Whippets And Cats (again!)

[Esty]

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Only two weeks ago I was advising someone else on here about whippets and cats but I'm eating humble pie now so here goes....

Some of you may know that I have two whippets boys who have been brought up with my elderly cat, Gus, and are pretty good with him (they may show interest at times but only sniff him, they don't try to catch him.) We are happy with this situation.

However, I am currently forstering the lovely Dash :wub: for Scruples and trying to persuade my husband to let us keep him. So far, we have found solutions for everything that Dasher has thrown at us except he does have a VERY strong prey drive to the point where he can't be let off a lead other than in a dog park. He is brilliant with all types of dogs, big and small and does not try to course them. Not letting him of the lead is not a problem for us as I walk a long way with them on lead walks and we have a big garden and local dog park for Dasher to have a run. However, this strong prey drive means he is very full on with my poor cat, though, and this could be the deal breaker.

Every time Dash sees the cat he lunges at him. The cat is savvy enough not to run but is a bit old and bewildered and I feel desperately sorry for him as Dash heads for him. He has tried a couple of times to nibble him and once I am sure he was about to pick Gus up We are trying to keep them separated but the cat has to go out sometimes! Dash just gets very excited and I do think he could do damage if we weren't monitoring the situation very closely. Gus is used to jumping on the table to escape from Roscoe and Grover but Dash is a table surfer and just follows him up there.....

Dash is very biddable and affectionate and if you tell him to get off most things ('leave' or 'no') then he will listen and do as he's told. However, around the cat I have to physically stop him from reaching him. He's still only young and excitable at 15 months as well. The thing is, we need him to stop going for the cat in the first place. Does anyone have experience of this and can give me some advice as to kind ways to teach Dash that this is just not on? I think Dash may have been hit in the past (I used a towel to swat a moth and Dash just shot off cowering) so I am aware that he needs even more kindness than other whippies. I am already feeding the cat first and teaching Dash his place in the pack in the usual ways.

Any help very gratefully received )

 

[Janimal]

In my opinion Id just carry on as you mean to go on....I ve 3 whippets and 3 cats too...all get along reasonably well most of the time

but the middle cat Mitch is more timid than the other two and runs when the whippets chase him...mainly Archie in our case and sometimes the other two join in.

I just really tell them off and make a fuss of the cat....Archie is now 3 years old and should know better, but Im sure its because they know they can get away with

so much....because if they approach Mitch on the sofa he dosnt hesitiate in giving them a swat with his paw...and does hurt them sometimes.

The only problem I have is with our cat flap...the dogs wont let Mitch inside till we get up and let the dogs out :unsure: .....but its strange that our other two cats arnt

bothered in the slightest...its only Mitch that 'runs' so to speak.

I kept all my dogs as pups in a crate until I was one hundred per cent sure they could get along with my cats, but occasionally they do have an odd spat.

Its just a case of letting them know exactly what they can get away with, and its not acceptable to chase the cats or pester them too much.

You could always try the water spray treatment, and squirt him when you see him going for the cat... Hope some of this helps...Im sure Dash is still a bit immature

and will get used to them given time. :thumbsup:

 

[TillynPip]

My two rescue dogs who both came to me at about age 12 months have never shown any interest in my two cats, apart from mutual grooming and frequent 'love ins'! My other two whippies, Gracie and Milo I've both had from puppies and, again, show no interest as both dogs were swatted by both cats at a very early age and the ground rules duly laid. In my opinion a rescue whippet with strong prey drive will always have to be very carefully watched with all cats, even the family ones. It's not the dogs fault, just what they're built to do and, especially with an aging cat, I personally wouldn't take the chance (also, an elderly cat's hearing and eyesight deteriorate leaving them more vulnerable to attack). Good luck with whatever decision you make. :luck:

 

[Lal]

Oh dear, I'd hoped Dash might be more interested in his two Whippie friends than the cat! He does have an exceptionally strong 'prey drive' (memories of our Sunday morning walk and meeting the hares!! (w00t) )and I think you are doing a brilliant job managing the situation, maybe if Gus had been a little younger and given him the odd 'swat or two' he'd learn that the cat is not to mess with. I still had my old cat when Rifle was a pup, he warned Rifle off many times (he was a very 'dog savvy' cat!), that said, outside the house Rifle would still chase a cat if the opportunity arose! I wish I could offer you more advice, I did suspect Dash had been less than gently treated in the past so discipline is a hard thing. The good thing is that he still loves people, testament to the wonderful Whippet character, perhaps the water pistol Janis suggested may be worth trying, it's not physically harsh, just a bit of a shock and moreover a distraction?

 

[jayp]

Hi, Sounds like you are doing everything you can..but having two whippets with strong prey drive that have caught cats I agree with Jenny, your cat will spend the rest of his life in fear and there will be one day when the worst happens

Not worth the risk in my view however much you want it to work , after all your cat was there first

Good luck

 

[Esty]

Thanks for your replies. It seems that Dash may have a potential home so it may be out of my hands. Happy for Dasher in the long term but not for me We have made tons of progress with him regarding the cat, though. He was neutered a few days ago although still keen he can be called off if he starts to show interest. The cat is not worried by him - a sign of senility? - he just hisses a bit or ignores him. We won't ever leave them alone ( I don't even do that with my own two) but am satisfied that while we are monitoring and Gus is living outside or upstairs, that the situation is manageable. Dash just gets better every day. I can't believe how well he has been integrated into our pack :wub:

 

[Suerose]

It must be really tough fostering, well done for taking it on :thumbsup: Best wishes to Dash for his new life.