Cat Tolerance-creating a training plan

[Shamas mom]

Time to set up a training regimine for cat tolerance.

When we brought Shamas into the house, we did everything youre supposed to do. For the first month, we had him in one room, then he was on lead. He was not allowed to chase, he was rewared for calm behavior. The works.

Problem was, the younger two cats Ceded Territory and moved into the girls' room.

now Shamas thinks they dont belong in the house. If they come out, he says "get back in your room!" and chasees them back where they belong. Matt's fine- he never ceded territory when Shamas was moving in, so he has the run of the house. But Midnight and Helen aren't allowed out during the day. They all had an uneasy truce, but the last couple of days Midnight is getting brave and coming out while Shamas is laying down.


I'm intercepting him, and leashing him using GL/Halti so that he can't lunge, immediately shoving treats down his gob every time he looks at Midnight lol! This is working short-term..but I need to set up an actual training plan so that he will let Midnight out and around the house. Time to put on my thinking cap.......

I feel like I'm going to need lots of fresh chicken and hot dogs for Shamas, and Whiskas Temptations for midnight. Open the Basement door, so Midnight can make a run for it if he does get chased. Probably make a few blockades too, to offer hiding places too.....the house is pretty open since we cleaned up for the dog....

 

[Lab_adore]

Good luck @Shamas mom !

 

[Xena Dog Princess]

Oh I feel your pain. We had one staunch cat (sadly RIP) and two very timid cats. Timid cats are the worst to deal with. Two years on and it's still a struggle, but we're making progress. I wish you better (and quicker!) luck than me.

 

[Aitch]

I'm having the same problem with Alex. If he sees one of my cats he will chase it. I've made plenty of places for the cats to escape to using gates and I treat Alex when he is calm around around one of them. It does take patience and a LOT of treats. The cats love my other dogs so it is essential that Alex is calm around them too. Keep at it. It will happen eventually.

 

[Mrs UB]

We had a timid cat (sadly RIP) when we first got Harv. Whilst they were never the 'best friends and curled up together in front of the fire' types, much to Harv's annoyance, there was tolerance (which is the best you can hope for sometimes).

I'm pretty sure that Zak George has a Youtube video on this subject - have a Google

 

[Shamas mom]

We had a timid cat (sadly RIP) when we first got Harv. Whilst they were never the 'best friends and curled up together in front of the fire' types, much to Harv's annoyance, there was tolerance (which is the best you can hope for sometimes).

I'm pretty sure that Zak George has a Youtube video on this subject - have a Google

Thanks, I wacth him sometimes when I need tips. I'll look it up

 

[SteffiS]

My cats do not get on particularly well with Ripple. The older one loved my last dog and they would sleep and play together, but Ripple's boisterous behaviour is too much for her (apart from when they share squeezy cheese).
The younger cat is quite timid and, as Ripple has tried to chase her a couple of times, she keeps right away from him. She seems quite keen to get close to Toffee, but she's not very bright, and it seems likely she thinks he's another cat as he's not much bigger than her .

 

[Shamas mom]

My cats do not get on particularly well with Ripple. The older one loved my last dog and they would sleep and play together, but Ripple's boisterous behaviour is too much for her (apart from when they share squeezy cheese).
The younger cat is quite timid and, as Ripple has tried to chase her a couple of times, she keeps right away from him. She seems quite keen to get close to Toffee, but she's not very bright, and it seems likely she thinks he's another cat as he's not much bigger than her .

Matt gets on really well with Shamas. He's the calm, confident type, and will just hiss or moan if Shamas gets out of line...like when Shamas wants to play and drops toys on him. I don't know if Shamas realises the the 16lb monster cat is not a dog, because he's always trying to engage him in dog games, and constatly hits him in the head with balls/sqeakers.

He recognises the other two for what they are-he'll chase them, but doesn't try to hurt them-and he knows if they turn he's in danger..Helen taught him to keep his distance from the knives mounted on the ends of her legs! BACK OFF MISTER!

 

[Aitch]

Alex is a cat chaser so I am taking the approach that cats mean loads of treats. See a cat, stuff his face with cheese, chicken etc. He is beginning to associate cats with good things now so it seems to be working.