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Some greyhounds CAN LIVE WITH CATS.
You will have been advised if the dog you are choosing is
considered suitable or not to home with a cat. It is IMPERATIVE,
however, that the following sensible precautions are taken
until you are confident of your dog's temperament.
· When you make the initial introduction, keep your greyhound
muzzled and on a tight collar and lead.
· Keep your cat in the room and if your greyhound pulls towards
the cat, pull them back and say "No, Leave" in a firm voice.
You may find that a quick shot in the face with water from
a water sprayer is also a great deterrent! If your greyhound
reacts to your commands as you wish them to - don't forget
to praise them - treats of small cubes of cheese are often
favoured!
· Do not pick your cat up as this will heighten your dog's
interest.
The next step is to get your greyhound to lie down and relax
close to your cat. This step may well depend on your cat's
willingness to co-operate. Some cats may spend time watching
the dog from the highest and furthest place possible:- others
may be willing to give the newcomer a blow to show who's boss.
It is always best to favour the cat above the dog as this
will give the cat higher authority in the eyes of the dog
and it should not be forgotten that we have two temperaments
to work with in this introduction.
When you think you are making progress, take away the muzzle,
keep the tight collar and lead on and feed your greyhound
and cat together. By doing this they are alongside each other
but do not have their minds on each other. When you are feeling
confident, replace the muzzle and take away the collar and
lead. In time, the muzzle can also be removed. Your greyhound
will quickly accept the rules and accept the cat as a member
of the family. However, a sensible approach and all necessary
precautions should be taken. Ensure the cat has a place to
escape. If necessary, put a baby gate at the bottom of the
stairs so that the cat can get through but the dog cannot.
Even when the dog accepts your house rules, remember strange
cats outside the home may well still be regarded as fair game
for a chase, so always be alert when out exercising. Until
you are confident, it would be unwise to leave your dog and
cat alone in the same room. If your cat is not used to dogs
in its home there is a risk that it might leave. It is essential
that your cat has a collar and identity disc to cover this
possibility.
Feel free to contact a member of our Trust and we can put
you in touch with one of our many happy dog/cat owners to
talk through your concerns and questions.
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