[takeahike]

My parents have had their female labrador retriever for a couple of years. Last week, my sister moved back in with them after a cross country move while she shops for a house to buy. Her cat is a total jerk. He hisses and attacks the dog (he does this to people too). Overall, he’s just super temperamental. Is there some way we can help the two of them get along better? The dog doesn’t do anything to retaliate, she’s very calm and does nothing to instigate this behavior. It’s completely unfair to her.

[Danielle DeGroot]

I can understand the frustration and need to find a remedy for this situation. Dogs and cats can live peacefully together, but this situation is slightly different. Your sister’s cat is likely stressed out from being moved around and may react this way to the dog out of fear. It’s wonderful that so far, the dog has not retaliated, as that could escalate things quickly.

Dogs and cats take time to get used to each other, and in this case, the cat is also in a whole new environment. Usually, a gradual introduction is best. Feeling out of place and territorial can cause the cat to act out and potentially put both pets and even people in danger of injury. To prevent this, it’s best to keep the dog and cat separate unless they are in a carefully controlled and monitored environment. Both animals need a safe place they can retreat to. Perhaps the cat can stay in one or two rooms while the dog can have the rest of the house. Your sister can also consider getting a crate for the cat and creating a safe space there, where the cat can be contained if need be.

Allowing them to be together for short periods of time with plenty of space to move about and gradually increasing the time will help. Another idea is to keep the cat or dog on a leash. Since the dog is not being aggressive, it makes more sense in this case to put the cat on a leash (I find my cats do better with a harness and leash rather than a collar). This will allow your sister to control them and pull them back when the cat starts getting too feisty with the dog. The process will require patience from both the dog and the people in the house. We cover this in more detail in our guide on introducing dogs to cats.

It may take a few weeks or even longer for the cat to fully feel comfortable and calm in this new space. Your sister may want to try some over-the-counter stress relief, like cat calming treats, to help her fur baby feel more comfortable. Giving the cat some toys to play with and working out some of that stress energy is also a good idea. Hopefully, with a little time, the cat will calm down and find a space they feel comfortable in while staying at your parent’s home.

Best of luck to everyone!

[Author]

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