My cat attacked my dog suddenly. How do I reintroduce them safely?

Question

My cat jut full on attacked my dog. Like full on attack mode. This is very uncharacteristic and weird for her. We would even try to pick her up and she wouldn't even notice us and kept trying to attack him. This all started when the visor fell. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

That is very strange! It could be that something startled Beanz, she got very frightened, and reacted by attacking the closest thing to her: The dog. I would separate them, and slowly reintroduce them to each other. I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure Beanz has a litter box, food, and water in her room. You can place a blanket with the dog's smell in the her room, and a blanket with her smell in the dog's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for Beanz and a DAP for your dog. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once both pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing Beanz in the dog's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of this reintroduction. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face again. I would introduce the dog on a leash to Beanz while she is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward the dog for being calm and quiet near her. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure Beanz has a cat tree where she can escape from the dog as needed.

My cat attacked my dog suddenly. How do I reintroduce them safely?

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