My Yorkie attacks my cat - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Peabody · 08-18-2011, 10:23 AM

My almost 2-year-old male Yorkie hates one of my cats and attacks her whenever he gets the chance. I got him at 12 weeks old, and raised him in the house with my 3 cats. I thought if he was raised with them, he would get along with the cats. He hates them! He stalks one of them and attacks her--growling and biting at her. I have to keep a child's gate in the door to one room where the cat hides from him. If I forget to close the gate, my Yorkie runs into the room and looks for the cat to attack her. The cat, of course, retaliates, and the two of them get into a tangled mess of biting, scratching, and growling. The cat is a 10-year-old female. I'm afraid my cat will scratch my Yorkie's eyes, and that my Yorkie will kill my cat.

I've tried picking up my Yorkie and firmly saying "NO" and taking him to another room to divert him. I've tried putting him in his pen as a "time out."

Any ideas?

Peabody · 08-18-2011, 10:58 AM

PS: He was neutered before I got him at 12 weeks, and he's very sweet to me--not aggressive with people or my other dog (an old, big female sheperd).

Should I get another small dog for him to play with?

smiler · 08-18-2011, 11:13 AM

Hi, I have a 6yr old yorkie who we adopted 2 weeks ago, we also have a 12 yr old fatcat lol, The cat absolutely hates Bart, she has never lived with a dog, and im not sure if Bart has ever lived with a cat!
Anyway, when the cat comes downstairs (she only comes down for brekkie, tea and supper, then goes back to bed upstairs), i put Bart on his lead, and walk past her, telling him to 'leave it', if he doesn't take any notice, i give him a squirt or water from a bottle. I started this about a week and a half ago, and so far so good, the cat has had a swipe at him, and she is very very vocal, and this is now starting to scare him and he backs of. I have now got to the stage where i don't need to carry the water bottle with me when training him with the cat.
I have now also purchased a stairgate for the living room, this way, they can both see each other and hopefully get used to each other being around.
Hope this helps a little, good luck!

Cha Cha · 08-18-2011, 12:38 PM

Just curious what the relation ship is with the other two cats. My experience with cats and dogs is generally that the cats have the advantage. If they don't like the dog they can generally get up and away from the dog and will avoid it altogether and still live peacefully together. Most times, when cats stand their ground early in the relationship a bond will form and the two can become coexistent buddies. However, once in a while there will be a stubborn cat. One that will not give in socially. They will make themselves noticed, but just enough to let them know they are there, but not enough to form a relationship. They appear, let the dog see them, then off to hide they go, and the chase for the dog is on. Dogs will play with cats they have formed a bond with, sometimes pretty aggressively, but won't hurt them, but at the same time, may feel threatened by a different cat and attack it. One should never assume that because a dog is socialized with cats that there is never a problem with one. Many dogs are fine with a cat in the home or one they know, but may chase a strange cat that comes into their yard and possibly kill it if they catch it. Only you knows if the interaction between the two is aggressive friendly play, or down right hatred. It is possible that particular cat could be in danger if it truely will not give into a friendly relationship with the dog and the dog sees it as a threat. In a real altercation, (I say "real" because you say they have tangled before but no injuries) I doubt the Yorkie would lose, but yes, it can get it's eye scratched.

susan lynn · 08-18-2011, 01:02 PM

I am not sure what you should do, fortunately my 4 Yorkies and the cat get along great. They chase him and bark and growl but they have never hurt each other. Sometimes he will slap one of them but dorsn't hurt them. I would keep trying the time out or the cats will have to stay away from him.

MikaTallulah · 08-18-2011, 03:09 PM

I have four yorkies they get along with my two cats overall. However if one of the cats runs the dogs chase it is the terrier in them. No one has ever been injuried.

nychelse · 08-18-2011, 03:21 PM

Good luck with the babies getting along... I hope you can sort it out- I've never had both at the same time so I have no idea how you can ease the tension between them

Peabody · 08-19-2011, 12:03 PM

Thanks, Folks, for the replies. I haven't tried using a lead to let him get close and a water bottle to train Stoney, but it sounds like a good idea. A little mist in his face won't hurt him. I'll use filtered water so it won't sting his eyes.

Re his relationship with the other 2 cats: they avoid him, skirting the edges of the room to get past him. He sometimes chases them, too, but doesn't seem to hate them like he does Bonnie. I think Bonnie is more of a fighter. She's afraid of the dog, but she fights back more. So, it escalates. I have found a scratch on my dog's head, and I'm sure it was from one of their fights.

I'm going to try the desensitizing approach with the lead and water bottle.

Thanks again!!!

smiler · 08-20-2011, 01:07 AM

Hi, I think I have only had to spray him maybe 4 times in total, but it has to be a jet stream not mist, and do a stern 'LEAVE IT' when you spray. It doesnt harm them in anyway, and I have found I can now go past the cat with Bart on a lead, without water bottle, just saying 'LEAVE IT' and he looks the other way. Haven't tried him without the lead as yet, and I personally think that will be a long way of.

Good Luck!

erika1948 · 11-06-2011, 05:44 PM

I think it's the terrier instinct - they were bred to chase rats. My yorkie chased my cat from the day he joined the household. He never stopped. The only time she was able to sleep on my bed again was the night before I had to put her to sleep - it was almost as though he knew. She had to live her life in high places. I had poodles who after the initial introduction never chased her but he never gave up. He also did not do well with a very small poodle puppy I tried to adopt. I am in the process of adopting an 8 year old poodle who is the same weight he is and I am hoping they will get along as he was raised with a poodle as a puppy.

08-18-2011, 10:23 AM	#1
Peabody Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 162	My Yorkie attacks my cat My almost 2-year-old male Yorkie hates one of my cats and attacks her whenever he gets the chance. I got him at 12 weeks old, and raised him in the house with my 3 cats. I thought if he was raised with them, he would get along with the cats. He hates them! He stalks one of them and attacks her--growling and biting at her. I have to keep a child's gate in the door to one room where the cat hides from him. If I forget to close the gate, my Yorkie runs into the room and looks for the cat to attack her. The cat, of course, retaliates, and the two of them get into a tangled mess of biting, scratching, and growling. The cat is a 10-year-old female. I'm afraid my cat will scratch my Yorkie's eyes, and that my Yorkie will kill my cat. I've tried picking up my Yorkie and firmly saying "NO" and taking him to another room to divert him. I've tried putting him in his pen as a "time out." Any ideas?

08-18-2011, 12:38 PM	#4
Cha Cha Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play Posts: 7,069	Just curious what the relation ship is with the other two cats. My experience with cats and dogs is generally that the cats have the advantage. If they don't like the dog they can generally get up and away from the dog and will avoid it altogether and still live peacefully together. Most times, when cats stand their ground early in the relationship a bond will form and the two can become coexistent buddies. However, once in a while there will be a stubborn cat. One that will not give in socially. They will make themselves noticed, but just enough to let them know they are there, but not enough to form a relationship. They appear, let the dog see them, then off to hide they go, and the chase for the dog is on. Dogs will play with cats they have formed a bond with, sometimes pretty aggressively, but won't hurt them, but at the same time, may feel threatened by a different cat and attack it. One should never assume that because a dog is socialized with cats that there is never a problem with one. Many dogs are fine with a cat in the home or one they know, but may chase a strange cat that comes into their yard and possibly kill it if they catch it. Only you knows if the interaction between the two is aggressive friendly play, or down right hatred. It is possible that particular cat could be in danger if it truely will not give into a friendly relationship with the dog and the dog sees it as a threat. In a real altercation, (I say "real" because you say they have tangled before but no injuries) I doubt the Yorkie would lose, but yes, it can get it's eye scratched. __________________ Shelly and the girls Moka Mylee

08-18-2011, 01:02 PM	#5
susan lynn Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,262	I am not sure what you should do, fortunately my 4 Yorkies and the cat get along great. They chase him and bark and growl but they have never hurt each other. Sometimes he will slap one of them but dorsn't hurt them. I would keep trying the time out or the cats will have to stay away from him. __________________ SUSAN : TESSIE : HOBBES :CALVIN :SASSY There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face! ~ Ben Williams

08-18-2011, 03:09 PM	#6
MikaTallulah YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 1,812	I have four yorkies they get along with my two cats overall. However if one of the cats runs the dogs chase it is the terrier in them. No one has ever been injuried. __________________ Beware of Nestle Purina Cozy (4/06), Roxy & Zoey (2/08), Lucy (4/09); Buddy 4/09- Rescued 12/11); Mika ('98) & Tallulah ('00) RIP Harley 4/2009; Lucky 11/2010; Zoey 4/2012

11-06-2011, 05:44 PM	#10
erika1948 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 139	Yorkies and cats I think it's the terrier instinct - they were bred to chase rats. My yorkie chased my cat from the day he joined the household. He never stopped. The only time she was able to sleep on my bed again was the night before I had to put her to sleep - it was almost as though he knew. She had to live her life in high places. I had poodles who after the initial introduction never chased her but he never gave up. He also did not do well with a very small poodle puppy I tried to adopt. I am in the process of adopting an 8 year old poodle who is the same weight he is and I am hoping they will get along as he was raised with a poodle as a puppy.

08-18-2011, 10:58 AM	#2
Peabody Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 162	PS: He was neutered before I got him at 12 weeks, and he's very sweet to me--not aggressive with people or my other dog (an old, big female sheperd). Should I get another small dog for him to play with?

08-18-2011, 11:13 AM	#3
smiler Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: shrewsbury, shropshire, england Posts: 29	Hi, I have a 6yr old yorkie who we adopted 2 weeks ago, we also have a 12 yr old fatcat lol, The cat absolutely hates Bart, she has never lived with a dog, and im not sure if Bart has ever lived with a cat! Anyway, when the cat comes downstairs (she only comes down for brekkie, tea and supper, then goes back to bed upstairs), i put Bart on his lead, and walk past her, telling him to 'leave it', if he doesn't take any notice, i give him a squirt or water from a bottle. I started this about a week and a half ago, and so far so good, the cat has had a swipe at him, and she is very very vocal, and this is now starting to scare him and he backs of. I have now got to the stage where i don't need to carry the water bottle with me when training him with the cat. I have now also purchased a stairgate for the living room, this way, they can both see each other and hopefully get used to each other being around. Hope this helps a little, good luck!

08-18-2011, 03:21 PM	#7
nychelse YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Manhattan, NY Posts: 250	Good luck with the babies getting along... I hope you can sort it out- I've never had both at the same time so I have no idea how you can ease the tension between them

08-19-2011, 12:03 PM	#8
Peabody Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 162	Thanks, Folks, for the replies. I haven't tried using a lead to let him get close and a water bottle to train Stoney, but it sounds like a good idea. A little mist in his face won't hurt him. I'll use filtered water so it won't sting his eyes. Re his relationship with the other 2 cats: they avoid him, skirting the edges of the room to get past him. He sometimes chases them, too, but doesn't seem to hate them like he does Bonnie. I think Bonnie is more of a fighter. She's afraid of the dog, but she fights back more. So, it escalates. I have found a scratch on my dog's head, and I'm sure it was from one of their fights. I'm going to try the desensitizing approach with the lead and water bottle. Thanks again!!!

08-20-2011, 01:07 AM	#9
smiler Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: shrewsbury, shropshire, england Posts: 29	Hi, I think I have only had to spray him maybe 4 times in total, but it has to be a jet stream not mist, and do a stern 'LEAVE IT' when you spray. It doesnt harm them in anyway, and I have found I can now go past the cat with Bart on a lead, without water bottle, just saying 'LEAVE IT' and he looks the other way. Haven't tried him without the lead as yet, and I personally think that will be a long way of. Good Luck!