Is it normal for pets to progressively fight before getting along?

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5 Comments

About a month ago my family got a puppy, a little Cairn Terrier, and he is our first dog. We've had a cat in our family for about 17 years, and she is normally very tolerant. During the first 3 weeks, our cat ignored the puppy, while he barked and whined at her. Now, the puppy ignores her, or just sniffs in her direction, but our cat now hisses at him and runs away even when he's not doing anything. I thought they would learn to live with each other over time, so is it normal for a cat and a dog to get worse before they get better, or are they incompatible?

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74% Normal
Based on 23 votes (17 yes)
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Comments ( 5 )
  • mtnw
    14 years ago

    it will pass. i have both cats and dogs. eventually everyone will find their place in the household and get along.

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  • Poots
    14 years ago

    If your cat has been the only pet for 17 years, that's a huge change to have a pet introduced after that long. She deserves complete seniority. She's too old not to be loved extra specially. She's going through changes of the elderly, arthritis, crankiness. To have introduced a dog, of all things, at her age is very inconsiderate and almost downright cruel. Think about it. Give her extra love and attention. She needs it at her age, and she would need it regardless of a new pet. Now, with a new pet, she needs it intensively. She may pass away before she gets used to that dog. What an inconsiderate thing to do to the poor sweet elderly cat who is too old for such a ruthless intrusion.

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    • Apostrophe
      14 years ago

      Well recently the puppy and her have been getting along at an acceptable rate. They can both be on the same couch, but only if the puppy is tired and he isn't very interested. She is still kind of hesitant, but isn't too affected. Of course, if he does act up when she's on my lap, I'll put the puppy in his pen to calm down. My kitty will always come first. X3

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  • Jen118584
    14 years ago

    Cats are VERY territorial and jealous creatures. She has decided that she wants nothing to do with him. She may have become annoyed at how much attention the puppy has been getting, and just plain irritated with his existence. Maybe one day when you weren't looking and the puppy accidentally hurt her, trying to play. My advice to you is to try to pay her as much attention as possible, but to completely ignore it when she hisses at him. Don't even look at her. She is telling him to go away, and she wants to make sure you know she's irritated with him.

    I have two cats that adore each other. I adopted the first from the pound as a young adult, and the second only a month later from some druggies in Philly that decided they didn't want her. The first bonded with me instantly and when I brought the second one home, the first flipped out. She was insanely jealous and really wanted the second one dead and gone. We left them alone one weekend while we went camping, praying that they wouldn't kill each other. When we got home, they were the best of friends.

    ....but still to this day, the first one is very jealous and will only let the second one sit and cuddle with us when she isn't interested in doing so at the time. And she hisses at her, for no reason, just to get our attention. I've seen her do it! She will instigate play with the second cat, hiss at her, and then look at me! As if to say, Look how annoying this other cat is....aren't you glad you have me?

    Cats will do anything to protect and maintain the status quo, so don't feed into her little attitude that she gives the puppy - but don't admonish her for it either. Just ignore it. She is actually behaving pretty well, all things considered. If I brought home a puppy, my cats would be EXTREMELY displeased.

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  • Alaxett
    14 years ago

    My sister have a cat that is left at my parent's house, and I know her for like 10 years. She is getting along just fine with people, but not with any other cats we have. In fact, she hate them and they hate her. I like to move her close to other just to make her hiss, I thought that's funny. That's her personality, she is always like that since the first time she was here esspeaially when a dog is around. Possibly your cat have the same trait.

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