resident dog vs new kitten

[snowflake1]

So I recently adopted a new kitten. I already have 2 older cats and a dog in the house. The kitten is getting along with the 2 cats quite well. My dog on the other hand seems very interested in the kitten. She will sit and whine when the kitten is out of reach. I didn't think anything of it cause she whines alot. But yesturday, the kitten was on the stairs and my dog snapped at her. Before that when the kitten was near her she would do this side eye glance thing. Like she was ready to pounce.
I am afraid she will do something bad to the new cat. She gets along with the other 2 cats really well.

What can I do to make things better. I don't want anyone to get hurt. I know it is hasn't been that long since I got the kitten but I want to correct this before something bad happens.

Thanks

[Marty11]

I am going to follow your story closely. I have a manchester (high prey drive) that grew up with a cat. Cat is now gone. I have a new kitten but i am terrified to introduce them cause of my dog's nature. He has even brought in my house a headless rabbit, so there is no trust there. My boston terrier met the cat and with a slow intro and patience they are great together. I noticed the cat is the top dog......... The cat lives in a finished recreational garage with two floors and lots of company, we have tv's, computors and couches in there. It's really our basement. What kind of breed is your dog?

[snowflake1]

she is a husky cross. It is just so weird cause she is so great with the other 2 cats. I am just so worried.

Our kitten pretty much has the top floor of our house. My dog is afraid to go up the stairs. So she is safe up there.

[sugarcatmom]

The thing with kittens is they're smaller, have more erratic movements, and make higher pitched sounds, all of which can be highly arrousing to a dog's prey-drive. So a dog that may not be that interested in adult cats as "prey", might still be very much interested in kittens. Plus, kittens aren't as fast, nor are they as well equiped to defend themselves as adult cats are. You'll definitely want to keep a very close eye on all interactions between your dog and the kitten. I would even suggest tethering your dog to you anytime the kitten is in the same room with your pup.

In the meantime, work on your dog's obedience, with particular focus on the "leave it" command. Here is some info on how to help keep your kitty safe: http://www.labadoption.org/linkpages...icles/Cats.pdf

[Kay9]

Additionally, I have a hunch that your dog is nervous about the kitten because, in his mind, the social order of things is all screwed up. Here's this young upstart coming in, messing things up, and he can't figure out where he stands. The kitty, on the other hand, could care less because she's a cat and besides, those in her cat family like her already.

Did you say he snapped at her when she was on the stairs? Was she higher than him (like on the top step) and preventing him from passing? Your dog could have interpreted that as a challenge. Out of anxiety, he bit. What do the other cats do with the dog, when he wants to pass them? They probably have already worked out that part of their relationship, where the kitty is totally unaware of those things right now.

These are things that you can watch for in figuring out how to help your dog and kitty in their developing relationship.

[14+kitties]

Did you have your other two cats before the dog came along? If so he knows that they are "above him" in house rank. The new kitten came after him so therefore is below him in rank and open for any and all possibilities.
The absolute best thing you could do for your new kitten is to make sure the dog and kitten are never left alone together. Not even for a minute. If you have to go to the bathroom take the kitten with you or close him/her into a room where the dog isn't. If you have to do a load of laundry downstairs take the kitten with you or put him where the dog isn't. If you have to shop or work make sure the kitten is in a room where the dog can not get to him/her. If the dog has already snapped at the kitten it would not take much for this situation to end in tragedy.
Make sure when you are in the same room as the dog and kitten that the kitten has lots of high spots to escape to. This is absolutely imperitive! As SCM stated the dog also needs to be taught leave it and other commands to learn that the kitten is off limits. Once the kitten gets bigger and can better fend for itself I am sure it will teach the dog. But even then things can happen.

There are 21 different articles on this site. I am sure you will find one that will fit your situation.
http://www.helium.com/knowledge/2027...en-to-your-dog

[snowflake1]

Sorry for the delayed reply. After about 1.5 months. The new kitten and my dog are getting along. Actually the animals are getting along.

We just made sure for the first while that the kitten was not in the house loose when we were not home. We figured everything we ok when my husband was home one night and the kitten climbed on my dog and started to kneed her and the dog didn't do anything. I am so happy they are all getting along now.

It is very cute when the dog and kitten are playing together. I think my dog thinks she is a cat