How to Stop a Cat From Attacking Dogs
My cat keeps attacking my dog ... what can I do about it?
When a Cat Attacks a Dog: Why Is Fluffy Attacking Scruffy?
You may be wondering if you read the title right; yes, it's "How to Stop a Cat From Attacking Dogs." We are so used to the image of dogs chasing cats, attacking cats, and even eating cats for breakfast that thinking the opposite sounds really odd.
Perhaps this is due to the fact that images of canine-to-feline aggression overpopulate television shows and newspaper strips. All it takes is watching cartoons boasting Hector chasing Sylvester and Spike chasing Tom, and soon, cat-chasing behaviors seem to be normal behaviors, just as cats chasing mice. Yet, what do you do if it's the other way around?
Believe it or not, there are cases of kitties turning wild and attacking dogs! I've had clients come up to me and ask me what to do about it. After reminding them I am a dog trainer and not a cat trainer, I did own cats and dogs at the same time in my life, and my advice has been helpful to them many times.
Luckily, in many ways, dogs and cats behave similarly, so it does not take rocket science to apply a bit of knowledge in learning theory to cats. For a good reason, many dog behaviorists are also cat behaviorists, and interestingly, the number of cat behaviorists is growing at a steady rate.
Let's dive into the potential reasons for this cat aggression and what you can do to prevent and break up the fights.
In This Article
- Reasons for Cat Aggression Towards Dogs
- How to Stop Your Cat From Attacking Your Dog
- How to Break Up a Fight Between a Cat and Dog
If you've ever wondered why a cat might be aggressive toward dogs, remember that this is a species that enjoys toying with mice before killing them.
Photo by Niels Hartvig, CC 2.0, on Wikimedia Commons/Photoscape
Reasons for Cat Aggression Towards Dogs
So why is Fluffy attacking Scruffy? Just like when dealing with aggressive dogs, there can be many reasons.
- It could be prey drive. Just as some cats like to chase and bite your ankles as you walk by or lie in bed, some bold cats may decide to play rough and attack Fido.
- However, more likely than not, I see a fear component at play. It all ultimately depends on the circumstances and what happens.
Rowdy Dog Plus Cornered Cat Could Equal an Attack
If the dog is being boisterous, rest assured, more likely than not, the attack was not unprovoked; your cat is just tired and telling the dog to stop. Most dogs are not that great at reading cat body language, and some couldn't care less, so after sending dozens of "leave me alone" signals that go ignored, sweet Snowball may go quickly to plan B and decide to attack rowdy Rover.
Most cats are by nature aloof and reserved, and some barely accept being petted for more than a few minutes, so it makes sense for kitty to have had enough after your dog has been in her face for more than a handful of minutes!
Most cats will most likely flee if they have had enough, but if the cat is cornered and feels threatened, a scratch or bite is often the next option. So when your cat can't flee, expect your cat to resort to plan B and follow through!
Training note: If puppy or dog is the troublemaker, it is helpful to train them to have better self-control. Teaching the "leave it" command is useful in such a case.
If your cat is suddenly aggressive towards a dog, here are some possible explanations and solutions.
Stop Your Cat From Attacking Your Dog
Twiddling your thumbs as you try to figure out why your cat is attacking your dog is pretty useless at this point; you really need to become proactive to prevent trouble.
Countless dogs get corneal ulcers from being scratched by a cat, and a bite can turn quickly infectious. Also, a dog may get defensive as well and cause serious harm to your cat. You really need to intervene to keep everybody safe. Here is what you can do:
Management: Give Your Cat an Escape Route
This is by far your best option as you try to figure out your plan of action. Through management, you are basically keeping everybody safe. So, let's say Rover pesters Fluffy, and Fluffy attacks because she has no escape route. Then you will provide that escape route.
Make sure you create areas that are accessible to your cat only so that she has a safe place to go and knows your dog will not follow. A baby gate with a small entrance on the bottom, a cat tree, or a high window perch is all it takes.
Other options are keeping cat and dog separated when you are not able to supervise. While this sounds like common sense, often the most common solutions are bypassed.
Stress Relief: Offer Over-the-Counter Products
Is your cat stressed by a new dog in the home? Have there been recent changes? Cats look like strong creatures, but they are very sensitive to the slightest changes. If your cat is stressed and overreacts, she is over threshold levels, and this sort of stress is self-reinforcing.
Basically, since your cat's aggressive behavior works in keeping your cat safe and in making Rover leave, it is reinforcing. Your cat thinks that because hissing and scratching keep her safe and make your dog leave or make you come right away to stop the interaction, it needs to be repeated.
- Reinforcement example: Just think about being in school and dealing with a bully; if every time you scream and try to slap the bully, the bully backs off or your teacher comes readily to your aid, most likely, you will continue the screaming and slapping behavior.
So to change things around, you need your cat to feel safer and calmer. You may find that some over-the-counter products, such as a Feliway plug-in or Composure soft chews, may help as you try to work on the problem.
If you have a cat that playing too aggressively with your dog—especially a smaller dog—redirect their prey drive with cat toys.
Prey Drive: Redirect the Play
Some cats have a strong prey drive and will chase and pester poor Rover. Usually, cats will do so with smaller dogs or puppies. Many will love to pounce on that wiggly tail! But as the puppy grows, cats may learn to choose size wisely and that it's better not to mess with the big beast.
In such a case, it helps to redirect your cat to a more acceptable form of play. When you start noticing the behavior, try to interrupt the interaction and grab the kitty's attention by dragging a string with a piece of aluminum foil attached. She should go for the new toy since it is a novelty and leave poor Rover alone.
Make sure your cat has plenty of catnip toys and even some interactive ones to keep her interest alive.
Note: Some advice is to attach a leash to the dog so the cat plays with the leash rather than the dog, but the leash can get caught somewhere, so I do not feel too comfortable with this idea.
Redirected Aggression: Prevent Outdoor Access/Vision
Cats are prone to a behavioral problem known as cat redirected aggression. Basically, they may see a trigger outdoors, get highly excited, and then redirect on poor Fido, and sometimes even the owner.
If this is the case, it helps to block access to windows and prevent the cat from seeing the outdoors. Placing the cat in a dark room will help calm down Cujo-Kitty.
Possessiveness: Give Cat and Dog Separate Spaces
Dogs are not the only possessive ones; cats can be too! Your cat may not be that eager to see Rover putting his face in her food bowl or sniffing her litter box.
If your cat has never shared the home with a dog, this may be quite annoying to deal with, so if your cat acts aggressively whenever your dog approaches any resources (food, toys, sleeping areas, play areas), she may be attacking due to possessiveness.
Make sure you prepare a separate area just for kitty and do the same for Rover; he can get upset too if kitty approaches his bone or food bowl, and it won't be pretty!
Incompatibility: Rehome a Pet if Necessary
Stress may be a temporary problem, and prey drive can be redirected, but in some cases, the levels of energy of cat and dog are too different. Animal behaviorist Dr. Gary Landsberg claims:
"The biggest problems are related to specific compatibility issues where the dog is too playful and the cat is too fearful [...]. Also a cat that is fearful and aggressive and a dog that does not know how to react."
In this case, it is worth wondering what you can do to make life much better. In such cases, it may be kinder to keep the two animals always separated, and if this is not an option, rehoming one or the other is in the best interest of your animals.
If you have had your cat for a long time and you have a new puppy, you are better off rehoming the puppy. For this reason, it is best to think about new additions very carefully. Impulsively adding a new pet, as in this case, can be deleterious.
Desensitization and counter-conditioning work in cats too! Make sure you reward your kitty when she sees Fido and behaves. You may need to do this from a safe distance first and then increasingly allow closer encounters. If kitty gets nervous at any point, work from a farther distance.
As with dog fights, yelling may serve no purpose other than increasing arousal levels in both cat and dog.
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Breaking Up a Fight Between Cat and Dog
What to do in the case your cat is actively fighting with your dog, and you need to make it stop? As with dog fights, yelling may serve no purpose other than increasing arousal levels in both cat and dog. These strategies may prove more helpful:
- Make a sudden, startling loud noise, such as banging two pot lids together
- Toss some water over the contenders using a bucket or water from a hose
- Throw a blanket over cat and dog
It's safest to never get in between a fighting cat and dog; doing so may make you prone to redirected aggression!
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.