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Need Opinions - Cats vs Dog (Updated again)
For the second time in two weeks, this morning Cat and Hobbes turned on Dot. She's much bigger than they are but she's a big baby, and her response to being attacked is to run and hide, but they just followed her and continued the beat down.
She's now nervous and doesn't want to be anywhere away from me, which isn't that unusual but is more pronounced than normal.
Can anyone suggest good resources for handling a wimpy dog and two aggressive cats?
Background: Cat still has the broken tooth and this morning he hadn't been fed since he was going in for pre-operative bloodwork. I think that may have made him cranky and then Hobbes acted as his "deputy" and helped out with the beatdown. That doesn't excuse the behavior and I want to get it handled before I wind up with a dog with issues. I can give more details, but I'm not sure what is pertinent.
Re: Need Opinions - Cats vs Dog (Updated again)
We try not to yell. This morning we dumped water on all three of them and then stomped a few times. Then DH got in-between Hobbes and Dot. Cat ran off when we threw the water, but Hobbes was more persistent. I think Dot's reaction of wimpiness actually makes it worse.
We got Dot out from under the microwave table (where she ran and hid) and then I had to take Cat to the vet, so we chased him down, leashed him, and I left right away. H said they were fine after Cat and I left - Hobbes and Dot actually shared the couch.
At the moment, they don't seem to have any issues as a group. Dot is lying on the dog bed in my office (next to my desk), Hobbes is on the couch, and Cat is also in my office, on my guest chair. It's just so RANDOM, the attacking.
OMG, it just happened again. Again, they cornered her. And this time I wound up scratched all to heck (on my foot, I'm not stupid enough to put my arms in between fighting animals) I was taking Dot out and we walked past Cat, who was sleeping. He woke up, hissed once, and it was on. Hobbes even came running from the living room to participate.
I got in between Cat/Hobbes and Dot physically - stamping my foot - but I didn't have any water with me in the office. I physically (by means of walking "aggressively" toward him) backed Cat into my office and shut him in by himself. Hobbes calmed down almost immediately - which confirms that he's feeding off something from Cat.
I took Dot out and when we came back in, Hobbes was by the door waiting. I picked him up - he was fine and calm - dragged Dot through the door (poor thing, she's afraid of her own house), and then let Cat out, herded Dot into my office, and shut myself in with her. Cat and Hobbes then took to scrapping (not seriously, though) and now things have quieted down.
Should I buy Feliway? Or rescue remedy? Should I call the vet? I'm really worried at this point that something has gone horribly wrong in my little crew.
Awww poor sweet old Dot! I don't have cats but my thought re: your questions is yes, yes, and definitely yes. And in the meantime I would keep the cats separate from Dot as much as possible, at least until you get to the bottom of whatever's crawled up Cat's butt.
Our local library does not have this book. But I have to go in a few days, I might ask if they can inter-library loan it.
Cat's surgery is tomorrow, hopefully that will fix this.
Life and Love at #16 | our married life blog
As far as I can tell, although I'm hesitant to leave them unsupervised. I'm waiting until DH gets home to do anything, for that reason. I've also got a call into the vet's office (waiting for a call back) and hopefully they'll offer some suggestions.
Another update:
I just talked to the vet tech. They want me to bring him in for overnight boarding and observation prior to undergoing surgery. I hate to do it, but I feel like he's actually stressing more being at home than he would at the vet's office.
So as soon as DH is done at work, I'm going back to the vet for the 2nd time today. **sigh**
ETA: I need a hug. And a glass of wine.
Looks like someone is stopping at the store for a bottle on their way home from the vet!
Back to the pet issue: after everyone is back from the vet and the procedures are taken care of, is it possible to do a reintroduction process? Use the feliway, too.