really aggressive cat towards new puppy

Question
hi, first some background... the cat adopted us, we had a jack russel (2yrs old at the time) and the teen aged cat jumped the fence into the yard, came thru the doggie door and was eating the dogs food. my screaming family got me up, i put the kitten out the front door and before i could turn around the kitten had run back thru the doggie door and was eating from the dogs bowl. i told my family the cat was ours if not done it by the jack russel. that was 9 years ago and they became bff. understand the cat would go out at night just to fight with neighborhood cats.. luckily she has mellowed in the past 2 years or there arent any other outdoor cats about. the dog passed 2 months ago and we got a new puppy (beagle mix) the cat aggressively goes after the puppy with blood in her eye. the pup is cage trained and about 11 weeks old. with my wife and i working we cannot be with them all day long. daytime, the cat (sugar...lol) stays in our bedroom (she regularly sleeps there all day) and the pup is in the cage. the pup is a belly up beta and the cat super alpha and stalks her prey. any help will be appreciated... pls feel free to condense the post or pm, thx, ben

Answer
Ben,

That is great that the kitten survived a Jack Russell AND became friends! That is not typical.

The cat is probably grieving for her dogmate so getting the new puppy will help keep her mind off of things by directing her attention to something else...like the puppy. The new puppy has a different smell and a higher level of energy so she thinks he is an intruder and she is trying to protect her territory from it. Also, older cats do not take change in their routines and habits as well as a younger cat can which can cause aggression, behavior, or health issues.

It is just going to take some time and patience but it will work out. Maybe not as well as before because the cat is older now and will not play like she used to with the pup and the pup will want to and try (when the introduction period is over, which will take longer because of the age of the cat) and that may cause some behavior issues. Make sure the cat has a place to go that is high up or safe from the puppy if she wants to get away from him. And most important, be sure to train the pup right away NOT to chase the cat...for his safety and her emotional well-being.

Sit down with the dog on one side of you and the cat on the other and pet them together. That way you are transferring scents and they can see that the other is friend not foe, and you would be giving equal attention to prevent any jealousy. Feed both treats together so they associate each other with something pleasant. Rub one towel on each animal so they recognize the scent of the other, and exchange sleeping blanket, etc. for the same reason.

Here are some suggestions on introducing cats and dogs:

"It is important to know that cats are territorial and need to be introduced to other animals very slowly in order to give them time to get used to each other before there is a face-to-face confrontation. Slow introductions help prevent fearful and aggressive problems from developing. When you introduce pets to each other, one of them may send "play" signals which can be misinterpreted by the other pet. If those signals are interpreted as aggression by one animal, then you should handle the situation as "aggressive." Don't ever let the dog rush toward the cat, even if only in play.

Confinement
If you are introducing your new dog to a resident cat confine your cats to one medium-sized room with litter box, food, water and a bed. Feed your resident pets and the newcomer on each side of the door to this room. This will help all of them to associate something enjoyable (eating!) with each other's smells. Don't put the food so close to the door that the animals are too upset by each other's presence to eat. Gradually move the dishes closer to the door until your pets can eat calmly, directly on either side of the door. Next, use two doorstops to prop open the door just enough to allow the animals to see each other, and repeat the whole process.

Switch Living Areas
Give your new dog free time in the cat's room(s) while confining your cat. This switch provides another way for the animals to experience each other's scents without a face-to-face meeting. It also allows the newcomer to become familiar with his/her new surroundings without being frightened by the cat.

Avoid Fearful And Aggressive Meetings
Avoid any interactions between your pets that result in either fearful or aggressive behavior. If these responses are allowed to become a habit, they can be difficult to change. It's better to introduce your pets to each other so gradually that neither animal becomes afraid or aggressive. You can expect mild forms of these behaviors, but don't give them the opportunity to intensify. If either animal becomes fearful or aggressive, separate them, and start over with the introduction process in a series of very small, gradual steps, as outlined above. Provide your cat(cat) with a variety of escape routes and high hiding places that are easily accessible at all times. Your cats must be able to get away from the dog whenever necessary.

Slowly allow the dog and cat to spend more time together, but always supervise them until you are absolutely sure there is no threat of danger to either of them. No matter how quickly or badly you the cat and dog to get along, you have to allow these things to process at their own speed which could be months.

For the dog's safety I would keep the cat's claws trimmed. Here is a website that shows with photos how to trim a cat's claws: http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm

I am also including a link to an article on cats and dogs that may be helpful too:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.dogchatforum.com/introducing_dogs_to_cats.htm

I hope this helps. It all depends on the animal's personalities and your patience and the love you give each animal.

Tabbi