cat terrified of new dog
My 10-year-old male cat won't come down from very high places in the house. Two weeks ago we got a 10-month-old dog, a 45-pound, very friendly lab. The lab seems interested and wants to play with the cat. Our cat used to be VERY active, but now is miserable, mostly atop my dresser, and won't come down. I've staged some interactions, but the cat always hisses, swipes at the dog, and jumps up high somewhere. I'm thinking of putting the cat on a leash and not allowing it to excape up high. He's miserable, and this is the only way I can think of to show him that the dog won't eat him up. I'm also hesitant to do this--will I just traumatize the cat even more? Any advice?
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