Dogs often chase cats because they have a natural tendency to prey, which means they will chase any smaller animal that runs. This is not necessarily an aggressive move, and the dog may want to play, but it can cause panic and anxiety in the cat. If this happens outside the house, the cat may have trouble running down the street. If this happens indoors, it can cause severe anxiety in the cat, who may be afraid to walk around their own home.
Just because it’s a natural instinct for dogs to chase cats, it doesn’t mean you have to put up with it. There are steps you can take to help train this behavior from a dog, ensuring cats are safe and comfortable wherever they are.
Why Do Dogs Chase Cats?
It is natural for some dogs to chase cats. Some breeds are easier to chase than others, and, unfortunately, when the cat is startled or defensive, it tends to run faster and further. This further excites the dog, who will see the whole thing as a challenge, and it can put them both in danger.
victim
Dogs are hunters by nature. In the wild, they will hunt small animals, which often results in chasing the prey until they catch it. Although domesticated dogs do not need to hunt for more than one bowl for most of their meals, the prey drive is still present in many dogs.
So, when your dog sees a cat, they may see it as potential prey. If the cat runs, this further increases the prey-drive instinct in your dog, which will naturally chase the cat. Even if your dog reacts to his prey, it does not mean that they are aggressive. But it probably means that the cat is scared and anxious.
If the cat and dog don’t know each other, the cat will likely go home and possibly avoid the area. If this happened at home, the cat would not have the same possibilities to escape. If it persists, it can cause your cat anxiety. And anxiety leads to many mental and physical health problems.
Play
Some dogs have a high play drive, rather than prey drives. If your puppy likes to chase a ball or whatever toy you kick, there’s a good chance he’ll enjoy chasing cats too. Your dog probably knows that chasing the cat encourages them to run, and then everything turns into a fun game of chasing. With your dog, anyway. Your cat will see differently, and this will likely cause you anxiety and worry.
How to Stop Your Dog from Chasing Cats
Dogs chasing cats may be natural, but it can be dangerous for the dog, the cat, and anyone who gets in between them. Stopping this behavior is important.
1. Administration
If your dog chases cats easily, make sure they are supervised around cats. This is true whether they are at home or away from home. If you are around, you can identify the trigger, and see when your dog will chase your cat. This way, you can take action to prevent it.
You should always supervise your dog when outside the house, so this also allows you to take action before chasing becomes a problem.
2. Create a Safe Space
At home, make sure your cat has safe spaces to escape. Most cats are agile, and this means yours can jump onto surfaces your dog isn’t facing. Consider placing pillows, blankets, and bedding on top of drawers and closets.
If you haven’t properly introduced the dog and cat, consider a stairwell as a viable option.
3. Prime Command
Every dog should learn basic commands. It will improve your life both, as well as the lives of the people and, in this case, the cats around you. If you can get commands like sit, stay, and come, you can use them to stop your dog from chasing cats, in most cases.
It also helps establish a relationship between the two of you, where your dog listens to you and is more likely to do what you ask of them.
4. Interruption
Distraction is useful during training and when trying to stop dogs chasing cats. Training your dog to sit in a calm, quiet environment is one thing. Making them sit when a cat walks by is another matter. Have family members drop by or call while you do your daily core exercises.
See if your dog still responds to your commands. You can gradually increase the distractions before trying it with a cat around.
5. Introduction
When you first bring your cat or dog home, it’s important to make a proper introduction. These should be slow and gradual, and usually on the cat’s terms. Use a crate or stair gate as a physical barrier to begin with. A cat can jump over a gate or approach a cat without fear of being chased. And, over time, you can remove this barrier, but only when the two get used to each other’s smell.
6. Positive Reinforcement
When your dog is near a cat, make a noise or use a trained command to get their attention. When they pay attention to you, instead of the cat, reward them with a treat and lots of praise. This positive reaction reinforces the good behavior you want, and, eventually, your dog will take the desired action because he knows that’s what you want.
7. Consult a Behaviorist
If you have trouble controlling your dog around cats, or if your cats are anxious because the dog keeps chasing them, it’s worth talking to an animal behaviorist. They will be able to give you specific strategies that will help avoid being chased.
They can also help with any other behavioral problems you may have.
What to Do If Your Dog Attacks the Cat
If the unthinkable happens and your dog attacks a cat, whether it’s yours or someone else’s, you need to take action to stop the attack.
1. Separate Them
Do not put yourself directly between the cat and the dog or you could get seriously injured. Instead, use something. Close a door between them or move a chair out of the way. This should give the cat a chance to escape, and it will allow you to control the dog.
2. Check for Damages
First check the cat for injuries. It is the most likely to experience serious injury. If the cat is fine, check the dog. While a cat is more likely to cause serious injury to a dog, a scratch or bite to the eye can cause serious injury. And, if your dog has an open wound, there is a risk that it will become infected.
3. Consult a Trainer
If your dog has attacked a cat, you need to seek professional help. Talk to an animal trainer or behaviorist. There are a variety of options, including in-house behaviorists who will come to you to fix the problem. They will be able to identify the cause of the action and work with you to help overcome it.
4. Reintroduce the Dog and Cat
If there has been a setback in the relationship between your cat and dog, you will need to re-introduce them. This means starting over and taking introductions as slowly as you would if you were just bringing the dog home for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need to Stop Your Dog from Chasing Cats?
For a cat, chasing a dog is a stressful experience, if it happens outside the house. If this happens indoors, the cat may feel trapped and may begin to suffer from anxiety.
It may even cause your cat to be more likely to wander off or exhibit unwanted behaviors around the house.
Is It a Breed Thing?
Some breeds are actually easier to chase cats than others. Breeds originally bred to hunt small animals are, unsurprisingly, the most likely to chase when they see cats.
However, the personality and character of the individual dog is more likely to determine whether it chases cats than its breed.
Conclusion
Some dogs naturally like to chase cats. Gone are the days when dogs hunted for their own food, or when they were bred to chase or hunt small animals. But just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s a desirable trait. It also doesn’t mean it’s a behavior you have to put up with.
Use gentle introductions, good training, and positive reinforcement to help stop your dog from chasing your cat. And, if you’re still having trouble controlling the behavior, or it’s becoming serious, talk to an animal behaviorist.
Featured Image Credit: Jaromir Chalabala, Shutterstock
