Introducing a Norfolk Terrier with a Cat

Despite the mistaken belief, a great deal of dogs and cats can live together in harmony. Follow these simple to follow steps to know how to best introduce your Norfolk Terrier with a feline.

1. Make sure your Norfolk Terrier understands standard commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘down’ before meeting.
2. Set up a safe area for both your Norfolk Terrier and cat, where the other family pet can not enter.
3. Keep them separated at first, for the first couple of days. Ensure both Norfolk Terrier and feline have had the required shots.
4. Feed your Norfolk Terrier and your feline on opposite sides of a closed door. This makes them affiliate each other’s existence with pleasant things.
5. Once they both can eat calmly next to the door, start having meet and greets in a common place of your home. Keep the very first few sessions brief and calm with your Norfolk Terrier on a leash. Award both pets for very good behaviour.
6. Continue these face to face sessions every day. Make certain to conserve your pets’ favourite treats for these sessions. If your cat wants to leave, allow them to, but make certain your Norfolk Terrier does not go after. Try ending the sessions well before any family pet shows signs of tension or bitterness.
7. When they look like they’re getting a long well, let them spend time in the space together. If any stress appears, return back to the previous actions and redo them.

Why do Norfolk Terriers Hate Cats?

Not all Norfolk Terriers dislike felines, some get along with them. When Norfolk Terriers do dislike felines, of the most typical factor is quite simple. Like all pet dogs, Norfolk Terriers still hold onto some of the hunting instincts that they were originally bred for. This is why Norfolk Terriers like chasing all moving things, whether it’s a ball, mouse, or a feline.

Since many cats will flee when they come across, it’s easy to see why they are known for not getting along with each other. Norfolk Terriers actually delight in chasing after felines not due to the fact that they dislike them, but mainly because a fast running animal sets off a powerful, natural instinct to chase overcomes any training or socialisation.

How to Stop Norfolk Terriers Chasing Cats?

Teaching your Norfolk Terrier to stop chasing after felines requires time, training and consistency, but the benefit of not having to stress over them constantly going after is very well worth it. Here are the phases of how to stop your Norfolk Terrier from chasing felines.

1. Keep your Norfolk Terrier on a leash while loose when your feline is in the same room.
2. Whenever your feline is near to your Norfolk Terrier, stop what you are doing and get your Norfolk Terrier’s attention. If he listens, offer him a treat!
3. Keep awarding your Norfolk Terrier until the feline goes away. If the feline stays provide your Norfolk Terrier a chew reward or toy so they stay concentrated on their reward.
4. Regularly redo the above steps and you’ll see your Norfolk Terrier instinctively sit and look up to you when they see the cat. Do not forget to keep awarding them!
5. If they are now immediately taking a look at you whenever the feline remains in the space, they’re ready to be using a longer leash. If they still try to go after the feline at this point reel them in and return to step 2.
6. Last but not least, take the long leash off and enable your Norfolk Terrier and cat in the exact same area. At this point your Norfolk Terrier need to know not to chase after the cat, but if they do go back to step 5.

How to Stop Norfolk Terriers Killing Cats?

The best method to ensure your Norfolk Terrier would never ever kill a cat is to raise them with cats when they’re a young puppy before 3 months old. At this age, they will generally want to play with the felines and will not see them as prey.

If your Norfolk Terrier has eliminated a feline before, its optimal if you keep them in an open, fenced off area. When taking them for walks try to stop going after sunset and prior to dawn because that’s when cats are very active and likely to be wandering the streets.