How to Make Your Cat Less Aggressive to Dogs

On TV and in books, dogs are great cat chasers. In reality, many cats are the aggressors in a cat and dog war. This can make life difficult if you are the proud owner of both a dog and a cat and your cat delights in being aggressive toward your friendly, tail-wagging best friend. Tame your cat's aggression by following some simple steps, and your cat will soon learn to either stay away from your dog or give up and be friends.

Things You'll Need

  • Spray bottle filled with water
  • Cat treats
  • Cat condo
  • Catnip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Expose your cat to dogs. This may sound crazy, but many cats are just not used to dogs. If you can, try exposing your cat to dogs on a regular basis, over a period of time, so that the cat can get used to the noises, smells and sounds a dog makes.

    • 2

      Create a safe place. Many cats are aggressive because they feel that their territory is threatened by the dog. Make or purchase a safe place for your cat that the dog can't reach, such as a high cat condo.

    • 3

      Train the dog. Dogs tend to get overly excited when they see cats, which can trigger aggressive behavior in a cat. Train your dog to be gentle around the cat. For example, make the dog sit and then slowly bring the cat near the dog. If the dog gets up, make him sit again.

    • 4

      Train the cat. Every time your cat acts aggressively toward the dog, give her a good squirt with a spray bottle full of water. While this won't harm the cat, it will deter her, because cats hate water.

    • 5

      Reward the cat. Keep a tin of kitty treats nearby, and when the cat ignores or is otherwise calm around the dog, praise her and give her a kitty treat.