How to tell if a dog is aggressive towards cats?

How to tell if a dog is aggressive towards cats?

You will surely want to see beautiful cuddling scenes between your pet cat and dog. The traditional idea is that cats and dogs can’t be friends with each other. The clash between dogs and cats is natural when they live in a similar house. In particular, dogs become aggressive towards cats. A concerned and responsible pet owner has to tackle this problem. Otherwise, it could be because of a serious injury. But how to tell if a dog is aggressive towards cats?

You can do many things to make a friendship between cats and dogs. This guide has said about the most probable reasons for a dog’s aggressiveness towards a cat. Also, you will know how to stop dog aggression towards the cat. So, let’s start. 

What Does dog Aggression Towards Cats Look Like?

The easiest way to understand dog aggression is that it keeps running toward a cat and bites after catching it. But some precise symptoms help you know the dog’s aggression. If your dog has these symptoms, it is time to train your dog to live with cats. Notice the below factors.  

  • It doesn’t tolerate the cuddle and time between the cat and owner. 
  • The dog will look at the cat with growling and barking
  • Give the eating when a cat stays around it
  • Start for a high prey drive to chase a small animals and objects
  • Refuse to share the sleeping place near a cat

Ways to Identify Dog Aggression Toward Cats

Here are some common symptoms when a dog is aggressive towards a cat. Hopefully, you can be aware of these and can make a friendship between your cat and dog. 

Rigid Stillness:

Rigid stillness is the most common scene when a dog gets aggressive towards a cat. Notice if you stand in one place with rigid stillness with an aggressive look.

Starring:

Keeping a staring eye on the cat makes sure that the dog will attack the cat at any time. At the same time, the dog can growl and bark.

Visual Tracking:

If the dog tries to track the cat’s movement by staring, then you can make sure the dog is preparing to attack

Tail up:

If your dog’s tail is tilted upwards in the presence of a cat, you know it is aggressive to attack.

Hackles raised:

A raised hackles mean the severe angriness of a dog. If you notice your cat in hackles raised in front of a cat, then be sure that it is aggressive towards the cat.

Low Growling:

Low growling means that a dog tries to express their opinion about the territory. Besides, it can order another pet to go away from the dog. 

Biting:

Beating is one of the individual signs that you can ensure that the dog is aggressive to the cat. Although, all bites are not a reason for aggressiveness. A lot of the time, they can bite with playing mood. If you want to know exactly what mood your dog is in, you need to notice the symptoms of another aggression. 

Excessive barking:

Excessive barking means your dog is very angry. If he sees a cat and barks a lot, he understands that the cat wants to attack him. This barking will be very loud and continue until the cat goes away.

Why Is My Dog Aggressive Toward Cats?

There are several reasons why a dog can be aggressive to a cat. Here are some strong logical reasons.

Predatory Impulse:

Dogs are naturally predator animals. Although dogs have been domesticated, some dogs may exist with a predatory attitude. If you have such a dog, it would be better not to foster a cat. Besides, you can bring a dog that already lived with a cat. 

Improper Introduction:

It is important to introduce yourself to your different pets. And it should be in a proper way. Otherwise, both pets may be aggressive with each other. Remember that you can’t force to introduce two pets. Usually, cats may get afraid when you try to meet them with a dog. On the other hand, a dog can get angry to see a new cat inside the home. So, it is good to take some days to introduce each other. 

Prior Negative Experience:

Cats are always fearful of playing with a dog if they are new to each other. So, a cat can express her fearful nature with roaring, tails up and rigid stillness. When a dog faces these experiences in its previous life, it will get angry when meeting a new cat. 

Lack of Obedience:

We know the dog is the most loyal animal in the world. But there has some dog that has less loyalty. Due to the proper obedience, a dog can create issues with another pet in the home. Moreover, some dogs tend to think of themselves as a leader. As a result, they try to prevalence on other pets and family members. 

Territoriality:

Some cats are very sensitive about their territory. They can get angry about sharing space with a new pet. Moreover, they feel jealousy when the owner gives attention to other pets. So, they don’t allow another pet inside the home. 

how to stop dog aggression toward cats?

Controlling a dog to stop aggression towards cats is a bit tricky. But here are some effective ways to control your cat. 

Good Interaction:

When you misrepresent your dog and cat, it can have a devastating effect on them. So, always try to make a good interaction. To ensure a better and safe interaction, you can choose a neutral space where both dog and cat feel good. You can stop when dogs are aggressive towards each other. At the same time, your presence can make themselves introduce.

Admit your dog to training class:

Aggressiveness towards a cat is a part of a dog’s personality. So, it is tricky to control dogs’ behavior. But some obedience training classes can help reduce this aggressiveness at the first meeting. With some basic training, your dog will be somewhat calm when it meets with a new cat. So, arrange some training classes for your pet dog. 

Familiarize each other’s scents:

It is another good way to stop your dog’s aggression towards a cat. Dogs and cats have a keen sense of smell. So, you can try this amazing method. You can rub the cat’s body with a towel and keep it with the dog for a while. In the same way, keep some clothes with dog scent near the cat. Later, when they face each other, they will be able to recognize it by smell. 

Ensure a safe spot for the cat:

You know, some dogs love to dominate cats. Less loyal dogs behave this way. In these cases, you need to choose a safe place for the cat so that the cat can escape from the sudden aggression of the dog and stay in a safe place. 

Provide separate toys and food:

Give them different toys when they are new to each other. And keep the food space separate. A dog can get aggressive because of sharing food from a similar space. In this case, you need to know how to stop food aggression in dogs towards cats? Otherwise, they could fight. And at that point, the dog can be aggressive towards cats. 

Avoid scolding doggo in front of the cat:

Dogs are naturally sensitive like small children. If any other animal caresses in front of them, they get hurt. So, don’t give your cat extra attention in front of the dog. Moreover, stop scolding your dog in front of the cat because the dog feels insulted.

Be patient:

Making cats and dogs friends is not an easy task. However, it is possible with time. In this case, you have to be patient until they can tolerate each other. 

FAQs:

  1. What dog breeds are not good with cats?

Dog breeds that have high hunting skills are not safe for cats. Besides, the larger dog is not safe for cats because they can easily attack and injure a cat. Besides, avoid dog breeds that kill cats. Al smaller dog with less hunting skilled dog is a good choice for a pet cat. 

Closing thought:

I hope you know how to tell if a dog is aggressive towards cats. A dog can get aggressive towards a cat for several reasons. However, the easiest way to understand fog aggressiveness towards cats is their physical posture and vocalization. 

There are many good ways to make a friendship between a dog and cat to prevent aggression. In this case, the owner needs to be patient in handling the situation between the two furry friends. 

If you try the tips mentioned above, it would be easier to make a relationship between your pet dog and cat. If you have more queries about this topic, then let us know.

About the author

Megan D

This is Megan D, the loving mom of all cats. She has been working with cat well fair organization as a cat lover since last few years. Personally, she has ownership of a cat shelter for helpless stray cats. Megan loves to research on all breeds of cat and fond of sharing all experience with the worldwide cat-loving human.

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