aggressive toward kittens - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

thebeebster · 06-09-2010, 06:19 AM

I'm soooo paranoid!!! I just brought a 7 wk kitten home to where my 4 year old yorkie already lives. My 10 yr old daughter loves my yorkie and the new kitty is for her. The beebster (my yorkie) is not very happy about the kitty (Bella). My husband and I introduced her slowly, speaking calmly and saying easy when she behaved roughly (like biting at the kitten and trying to get it around the throat). We have given her treats and a new toy to show her she is not being replaced. When the kitten walks around the room, bebe(yorkie) just follows it step for step. She seems to have very high anxiety about this new addition. She follows it and licks it constantly when they are in the same room. The kitten on the other hand was born in a house with 2 great danes and just comes up to bebe and rubs on her. She doesn't hiss or swat at her unless bebe is being very aggressive. Please someone tell me, they will get along soon, or provide me with any helpful hints to make this transition smoother. My daughter loves Bella, I love beebs. We have to keep them both!

Cha Cha · 06-09-2010, 06:45 AM

Cats and dogs are like apple and oranges. Unless both kittens and puppies are very young when introduced to eachother you can never expect to just bring a kitten into a home with any dog without anticipating some animosity. Or vice versa. Especially if neither species has ever had any contact with the other. Kittens will react with their fur up, spit or run, at the first sight of a dog because it is afraid. This reaction then triggers a defence or prey response from the dog and the chase or fight is on. If introduced slowly, I have seen many dogs aggressive toward cats come to like like them. Much of it depends on the cat's willingness to to befriend the dog as well. Dogs will chase and hunt a cat that runs or fights, but will most likely leave a cat or kitten alone that is submissive and passive. If introduced slowly and allowing time for each to get to know eachother, they can become friends. If the kitty shows any signs of fear, by growling, spitting, claws out, and such, then it is not ready to accept the dog and the dog will see that as something to protect you from, or a game, or prey and it would be dangerous to leave them together. I want to clarify, I am in no way advocating keeping a kitten a dangerous situation if your dog has already killed one. And, what I am saying does not necessarily work in every situation. If you are not prepared to protect the kitty and introduce them correctly taking the time necessary to do so, then maybe the kitty needs a new home.

chachi · 06-09-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebeebster

I'm soooo paranoid!!! I just brought a 7 wk kitten home to where my 4 year old yorkie already lives. My 10 yr old daughter loves my yorkie and the new kitty is for her. The beebster (my yorkie) is not very happy about the kitty (Bella). My husband and I introduced her slowly, speaking calmly and saying easy when she behaved roughly (like biting at the kitten and trying to get it around the throat). We have given her treats and a new toy to show her she is not being replaced. When the kitten walks around the room, bebe(yorkie) just follows it step for step. She seems to have very high anxiety about this new addition. She follows it and licks it constantly when they are in the same room. The kitten on the other hand was born in a house with 2 great danes and just comes up to bebe and rubs on her. She doesn't hiss or swat at her unless bebe is being very aggressive. Please someone tell me, they will get along soon, or provide me with any helpful hints to make this transition smoother. My daughter loves Bella, I love beebs. We have to keep them both!

If the yorkie isnt showing any agression towards her the kitten will learn to get along with her

Cha Cha · 06-09-2010, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebeebster

I'm soooo paranoid!!! I just brought a 7 wk kitten home to where my 4 year old yorkie already lives. My 10 yr old daughter loves my yorkie and the new kitty is for her. The beebster (my yorkie) is not very happy about the kitty (Bella). My husband and I introduced her slowly, speaking calmly and saying easy when she behaved roughly (like biting at the kitten and trying to get it around the throat). We have given her treats and a new toy to show her she is not being replaced. When the kitten walks around the room, bebe(yorkie) just follows it step for step. She seems to have very high anxiety about this new addition. She follows it and licks it constantly when they are in the same room. The kitten on the other hand was born in a house with 2 great danes and just comes up to bebe and rubs on her. She doesn't hiss or swat at her unless bebe is being very aggressive. Please someone tell me, they will get along soon, or provide me with any helpful hints to make this transition smoother. My daughter loves Bella, I love beebs. We have to keep them both!

Of course, a 7 week old kitten is very small and fragile and should be watched very closely, but what you describe is a kitten who is familiar to dogs alreay and not necessarily afraid of them. Your dog on the otherhand, probably doesn't know cats/kittens and is curious about the kitty. I am thinking your two will become buds as the kitty gets a little older.

shoefelmeyer · 06-09-2010, 01:23 PM

We have both adult kitties and a 11 - 12 week old kitten.

We have not had any problems with either of our puppies hurting any of the cats. The adult cats let the puppies know, they are to be left alone. The kitten loves to play with both puppies and they get along really well. In fact our yorkie and kitten are best buddies. Probably because they are about the same size.

With all of this that I have said, I would probably not allow them to be unsupervised. I have not seen any problems or signs of aggression. Why take a risk though.

shoefelmeyer · 06-09-2010, 01:26 PM

We have both adult kitties and a 11 - 12 week old kitten.

We have not had any problems with either of our puppies hurting any of the cats. The adult cats let the puppies know, they are to be left alone. The kitten loves to play with both puppies and they get along really well. In fact our yorkie and kitten are best buddies. Probably because they are about the same size. I have not seen any problems or signs of aggression. Why take a risk though.

With all of this that I have said, I would probably not allow them to be unsupervised.

nana911 · 06-09-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkieisme

The other day my neighbor's persian got let out and left by a mistake...my daughter decided to bring her to our house....as soon as you put her down, Chino flipped out.......we had to put Chino in the bedroom until we got a hold of the parents. Afterwards, Chino rushed around the house very aggressively, I am sure he would have attacked if we were not there. Are yorkies known to kill other animals?

Yorkies are Terriers. Any breed with the name terrier in it is bred to kill. Plain and simple. It is in their DNA. Our yorkies and cats get along fine because our cats were already in the house and full grown LARGE cats when we brought in the very small yorkie puppies. They never saw them as prey. Yorkies would see small kittens as prey. If you have had kittens with yorkies and never had a problem you have been very lucky because those yorkies aren't exhibiting a high prey instinct. But, personally I wouldn't take the chance, ever of having yorkies loose with any small animals. Kittens, gerbils, hamsters, snakes, anything like that. That is what they were bred and used for, killing....it is what it is.

misslissa · 06-09-2010, 04:36 PM

Gatsby will grab kitten ears and drag them around in fact last summer when he was only 6 months old he actually tore the ears off two kittens when we wear not looking he was not being aggressive he was just trying to play now however i do not allow him around any kitten that is not small enough to defend its self i would say about 12 or 14 weeks old until then keep them separated it may also be that you can only have the cat in the upstairs or one half of the house and the dog in another if they can get along and you cant re-home one of them that maybe your only option.

nana911 · 06-09-2010, 05:17 PM

btw, beebster, you CAN keep them both, just keep them safe until the kitten gets older and bigger. Once the cat is no longer prey size it will be okay. Our cats and dogs are fine. All are full grown. The cats clean the dogs eyes for them. They nap together, plot together, play tag, etc... it is fine and a joy to watch. Kittens grow into full size cats really really fast, so hang in there!!!!

BanditSocks2 · 06-09-2010, 05:29 PM

It's probably because of the "terrier" in them like the people above have said. They may think they are squirrels, chipmunks, or rats. I would wait until the kittens are quite a bit older before introducing them in a safe environment. Until then, keep them completely separated.

06-09-2010, 06:45 AM	#17
Cha Cha Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play Posts: 7,069	Cats and dogs are like apple and oranges. Unless both kittens and puppies are very young when introduced to eachother you can never expect to just bring a kitten into a home with any dog without anticipating some animosity. Or vice versa. Especially if neither species has ever had any contact with the other. Kittens will react with their fur up, spit or run, at the first sight of a dog because it is afraid. This reaction then triggers a defence or prey response from the dog and the chase or fight is on. If introduced slowly, I have seen many dogs aggressive toward cats come to like like them. Much of it depends on the cat's willingness to to befriend the dog as well. Dogs will chase and hunt a cat that runs or fights, but will most likely leave a cat or kitten alone that is submissive and passive. If introduced slowly and allowing time for each to get to know eachother, they can become friends. If the kitty shows any signs of fear, by growling, spitting, claws out, and such, then it is not ready to accept the dog and the dog will see that as something to protect you from, or a game, or prey and it would be dangerous to leave them together. I want to clarify, I am in no way advocating keeping a kitten a dangerous situation if your dog has already killed one. And, what I am saying does not necessarily work in every situation. If you are not prepared to protect the kitty and introduce them correctly taking the time necessary to do so, then maybe the kitty needs a new home. __________________ Shelly and the girls Moka Mylee

06-09-2010, 04:36 PM	#23
misslissa YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: canton ohio us Posts: 1,574	Gatsby will grab kitten ears and drag them around in fact last summer when he was only 6 months old he actually tore the ears off two kittens when we wear not looking he was not being aggressive he was just trying to play now however i do not allow him around any kitten that is not small enough to defend its self i would say about 12 or 14 weeks old until then keep them separated it may also be that you can only have the cat in the upstairs or one half of the house and the dog in another if they can get along and you cant re-home one of them that maybe your only option. __________________ Don't say I love you unless you mean it, but if you do say it a lot. People forget.

06-09-2010, 05:17 PM	#24
nana911 threadkillin' 6 pack Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,242	btw, beebster, you CAN keep them both, just keep them safe until the kitten gets older and bigger. Once the cat is no longer prey size it will be okay. Our cats and dogs are fine. All are full grown. The cats clean the dogs eyes for them. They nap together, plot together, play tag, etc... it is fine and a joy to watch. Kittens grow into full size cats really really fast, so hang in there!!!! __________________ lorelei, wife to gerry , momma to bear , baxter ,baby and bug

06-09-2010, 06:19 AM	#16
thebeebster YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1	I'm soooo paranoid!!! I just brought a 7 wk kitten home to where my 4 year old yorkie already lives. My 10 yr old daughter loves my yorkie and the new kitty is for her. The beebster (my yorkie) is not very happy about the kitty (Bella). My husband and I introduced her slowly, speaking calmly and saying easy when she behaved roughly (like biting at the kitten and trying to get it around the throat). We have given her treats and a new toy to show her she is not being replaced. When the kitten walks around the room, bebe(yorkie) just follows it step for step. She seems to have very high anxiety about this new addition. She follows it and licks it constantly when they are in the same room. The kitten on the other hand was born in a house with 2 great danes and just comes up to bebe and rubs on her. She doesn't hiss or swat at her unless bebe is being very aggressive. Please someone tell me, they will get along soon, or provide me with any helpful hints to make this transition smoother. My daughter loves Bella, I love beebs. We have to keep them both!

06-09-2010, 01:23 PM	#20
shoefelmeyer Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 839	We have both adult kitties and a 11 - 12 week old kitten. We have not had any problems with either of our puppies hurting any of the cats. The adult cats let the puppies know, they are to be left alone. The kitten loves to play with both puppies and they get along really well. In fact our yorkie and kitten are best buddies. Probably because they are about the same size. With all of this that I have said, I would probably not allow them to be unsupervised. I have not seen any problems or signs of aggression. Why take a risk though.

06-09-2010, 01:26 PM	#21
shoefelmeyer Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 839	We have both adult kitties and a 11 - 12 week old kitten. We have not had any problems with either of our puppies hurting any of the cats. The adult cats let the puppies know, they are to be left alone. The kitten loves to play with both puppies and they get along really well. In fact our yorkie and kitten are best buddies. Probably because they are about the same size. I have not seen any problems or signs of aggression. Why take a risk though. With all of this that I have said, I would probably not allow them to be unsupervised.

06-09-2010, 05:29 PM	#25
BanditSocks2 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Crofton, MD, USA Posts: 1,522	It's probably because of the "terrier" in them like the people above have said. They may think they are squirrels, chipmunks, or rats. I would wait until the kittens are quite a bit older before introducing them in a safe environment. Until then, keep them completely separated.