at some point the dogs are going to fight back and I would prefer that no one get killed.

[Aussie_Dog]

Sounds familiar, lol. Not with squirrels, but any kind of chaos that seems like a threat to the pack (or the clowder, a cat's pack) will set off a cat, which sets off the rest of the cats. One time, Buffy cat snuck out the front door and Jake was right behind her (and he knows kitty+outside=bad) so he busted past the door when I shouted and took off after Buffy. She flew up a tree at the border of the yard, Jake stopped short at the tree and barked, I caught up, and suddenly there was new chaos! Willow cat magically appeared and was shredding Jake's back end. When she heard the noise at the front door, she must have come running and then snuck out before the door closed, and aimed straight for Jake. Another time, I had both cats outside on leashes, with Jake helping me watch them, and a rollerblader and her dog went past on the sidewalk. The dog got overeager and wanted to see Jake, but the blader got him back on track. However, she lost control and crashed into a tree (the same one Buffy jumped into in the first story). No biggie, everyone is all right, but suddenly Willow is attacking Jake again. She got stressed and redirected it on the one most likely to be the cause (it's always Jake, always his fault, no matter what. I dropped a fork? Must have been Jake.)

If I accidentally step on a cat's tail, her shriek will send the other cat running, huffing and puffing and ready to murder. Our third cat is terrified of conflict and noise, and always goes running in the opposite direction The other two cats don't really like her (Buffy hates her, Willow doesn't care either way but Molly is so cowed by Buffy's abuse that she assumes Willow's the same way and don't even try to get close). But if I step on Molly's tail, again, both cats come running, puffed out and buggy-eyed, looking to kill. When this happened with Molly's tail the first time, I realized this reaction wasn't borne out of affection for the about-to-be-murdered cat (because they don't like her). I realized the other cats will jump in because if ANY member of the group is in danger, it means there's a threat to the whole group. The other cats jump in and fight to save themselves and the group, not the "dying" member. They probably wouldn't care if Molly really did get mauled to pieces by my fat foot, they're just worried about it happening on THEIR territory, lol.

Jake's always been pretty good about it. ("it" meaning "getting mauled") He always takes a moment to realize someone's tearing up his back end, and then he'll turn and fight back, but not in a fight-to-the-death way. We discovered a long time ago that Jake doesn't bite the cats. When we actually SEE him snapping at them, teeth flashing, we discovered that he's actually nipping the air next to the cat, not actually making contact. Of course, that doesn't mean he hasn't ever made contact. We've rescued spit-covered kitties. But for the most part, he's using his teeth as intimidation and his coconut to shove the cat. Stressful as heck for the cat, but not lethal. They never just give up and run, they've gotta fight back, which means we always have to separate them. The problem is that when one cat is screaming and shredding and Jake is snarling and thumping, we can IMMEDIATELY separate them, almost before the other cat has latched on and is sending fur flying. It becomes a cycle.

Jake's too old now to trigger any fear from the cats. Too deaf to notice something (like a doorbell), too arthritic to squeal and start thumping around in ecstasy when somebody shows up at the door. He's very quiet now, and the cats prefer it that way. Haven't had a brawl in at least a year, I think.

[Tuxedodog]

I guess this is disturbing to me because it is a new behavior. Scotty, the border kitty is about 6 and Trevor tiger is at least 12. The Pyr hates vultures and I live near a quarry, so there is lots of angry barking at the birds that has been going on for the 3 years we have had her. This only started about a month or so ago. Scotty, doesn't go to rescue the kitten (Ziggy) when he gets growled at for stealing food out of the dog's mouth, only barking at squirrels sets off the kitty flash mob at the deck door. Mercifully the kitten runs under the couch until it is all over.

[waffles]

My first thought was...teach the dogs not to bark at squirrels. Trying to 'teach' the cats not to react will be much harder than teaching the dogs not to bark. You say the barking sets the cats off so if the dogs did not bark at the critters outside then the cats would not 'attack'.

I have a cat who instigates the dog and I'll never be able to teach the cat to not meow in his face. Instead I just make sure that when my boy tells the cat off with a flash of the teeth that I am there to remove the cat so he never feels like he needs to react more than that. I think the cat is starting to catch on (after 2 years) that I don't want him in the dogs face but the cat clearly goes up to the dog just to be a brat.

[Tuxedodog]

Obviously you don't own a Pyr cross Romana is a recreational barker. DH and I were just commenting yesterday that it was easier to tech the kitten to come when called, than Romana - she still doesn't listen very well, and Ziggy comes every time. I think it will be more effective for us to discourage the cat. Romana comes with some baggage. she was obviously beaten for barking, so we tend to be indulgent up to a point.

[waffles]

Obviously you don't own a Pyr cross Romana is a recreational barker. DH and I were just commenting yesterday that it was easier to tech the kitten to come when called, than Romana - she still doesn't listen very well, and Ziggy comes every time. I think it will be more effective for us to discourage the cat. Romana comes with some baggage. she was obviously beaten for barking, so we tend to be indulgent up to a point.

I definitely know how barky a Pyrenees can be but also know how bratty and rude cats can be to dogs! There probably isn't an easy answer then. If you wanted you could always be ready with a spray bottle of water to spray the cats. I have never been a fan of using this method but if it keeps the dogs and the cats safe then it may be a helpful tool. What about a whistle? Are the cats at all spooked by any noises? In your case it may be easier to teach the cats that the whistle means stop or you could get creative and try to set the situation up and have something tasty for the cats. Dogs barking=tasty treat for cat. May be worth trying.