Introducing a Labrador Retriever with a Cat

Despite the mistaken belief, a lot of dogs and felines can live together in harmony. Follow these easy to follow steps to find out how to best introduce your Labrador Retriever with a cat.

1. Make sure your Labrador Retriever understands basic commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘down’ before meeting.
2. Make a safe area for both your Labrador Retriever and cat, where the other animal can not go into.
3. Keep them separated initially, for the first couple of days. Make sure both Labrador Retriever and feline have had the required shots.
4. Feed your Labrador Retriever and your cat on opposite sides of a closed door. This makes them associate each other’s presence with favorable things.
5. Once they both can eat calmly beside the door, start having meet and greets in a common place of your home. Keep the very first couple of sessions brief and calm with your Labrador Retriever on a leash. Award both animals for good behaviour.
6. Carry on with these face to face sessions on a daily basis. Ensure to save your animals’ favourite treats for these sessions. If your cat wishes to leave, allow them to, but ensure your Labrador Retriever doesn’t chase. Try ending the sessions well before any pet reveals signs of stress or hostility.
7. When they look like they’re getting a long well, allow them to spend time in the space with each other. If any tension appears, return back to the previous actions and redo them.

Why do Labrador Retrievers Hate Cats?

Not all Labrador Retrievers don’t like cats, some get along with them. When Labrador Retrievers do dislike cats, of the most typical reason is quite simple. Like all canines, Labrador Retrievers still keep a few of the hunting tendencies that they were originally reproduced for. This is why Labrador Retrievers like chasing all moving objects, whether it’s a toy, mouse, or a cat.

Given that many felines will run away when they come across, it’s simple to see why they are known for not getting along with each other. Labrador Retrievers really enjoy chasing after felines not because they hate them, but generally since a quick running animal activates a powerful, natural reaction to chase after overcomes any training or socialisation.

How to Stop Labrador Retrievers Chasing Cats?

Teaching your Labrador Retriever to stop chasing after cats requires time, training and consistency, but the reward of not having to worry about them constantly chasing is well worth it. Here are the actions of how to stop your Labrador Retriever from going after cats.

1. Keep your Labrador Retriever on a leash while loose when your feline is in the same room.
2. Whenever your feline is close to your Labrador Retriever, stop what you are doing and get your Labrador Retriever’s attention. If he pays attention, offer him a treat!
3. Keep rewarding your Labrador Retriever up until the cat goes away. If the cat sticks around give your Labrador Retriever a chew reward or toy so they stay focused on their treat.
4. Consistently repeat the above actions and you’ll see your Labrador Retriever instinctively sit and look up to you when they see the feline. Do not forget to keep treating them!
5. If they are now automatically taking a look at you whenever the cat is in the space, they’re prepared to be utilizing a longer leash. If they still try to chase the cat at this moment reel them in and return to step 2.
6. Last but not least, take the long leash off and permit your Labrador Retriever and cat in the very same space. At this moment your Labrador Retriever should understand not to go after the feline, however if they do go back to step 5.

How to Stop Labrador Retrievers Killing Cats?

The very best method to guarantee your Labrador Retriever would never ever kill a cat is to raise them with felines when they’re a pup before 3 months old. At this age, they will typically wish to play with the cats and will not see them as prey.

If your Labrador Retriever has eliminated a feline previously, its best if you keep them in an open, fenced off area. When taking them for strolls try to stop going after sunset and prior to dawn because that’s when felines are very active and most likely to be roaming the neighborhoods.