Sorry to report that the Thunder Shirt seems to be a 100% failure against aggression toward little tiny kittie cats. I put Sophie in her shirt this morning, gave her plenty of time to calm down, then brought Taco out to see her. Sophie immediately started whining and trying to snap Taco. I put the muzzle on Sophie. She still tried to bite Taco and when she couldn't, she looked up at me with those soft black Sophie eyes as if to say, "Why are you doing this to me? Do you hate me?"
I tried and tried to get her comfortable with Taco, but no go. Now little Taco, he was cool. All the while Sophie was trying to figure out a way to bite his head off with a muzzle on her snoot, that little black kitten was purring like '57 Chevy Bel Air.
I'm not, however, returning the Thunder Shirts. They are good for something. Alex, one of the young boys in the neighborhood has a sporty red-and-white motor bike. Every afternoon when he gets home from school, Alex rides his bike up and down our street about seven million times. Each time he comes by, Skipper and Sophie go into paroxysms of horrible barking.
Yesterday afternoon, both dogs were wearing their Thunder Shirts when Alex got home and started riding. The first time he came zooming past The Yellow House, Sophie raised her head up from where she was lying and grunted. Skipper never wiggled a hair. During the entire Alex episode, neither dog barked or got up from their resting place. If that continues, the relief from that every afternoon bark fest is worth the price of the shirts.
Meanwhile, kittens and doggies must remain separated.
No fear here.
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On 10/04/2012, Barbara Anne said ...
What a great benefit from the Thunder shirts to have a couple of tranquil dogs when Alex is thundering up and down the street!! Joy, indeed!
As for the kittens, well, perhaps your vet would have some tried and true suggestions or the web might give you more ideas than we have. Surely there is some way for Sophie and Skipper to tolerate or to even like the cats. Hope so!
Hang in there!
Hugs!
On 10/04/2012, Missy said ...
I wonder if the Thunder shirts will help curb Skipper's digging, too. If he's more relaxed maybe....
On 10/04/2012, Karen in Michigan said ...
I have 2 cats. Pumpkin, the Norwegian Forest, is allowed outside only on a leash or a long tie down. All the dogs in the neighborhood walk past our place and are fascinated by the cat on a leash. Pumpkin does not care for most of them and gives them a swipe with his claws. That keeps the doggies at bay. Maybe Taco or Bella just need to let Sophie know where the line is for her to leave them alone.
I have thought about getting thunder shirts for them for car rides. They both hate the car.
On 10/04/2012, Diane W said ...
I bought a Thunder shirt for my son's hyper dog. Works wonderful for the most part. My parents dog sit quite a bit but I have noticed they do not put the shirt on tight enough and it doesn't work as well. Never had a dog/cat problem so I can't help you there.
On 10/04/2012, Pat Hathaway said ...
My adult son who lives with us found a little kitty under my car during a thunderstorm last spring. He brought her in (she looks a lot like the black and white kitty in the picture). We were babysitting my daughter's Yorkie for the weekend so he was here with our toy poodle, Pomeranian, and Boston Terrier. Something spooked the kitty and she ran to our bedroom to the open window--problem was she forgot to pull up her tail. Someone, we aren't sure which one because of the fracas that followed, bit the tip of her tail off! Of course it was Friday after 4pm but I called the Vet anyway. They couldn't see her but said she probably needed surgery to clean the wound. I called my daughter's Vet and bless her heart she took her in, did surgery that night, and we got her out the next day. We had the same problems you are having with your dogs for months. She is pretty much full sized now and our three dogs get along with her really well. Only the Yorkie that comes to visit when our daughter's family travels still goes ballistic when she is near. I just can't convince the kitty not to panic and go running when Winston, the Yorkie, barks at her--Winnie is too small to jump up onto the bed and the cat is perfectly safe! But she jumps and flies around the house with Winnie right behind her!
I think what worked the best was giving the kitty cat treats to calm her down and sharing the treats with the dogs. I always make the dogs do a sit/stay to get their treat and I think they learned to calm themselves down. Winnie is a little too excitable to do a sit/stay. He does a lunge/jump/gobble and you are lucky to get your fingers back unbloodied.
On 10/05/2012, Pesky Patti said ...
I agree with Karen...a scratch on the nose is usually the best training for an aggressive dog...
On 10/05/2012, sophie said ...
When trying to put together some adult cats (mine and those of an old beau), we put the new cat into a crate so that they could safely see/smell each other without doing any harm to one another.
I would be wary of putting them together before they're ready. When I was young, my new puppy came around the corner and frightened our cat, who swatted at her and sliced her cornea.
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