I’m looking for some advice. My boyfriend has a cat who lives in a flat but spends her days outdoors and usually comes back in the evening.
I have a dog, and since I’ve started bringing him over to his place, the cat has only come back a few times. It's now been 3 days and she hasn't returned at all – we haven't even spotted her during the day (whereas usually, even if she doesn't come in at night, we always see her around because she stays close by)...
I’m really worried and I’m scared she’s been driven away because of my dog. When she is at home, she’s terrified of him and is always on the defensive, even though my dog doesn't pay her any attention at all – he’s actually a bit scared of her!
What do you think is going on? I don't know much about cat behaviour...
Thanks in advance for your help...
Translated from French
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You could put up some posters with her photo around the neighbourhood... to let people know she belongs to your friend, just in case someone has already found her and taken her in.
Right, we'll put some bowls out along her usual route... We're still worried she might be shut in somewhere though, as she lived with another dog at home in October without running off... I reckon she would've done it then too.
So yeah, I’m not bringing my dog round anymore, but it’s going to become a real problem because he’s on his own during the day (whilst I’m at work) and now he’s on his own at night too… so it just can’t go on forever.
It’s strange because another dog stayed at hers for a month recently and she didn't run off like this…
I’m so worried… I’m just praying she comes back once the dog’s scent has gone… :(
Oh absolutely, a dog is more than enough to make her run away from home! Cats are TERRITORIAL, whereas dogs are social animals. For a cat, seeing an intruder—especially one from the 'enemy camp'—taking over their patch is a massive source of stress. In these circumstances, some cats never come back and will try to find themselves a new home.
In my view, though I don’t know if it’s an option for you, you should really stop bringing the dog over to the cat's house. That’s the only way she’ll be able to feel at home again once the dog’s scent has cleared. You can’t force a cat to accept a dog, and her current behaviour shows just how much she’s struggling with the situation. Don’t risk her running away for good.
First of all, thanks for your replies :) So, for the time being, I’ve stopped bringing my dog over to see if she comes back... She’s been spayed; I’d thought of that as well, but it’s clearly not a mating thing then... We’ve tried giving her treats while the dog is around, but she won't eat them... That said, she does manage to get about and leave her room when the dog is there (my dog respects her space and doesn't go in there). Feliway? Does that work well? I’ll pick up a diffuser then and give it a go... I’m really worried, I just hope she doesn’t end up leaving for good...
YES, CATS ARE skittish! She’s bound to feel like she’s in danger, especially if the dog is big. Cats are already on the defensive when they meet a new cat, so it’s only natural with a dog; she can smell his scent.
Has she been spayed? That might be the reason she’s bolting.
Try not to bring your dog round for a bit and you’ll see if he’s the reason she’s running off.
Hi there,
It’s definitely possible that she’s not coming back to the flat as much because she’s scared of the dog. Her usual environment is changing, which is causing her stress and would explain why she’s less keen to come home than she used to be.
Have you tried introducing them to each other? It might be worth slowly trying to get her used to the dog’s presence. You could give the cat some treats while the dog is there so she understands she has nothing to fear. Setting up a pheromone diffuser like Feliway might also help her relax in the flat.
Hope this helps,
Emeline
