it been 8 wks Mother cat is still attacking my 2 dogs and other spayed female cat

Question
yes- back in Feb. i found a stray cat- 2 months later On April 14, she gave birth to four kittens- whom will be 2 months old on June 14th, my question is - how can i get her to stop attacking my 2 dogs whom dont even bother her and are kept in a separte room all the time - the mother cat and her kittens are in the back family room- but when the dogs have to go out in the back yard to do their bussiness she attacks them my dogs are so afraid of her that they wont even go out in the yard- what can i do because this was their house first- she treats my spayed 1yr. old female cat the same-(when they run into each other outside- i keep my other cat in the front part of the house with the dogs) i thought since the kittens are now almost 2 months old she would relax a little around the other animals but since the kittens are up and walking all around she (the mother) has became meaner towards the other animals-the mother cat and her kittens have been kept in the back room since the kittens were born- we have given her all the privacy she needs-and did not allow any of the other animals in there- but now the kittens are 2 months old and almost ready to be on their own-if i decide to keep any or all of the kittens will this continue- how long will the mother cat act this way- im getting her spayed at the end of the month- will her behavior change towards my other animal after that? please help

Answer
Hi Leanne,

The spay will likely help some. But the kittens are still quite young and in need of protection in mom's eyes. In another month, she'll feel a little more able to trust other animals. It should be noted that not all cats react this way to other animals with their litters - their individual personalities and previous experiences dictate how protective they are. Cats who have lived a rough life outdoors for most of their lives tend to be extremely protective over their litters. Generally, once the kittens are grown, I have found these cats to be sweet, or non-threatening, at least.

You do need to do a very slow introduction between the animals, and try to ensure that any interaction they have is positive. For now, try to relocate mom to a closed off room when the dogs need to pass through. Maybe place her in a bathroom or something until they are back in their part of the house. When it comes time to introduce them, you may want to put her in a carrier and keep the dogs on leashes so they all must keep some distance. The idea is to let them get small doses of one another until they tolerate each other. With the cats, placing one in a carrier while letting the other sniff around may work, but I would switch off who's in the carrier. You don't want one of them to feel trapped all the time. Once all the animals seem at ease while in their constraints, you can try introducing them freely, but separate them right away if it seems like a fight will ensue. Feeding the cats special treats at the same time can help them bond, but start by feeding them several feet apart.

Good luck!
Jessica