dogs and cats!

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minerva

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Is it possible to retrain a 7 year old Staffy who goes nuts at the word cats let alone the real thing, to live peacefully with a cat?
We have Rats around the place and are considering a cat. Seeing that Minnie is completly useless at catching them. she just makes a massive fuss and racket!
 
When I got Buster this year (he's nearly 4) all he wanted to do was eat my two cats! He would chase them and just corner them. But now, about 6 months ish on, they all live in harmony together! Well, actually Buster is now affraid of the cats as they give him right hooks if he gets too close!
So I think it is possible, Buster will still go for other cats, but not mine anymore. He is a terrier though and its in his nature to go for fast furry running things!
As for staffs I dont really know, we had a staff once, but he was mental and would have almost definatly eaten my cat so I had to re-home my cat
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When I was a child we had GSD bitch who would kill any cat on sight.
Then we had a kitten dumped on us.....you know her maternal side kiched in and they became best friends-she even pinched the poor cats kittens a few years later,lol!

I think as long as they are introduced carefully it will be fine.
Although, have you thought about a terrier if you are unsure of how he will respond to a cat?
Family yorkie kills far more rat then the cat does
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Good luck
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How did you get Buster to cope with your cats, Min is half Whippet but I am not sure if that makes her any less obsessed with chasing things!

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Well, I started my keeping them all apart completely for a while, just so they could get used to the fact of another 'species' being the house! Then I would bring one of the cats downstairs to sit on my lap while OH held the dog, so they could see each other. I did that for quite a while so they could get used to being in the same room etc. Then I would just let them get on with it anf every time Buster went for one of the cats he would get a big smack and shouted at. He hates being told off and a few times of that and he soon got the massage. PLus is helps that my cats are snobs and they just go back at Buster which does help.
Good point about getting a terrier instead of a cat though, they are great a ratting!
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
I was worried about introducing our rottie to our new kitten when we got the cat about a month ago. Dog has never gone for a cat but at the end of the day, he is a dog, and instinct tells him to chase small furry things that whizz past him at speed!!
We got a cage so they could see each other but not touch, and also did as suggested about whereby one of us held and made a fuss of the dog, whilst the other hald the cat.
Only had one slightly worrying moment when the cat virtually jumped into the dog's mouth - thankfully he didn't bite down!
After less than a month they now get on famously, I even leave them together when I go out now. The kitten can escape up the stairs if he wants as there is a baby gate so dog cant follow.
It did help that we got a big, brave type of cat (a Bengal) who was only scared of the dog for the first day or s, never tried to run away but stood his ground even as a 12wk old fluffball, hissing, spitting and growling at the dog! He also doesn't mind water which is handy as the dog now follows him around the house licking him constantly!
 
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