Cat Dog Advice

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Fiend138

New Member
I have a pitbull named Monsta for the last 13 years. He is an inside dog that likes about an hour outside a day. Not even that if its hot out. When he does go outside he is enclosed by a chain link fence. Keeps him in but doesn't keep cats out. So he runs them down, murders or mauls them. 13 years of this in fact.

In comes my girl friend who has wanted an orange cat for many years... Her Grand Mother has a litter, all orange tab. She brings two over to be picked up by buyers. Oldest trick in the book long story short we end up keeping a six week old kitten.

I've always have been a dog owner but in my cloudy stoner's den I fell in love with this little guy and even named him. Benji.

Monsta has free roam of the house while Benji is kept in one room. We switch them out and introduce them slowly. Fast forward just a few days into living with us he still hisses but tolerants the 75 pound dog.

Monsta takes the towel I shoved under the door.. They began playing through a door and the kitten gets comfortable enough to stick his paw under... Monsta nips it almost in half.. hanging by a thread. My stomach turned and my heart broke when my dog hurt a 2 pound kitten.. I don't believe he did it purposely but he is confused in play. Which I take responsibility for.

Benji is fine. The paw will be mostly normal looking and fully functional after a surgery today which I couldn't really afford but I don't know how to pull skin to refrom toes so...

Has anyone ever had any experience with a cat killing dog coexisting with a growing cat?
 
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Fiend138,
max

max

Out to lunch
he runs them down, murders or mauls them. 13 years of this in fact.
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That says it all. When a dog grows up seeing cats as prey, you're not gonna retrain him anymore than I can retrain my cat to stop going after mice. You can sometimes introduce a kitten into a house where there's a grown dog, but in your case I highly doubt it's gonna happen. Even if you're right and he didn't mean to bite the cat's paw off, it's likely he won't be able to adjust his 'play level' to that of a cat, let alone a kitten. I'd view this as an oil and water situation. They won't mix well.
 
2 Paces

2 Paces

Well-Known Member
Probably not what you want to hear, but I agree with the above 2 posts. That old saying 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' definitely has some truth to it.

Getting rid of the kitten probably won't go over well with the girlfriend, but it's better than the risk of more injury or death.
 
djonkoman

djonkoman

Well-Known Member
when I was a kid, we had oussant sheep(no idea if I spelled it correct, it's abreede of mini-sheep). one day one of our neighbours' dog(s) escaped, and slaughtered one of our sheep. those dogs were moved/replaced to somewhere with no sheeps in the vicinity, I remember everyone mentioning that 'once a dog has gotten a taste for sheep(sblood), they aren't safe around sheep anymore'

I guess the same would aply to cats if he literally mauls them, it would be different if he just chased them, lots of dogs do that(like the dog my parents'have at the moment, he always chases the cat, but never harms her when he catches up to her. that cat is also way too nice though, since if the dog annoys her the worst she'll do is slap with her paw, claws retracted).
 
T

TechnicalToker

Well-Known Member
You can NOT untrain any dog of that age of something that it has been doing all the time. Correct is the statement that once they get the taste of blood, that's what they want. I have a Boston Bull and he's great with our cats (since 8 weeks old) but other cats outside he just runs them over. Doesn't maul or kill, just runs over them full steam
 
Caligula

Caligula

Maximus
edit: Well thats what I get for not reading the OP before posting.

 
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Caligula,
Vicki

Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
I'm confused. Wasn't animal control involved in this attack? I know you took the kitten to the Vet to be treated, and they always ask how things like this happen. They are required by law to report it, and then the dog is seized. Dogs that bite humans and other dogs and cats are subject to this, but not dogs that attack livestock.
 
Snappo

Snappo

Caveat Emptor - "A Billion People Can Be Wrong!"
Accessory Maker
Please find a wonderful caring home for your cat. I know it will be hard to part with it. Give all your love to the dog, just don't bring any other pets into your home. It pains me to presume to offer this advice. It is NEVER the dog's fault - remember that. :peace:
 
lwien

lwien

Well-Known Member
Vicki said:
You know this dog is violent against cats, and you bring in a vulnerable baby kitten!? Please get that kitten out of your home before something worse happens. :(
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Yup. The decision to bring a baby kitten into that environment kind of just boggles my mind.

It would be akin to wearing a Star of David around your neck while attending a high level Al Qaeda meeting.
 
VaporsVaporizer

VaporsVaporizer

On the Stoop
As others have said, you can't blame the dog. PLEASE find the kitten another home ASAP and 13 years of your dog killing cats is unacceptable. After the first mauling/kill you should have done something about his high prey response . Leave him at the vets or take him back to the aunts house until you find another home for the kitten.
 
Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl

DEADY GUERRERO/DIRT COBAIN/GEORGE KUSH
Yeah, sorry boss. 13 years is too long to change a habit. I got mine at 8 weeks and was warned a lot about letting habits develop early. It's not just a dog thing, it's an animal thing. He'll always see them as "prey/threat". Best thing for the cat is to not be around your pup at all.
 
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