Help

[First time bunny owner]

Hi our neighor just gave us a cat that she rescued from a foster home and when she brought it in everything was fine but then when the dog got in the house the cat got so scared so while i was holding the dog trying to put the dog outside(he wasnt being mean he just wanted to play with it) my 10 year old sister oicked up the cat because she felt bad for it and when the cat saw the dog move suddenly she jumped up on my sisters face with her claws out and scratched it all up my mom flipped out and now the cat has to live down the basement and all it does is cry and my dad is probably going to make it a coop and have it live outside when the weather breaks but i feel very bad for it because i think she just did that because she was so afraid but my parents say that we cant trust her to be in the house because she could attack again so what does it mean is that normal if a cat is scared to do that or should we be afraid for her to attack again?

[Pawsitive Thinking]

She didn't attack your sister she just wanted to get away from the dog. It is perfectly normal behaviour (I have the scratches to prove it!) - what the cat needs more than anything is reassurance and comfort, not to be banished to the basement where she is clearly unhappy.

You have to make sure that if the dog and cat are in the same room that the dog is under control - mine has to go on a lead at times to give the cat some peace, like yours he only wants to play

[moosmom]

What you should do is gradually introduce them. Cats are creatures of habit and don't like change. You need to isolate the kitty (not in the basement!! ) and then bring her out IN A CARRIER (for your protection and hers) and let the dog sniff her. ALWAYS make sure the dog is on a lead so you have control over him.

Brody's mom is right, she wasn't scratching your sister, she was trying to get away from the dog. I hope your mom will reconsider. The basement is a cold, damp place to spend the rest of it's life. If your mom insists that the kitty stay in the basement, maybe it's better to find a better home for her, one where she'll be part of someone's life, not just a fixture in a cellar.

[Sonia59]

There are much better things to do than put the cat outside! It is not a life for a cat. In this case you shoud better think about finding it a better adapted home!

The cat was fully scared by the dog and overexcited. So when your sister took it, the poor guy felt trapped and just wanted to escape for a safe and quiet place! You must not punish it, he just tried to be safe and he probably did not understand why he was picked up by someone at that specific moment.
A cat that arrives in a new house needs some time to adapt, sometimes a lot of time. You must not leave it in the basement. It needs to learn about its new family and to trust you, be very gentle and calm with it.

[First time bunny owner]

thanks for writing everybody(especially since you agreed with me ) im happy to say that the cat isnt going to spend its life down the basement we have decided to give it to my aunt because she loves cats and has one already so Sassy (that is what we named her) will have someone to play with because she is a very playful lovable cat we were playing with her and we would throw a ball and she would hop in the air to try to catch her it was so funnny cause the ball was way bigger then her mouth . so yea she is definatly going to be part of a family and although we dont want to get rid of her we have to because she dosnt like dogs plus we will gwt to visit her all the time since my aunt lives right down the road but we wont be the ones to clean the litter box hahaha so i guess every one wins!
Thanks again i can tell you guys really care about animals and im glad i found a site that i can talk about my animal situations to and they will be very helpful.

[Sonia59]

I am glad to hear that you will give a better home to your cat . Sorry for being rude, but I really did not understand why you accepted to take this cat from your neighbours to have it end up in the basement or in a coop!
I am glad that this story ends well for everyone!

[First time bunny owner]

Trust me i dont think any of you were being rude i would have done the same thing if i heard that someone else was doing that it is just one of those situations were we didnt know what to do because we couldnt have the cat and dog together and we didnt know what else to do with her and trust me when we first brought her home are intent wasnt to put her down the basement or give her away we always wanted a cat and since we just moved to the countrey we thought it would be the perfect time to get one unfortunatly that didnt work out but last night my aunt came up to see Sassy and they absolutly loved her and they just lost there cat the week befor christmas so it was perfect timing I send my love to your cats and i hope you understand what happened in my situation. thanks for caring

[Pawsitive Thinking]

A happy ending for all concerned!!

[moosmom]

Great job!!! Glad to see this has a happy ending.