dog and kitten

Question
hi i have a Yorkshire terrier dog he is just over a year old and iv just went and got a kitten he is very strange around with other dogs barks he is only good with my mums 2 dogs but really scared that he might go for the kitten he been licking it and making funny whining noises is this okay or do you think he will turn  

Answer
Hi Susan,

Thank you for writing to me about your new kitten.  

Some dogs are really great with cats, while others can be a threat. Certain dog instinctively see small animals as prey to be hunted.

Monitor your dog and cat closely. Do not leave them alone together until you are certain they will get along well.

It is important to make sure there are safe retreats in the house where your cat can get away from the dog and be safe. You can try using a baby gate across the doorway of a room. Position the gate 4 to 5 inches above the floor for your kitten to be able to slip under. Litter boxes should be kept out of your dog's reach.  You don't want the dog to eat cat feces and/or litter, or be able to keep a frightened kitten from using the litter box.

It is perfectly normal for your dog to show curiosity about the kitten, but if your dog lunges, snarls, growls, bares his teeth, or exhibits other aggressive behavior, then the animals should be separated. This behavior is considered serious enough experts would advise that the kitten be returned to where you adopted it from.  The safety of the animals must be considered primary at all times.

If your dog barks or tries to chase your cat, you should correct your dog immediately. He needs to learn right away that these behaviors are not acceptable.

On the other hand, if your new cat bats your dog on the nose as a warning, this is acceptable behavior and should not be discouraged  This is a sign that they are setting up boundaries and working out their relationship. It's a positive thing.

Be sure to reward your cat and dog for any friendly behavior and encourage their positive interactions.

NEVER leave a kitten under four months old alone with your Yorkie. Your kitten needs to be able to defend herself if things get out of hand and she feels that danger is present.

Four months is a general guideline for leaving your kitten alone with your dog. If it appears to you that your five or six month old kitten cannot yet defend herself, then do not allow them to be together unsupervised.  In fact, no matter what age your kitten is, if there is any suspicion that your dog could harm the kitten, you must supervise them until a reliable truce is reached.  Hopefully they will become best friends.

Best of luck,
Shelley Davis

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