My dog keeps putting the kittens' heads in her mouth

?
Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
Report

Hi everyone! I’ve got a 9-month-old female Akita Inu who, for the time being, is very well-socialised (she plays with and accepts other dogs, cats and even ferrets). She’s very calm and a total sweetheart.

Two months ago, we found a litter of four kittens that had been dumped (they were asking for cuddles even though they didn't know us, didn't try to run away, ate dry food and were litter trained without us even showing them what to do... Plus, there had been a storm the night before but the kittens were bone dry...) they were well hidden behind a huge bush. If it hadn't been for their meowing, we would never have seen them.

We took them in and had them treated and vaccinated (as they were covered in fleas and worms, with scabs and red bumps everywhere). We managed to rehome two of them but not the third, and we'd already decided we wanted to keep one ourselves.

So, we’ve now got two kittens and an Akita Inu! Both kittens are males. We got so attached to them both that when someone offered to take the third one, we said no and kept him by choice. We introduced the kittens gradually (they were shut in a separate room when we weren’t in, just for safety, even though my dog is brilliant with them).

My dog has been much more relaxed when we’re out since the kittens arrived (before, she wouldn’t touch her food bowl if we weren’t there, but now she eats without any trouble). They sleep together, groom each other, and there’s always a cuddle session in the evening before bed with the two kittens and my dog. They share toys, treats and the water bowl.

However, when they’re playing, it happens quite regularly that my dog—after running around the flat with the kittens—ends up putting their heads in her mouth. At first, the kittens don't mind, but then they eventually start meowing quite loudly and will end up hissing if we don’t step in.

How should I interpret my dog's behaviour? I intervene because they aren't the same size at all (my dog is 30kg—about 4 stone 10lbs—while the kittens are barely 3kg—around 6.5 lbs) but is that actually a good idea? We’ve taught her 'Drop it', so she does let go, but having to tell her to drop it every single day is getting a bit wearing...

What do you suggest? Thanks for your replies! 😉

Translated from French
icon info

The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.

Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.

Write your message and upload a photo if you want to! Please remain courteous in your exchanges.

Your post will be visible to all members of the international Wamiz forum.

30 answers
Sort by:
  • Show previous comments
    • ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
    Report

    🙂 I say this with the best of intentions, but a kitten is quite fragile—and more importantly, it’s a living creature.

    A china set is fragile too, but if someone lets their dog play with it, I’d just say ‘tough luck’ if it gets smashed! But if they let their dog play with a kitten, well, that’s a completely different story.

    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
    Report
    It’s true that kittens are quite fragile. They’re so tiny, weighing only a few ounces. Try to distract your dog, just like @Leelebijou suggested. Something I did with my cat to show my dog that he was just as much a part of the household as she was, was to stand behind the baby gate we’d put up at the kitchen door. It wasn’t really for safety, but more to make my cat feel at ease so he’d stay for the duration of the exercise. Then, taking turns, I’d give them each a little treat, saying "this is for Dundee" and "this is for Maya". If Maya stayed calm and friendly, she got lots of praise. I’m not saying this is the exact fix for your specific problem, but these are the kind of little daily exercises that don't take much time and are a nice way for them to start associating each other with something positive. It also helps the dog work on their self-control a bit. But if you notice your dog getting too rough with the kittens, don’t hesitate to separate them. I don’t know what others might think, but it lets them settle into their new surroundings gently, getting used to the smells in one of your rooms and picking up the dog’s scent without the extra stress.
    Translated from French
    Leeleebijou
    Leeleebijou Icon representing the flag French
    Report
    Hi there, My dog used to do the same with one of my two cats. If it wasn't during "mutual" play, I’d step in, but I made sure not to shout or anything (since the cat is already in the dog's mouth, the last thing you want is to ramp up the excitement by yelling). I’d simply call her away to focus on something else (and definitely not an exciting game at that moment). She still does it now, but only rarely and specifically during playtime. The cat lets her know if she’s being too rough (with a meow), otherwise he holds his own perfectly well. The difference is that when that cat arrived, my dog was already over a year old. Your Akita is young, and if excitement levels aren't managed properly, things can quickly get out of hand. The potential problem is that because you're intervening every single time, the dog might not realise if she's actually hurting them or not; consequently, we don't know if she knows how to stop herself. If your cats survive the ordeal, it should all settle down once she reaches maturity. In the meantime, I’d work as much as possible on impulse control and lowering her arousal levels so she learns to stop on her own.
    Translated from French
    Tania28
    Tania28 Icon representing the flag French
    Report

    Great minds think alike 😁

    You’re not wrong, the cats are likely to scarper if she gets too annoying.

    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
    Report
    Look at that Tania, we posted at the same time! 😁
    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
    Report
    Personally, I don't think the cats' lives are in danger because if your dog wanted to kill them, they'd be dead by now. But what’s certain is that your cats aren't enjoying this 'game' with your dog one bit. If you ask me, home or not, your cats are going to clear out if you let this carry on. I know what I’m talking about because my neighbours from across the road have a cat that moved into my place two years ago. And the worst part is, their previous cat did exactly the same! They even accused me of stealing it, even though I didn't even want the cat in the first place. Some people just don't get that cats really don't like being dragged by their front legs for several metres, so they go elsewhere—somewhere they won't be hassled...
    Translated from French
    Tania28
    Tania28 Icon representing the flag French
    Report

    Good evening

    I think if she'd wanted to kill them, she would have done it a long time ago.

    However, accidents can still happen.

    Translated from French
    K
    Kelinda Icon representing the flag French
    Report
    Why?? BUT IT'S AN EMERGENCY, YOU NEED TO SEPARATE HER FROM THE KITTENS STRAIGHT AWAY OR SHE'S GOING TO HURT OR KILL ONE!
    Translated from French
    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
    Expert verified
    Report
    Hi there, It sounds to me like your dog is simply playing. You should still keep a close eye on them during playtime, though, as tiny kittens are very fragile and your dog might not realise her own strength. It’s a very good idea to keep the dogs and cats separate whenever you're out. I know it must be a bit of a chore having to supervise them constantly, but once the kittens have grown up, there won't be any risk anymore. Hope this helps, Cyanne – Vet student and Project Officer for ProVéto Junior Conseil
    Translated from French
    Kikaah
    Kikaah Icon representing the flag French
    Report

    It might just be a burst of excitement that she’s struggling to settle down from. Try making sure she’s calm if she wants to play with the kittens; if not, then no playtime with them. If she’s finding it difficult, maybe take her out for a quick walk so she’s a bit more relaxed when she’s around them :)

    Translated from French

  • 30 comments out of 30

    • Do you have a question? An experience to share? Create a post on our forum!
    These topics could be of interest to you!
    Find out more