aggressive toward kittens
 

Why are my Yorkies so aggressive toward my kitten? Is it cause they think hes a rat? My male killed one, and now my grumpy female has attacked my 6 wk old kitten twice...any suggestions...Thanks Diane:(

I think that you are right about them thinking that they are meant to hunt the kittens. I think that you could try introducing them slowly and on neutral ground. The key to this is you staying calm. If they are still being aggressive you will probably have to either rehome your kitten or your yorkies. :(

First of All..... Please make Sure they are no where Near the kitten's!!

I can't tell you why But i would just make sure there are never any kittens near them!

I'm sorry but i have to disagee There is no introducing Them to kittens when one has KIlled a kitten & another has attacked twice They should never be trusted near the kittens.

I have a kitten and yorkies and I agree. Some yorkies see them as prey. Mine have never attacked my kitten

Have you punished the yorkies for attacking the cats? The cats are also part of the "pack" and should be respected... Any time the dogs show aggression towards the cats, they should not get away with it. :animal-pa

It's important to stay calm, but when your dogs do this they have got to be shown that you're angry with them. Your dogs will want to please you, and if you teach them that doing anything but ignoring the kitten will get them in serious trouble, they'll learn to tolerate it.

On the flip side, you could try rewarding the dogs whenever they're in proximity of the kitten, and then they will learn to associate the cat with good things. This is how I trained my cat to tolerate my pup Ollie when I brought him home. It strengthened their relationship really quickly.

Also, you could try rubbing blankets on the kitten to catch its scent and placing the blankets in the dogs' crate/around their food bowls. It's more positive reinforcement.

I have two senior cats, they are indoors, and never in their life have seen a dog in our house, when I got Phoebe my first yorkie, I keep them separate for few weeks, them slow introduce them to each other always with close supervision, and the cats nail cut, so we don't have to be worry hurting Phoebe, little by little they became the best friends ever:thumbup:

Wow, sorry to say I have never heard of a Yorkie attacking a cat. Is your Yorkie really aggressive? :eek: Maybe you need to start with an older cat. Poor Kitties!! I have an older cat and let me tell you when I brought my yorkie home he got slapped a few times in the face and never bothered the cat again. :D Now today they will chase each other threw the house playing. But when my baby walks near the cat's territory he knows who is in charge....hehe

I do know they say not to have a jack russell and a cat because they will kill a cat. But they are alot more aggresive than the yorkie. ;)

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?

My girls are 5 1/2 lbs and 4 1/2 lbs...I have a 22 lb Maine Coon Cat that has been with us (and around other dogs) for several years. Mckenzi (cat) is 14 yrs old. My yorkies DO NOT like him....AT ALL. I got them both as small pups so they were raised together and the cat was here first. They don't bite him but if the cat even moves a bit they are after him...nipping and barking at him. They both have gotten smacked (by the cat) a few times. This only makes them go after him even more. I had wanted to get a ragdoll but, don't think that is ever going to happen. I'm afraid the cat is going to hurt the dogs! When we are out of the house for a length of time I have to lock him in another room. I have NO idea why they don't like him.

I would try punishing them when they get this way towards the cat. Juicy and I went to my boyfriends moms house for Thanksgiving and she has two dogs three cats and 2 squirrels. Juicy did fine with them all I was def scared about the squirrels because she seems to try and chase them when we go on walks.

Are You Kidding Me?
 

Normally I would agree with all this great advice it's all correct/true/right but at this point you definetly need to get and keep your Kittens away from your Yorkies. I agree you need to re-home one of them, I vote for the Kittens to go. It's not the point of being "Aggressive" or did you reprimand them you cannot erase Years of Breeding. Even though they are your Babies and you dress and groom them they are and always will be a "Terrier" first and foremost that's what they do, whether you train them to or not. They are Hunters and they can handle the worst weather conditions w/ease. I have seen all 3 of mine run through knee high grass in the rain, fog and dark fearlessly chase anything that moves. My 2 females, Mother & Daughter will chase a flock of Ducks into the Lake and dive/swim after them if I let them!
IMO your Yorkie's are beyond the point of Training/Socializing only b/c one of them has already killed and the other has attacked twice. I'm not saying that it can't be done b/c I have Trained my 3 to do anything.......so I do have Faith in you too if it means that much to you? Otherwise save the Kittens!

I have a Yorkie and my boyfriend literally left his Yorkie at my house for the past month or so; therefore, I own two beautiful Yorkies (Diamond and Bruce). However, I am picking out a kitten from a litter of 7. I have had Diamond since she was 5 weeks, and Bruce has been passed down from my boyfriend's aunt - to me at the very mature age of 6. Diamond and Bruce get along splendidly. Bruce is typically laid back, and Diamond can be fiasty at times; so, I wonder how they would get along with a kitten. I think well :confused:. Also, when I'm not at home, Diamond and Bruce are left in the cage; how would they feel if the kitten is able to walk around freely?

By the way, Diamond is 2-years-old.

In my house the (adult) cats are always free, and the puppy is always put in her enclosure when I am not there to supervise. I do consider how the puppy must feel; I want her to understand that the cats are above her in the pack order. This arrangement helps me to get the point across.....

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!!!

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.