Cross Breeds

My cat wants to kill my new puppy, experienced advice?

I got a little eight week old puppy she arrived yesterday. My cat has absolutely flipped I’m doing my best to show that I still love him but he pretty much tried to kill her last night. It’s obvious that he is threatened and territorial. I can’t let the puppy down anywhere or in any rooms he’s in because he pretty much just wants her dead. Anyone with experienced advice would be really appreciated. My cat was feral and we’re pretty sure he was dumped not long after he finished growing so he may have been owned by the sort of person who replaces cute one baby animal with the next and thinks he’s about to be abandoned again (or I could be over thinking this). He’s between three and five and was feral for over a year (He lived in the neighborhood). He lost an ear in a fight with a dog just before we got him and all the surrounding yards have big dogs who chase cats. But he’s a 10kg cat and she’s maybe a hand width tall so she can’t even pretend to be a threat. Please don’t comments on me being dumb getting a puppy when I have a cat that was obviously going to react badly, I’ve been told. Thanks that is about what I've been doing. Quick brief moments for the cat with ridiculous amounts of praise when he isn't growling, hissing or spitting.

Public Comments

1. You need to introduce them slowly and reward your cat for good behavior (when that happens). Keep them separated for now. Do you have a wire dog crate? If so, put the puppy in there and then bring the cat out and you hold it and show it the puppy. Make the visits short - no more than a minute or two (and if there is hissing, stop the visit right there), and if she is good, give her a treat (give your puppy one, too, if it was good). Do this several times over the next few days, to the point where you can hold her for five minutes without hissing. Then you can let them be together, but only under human supervision. Again, make sure both animals get plenty of praise and treats when they are good.
2. well its def NOT a bad idea to have a cat and dog. who ever told u that is just an ass and really needs to shut da hell up lol. ur kitty might jus be surprised at the sudden stranger living there now. hm i would lock the puppy in a room that has a door that has some space at the bottom so that they can both smell each other. this will give ur cat some time to actually know the pup. or u can put the pup in a cage so kitty can look at her and smell some more and this will def keep pup safe. most cats are like this. it just takes time for them to get used to the pups. good luck
3. Its not dumb to get a puppy. Most animals react badly to the introduction of a new animal, regardless of the species. Even if you had gotten another cat, I'm sure the reaction would have been the same. The worst thing you could do it keep them separated all the time. They need to get used to each other. Cats are curious creatures and eventually he will investigate the new puppy and accept the idea that they are both apart of the same family. In the beginning stay with them while they are in the same room and watch them closely just in case. When you leave lock them in separate areas. After a while your cat will relax and you will be able to leave them together. They may never be best friends, but he won't deliberately attack the puppy. Hope it helped.