My 45-lb. puppy/doggo got her ass kicked by my 7-lb. kitteh.

[Laffy Kat]

The puppy has always kind of chased the kitteh around in a good-natured way, she just wants to play, and the kitteh will intentionally provoke the dog for fun--run up and bop her one and then run off--that kind of thing. I'm not sure exactly what happened today because I didn't exactly see it even though I was close by. One minute the pup was chasing a new ball I got for her then the next minute the two of them were in a major row: cat was screaming, puppy was growling and barking, teeth and talons were bared. They chased each other all around the family room. The cat would jump up on the table to get away and then jump on the pup's back. I was trying to break them up and chasing after them. My boys heard the commotion and came running up from the basement and the three of us finally got the pup in her kennel to cool off.

Pup ended up with a scratched and bloody nose and kitteh seems no worse for wear. The pup didn't want to leave her kennel for the longest time. We opened the door after just a few minutes and she wouldn't come out. She also seems afraid of her new ball now, so I'm wondering if that caused the conflict. Geesh. Major drama.

[redwitch]

1. Sibling squabbling.

Poor puppy!

[Laffy Kat]

2. The pup could have easily killed the cat and didn't.

But they were both seriously pissed at each other.

[Rollo]

3. Maybe best not to throw the ball in the house any more...

[applegrove]

4. I have a male cat who grew up to dominate my older and littler female.

Not that bad but he does get jealous of my attention and does chase her off choice spots. Sometimes he chases her. I've kept her claws long and his short. She has a crinkly tunnel he is afraid to go into so that is her safe space. One time he came into me in the livingroom with the strangest look of bewilderment on his face. And a huge scratch right down the from of his snout. Served him right. Most days they get along. Once a week he will chase her and i'll have to yell out to stop him. When i get home they are both happily waiting for me at the door. They do kiss and lick each other.... most days. Though they don't curl up together. Anyhow. I'll all for the undercat having longer claws. I've had cats that never fought so i had to get creative when my cat Captain Morgan turned out to be a bully to Twilight at times.

[procon]

5. Lesson learned: Don't allow dogs to roughhouse with your cats.

Even in play they can serious injury the cat's soft tissues or their leg bones if they "mouth" with too much force. When your cat strikes out at your dog that's not an invitation to play, it's a defensive warning to stay back, you're scaring me.

Unfortunately that "bopping" tends to provoke the dog and his instinct is to chase and catch. Dogs are much bigger than cats, and the force of their jaws is enough to break fragile bones and tear a cat's thin skin... Even in so called goodnatured play.

When a dog gets hold of something (whether it's a stuffed toy or your kitty) they first thing they do is start shaking it back and forth. It looks funny when our family dogs shake a toy, but in the wild that rapid motion is intended to snap the spine and sever the spinal nerve to paralyze their prey before eating it.

I encourage my dog and cats to interact by cuddling and snoozing together or lining up to catch treats. They've never been permitted to engage in any sort of mauling or roughhouse behavior. Maybe your dog learned a lesson, but the incident could have ruined whatever friendship they might have shared, leaving them as wary enemies.

[Fla Dem]

6. Thanks. Have a cat no dog. But perhaps this was good advice for those that do or will.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Poor pupper!

I'm sorry she was injured and traumatized. I hope that this is something that will work itself out over time. I wouldn't want to think that she was fearful in her own home.

[Laffy Kat]

8. She's seems to have forgotten about it today.

Kitteh is keeping her distance, too.

[smirkymonkey]

9. Hopefully they will both reconcile!

Fortunately, pets seem to have short memories!