So we have a wonderful kitty, Buster, who is a year and a half old. And we have our newer addition Kiba, 4 month old husky pup whom we got at 7 weeks. I did a whole ton of reading before getting her and after seeing people had the best success with husky-cat households if the dog was raised with the cat, I felt fine with getting our dog. My issue is that sometimes I cannot tell if Kiba is playing with him, or if there’s intent to harm.

Let me describe the different behaviors and maybe someone can help me understand it and think of ways to break it off:

1. Is that Kiba sometimes stalks and chases Buster. I can spot this easily and usually can get to her in time to distract or reprimand her but I know that’s not good.
2. Sometimes they engage in strange wrestling matches where Kiba puts her butt in Busters face and Buster hangs onto her legs and they spin in circles (lol)…its as ridiculous looking as it sounds. I always break this up too.
3. Kiba will come in from the outside or when getting out of her kennel and if Buster is nearby she runs past him and gives a big nasty lick to the face as she goes by.

ALSO its been very very hard for me to stop this stuff because Buster will specifically seek Kiba out and entice her to play. He makes all these weird noises and waives his tail around and runs in front of her until she pays attention. Its irritating as CRAP when im trying to stop Kiba from chasing him.

With all that being said, what can I do to shut this behavior down? It worries me because even though it *seems* like play, I would hate for Buster to get hurt.
also i apologize if this is in the wrong part of the forum. i wasnt sure where to stick it

This sounds almost identical to our situation. Bode likes to chase Myles and mouth him. For awhile we tried to break it up right away. Then realized that Myles was playing back. Myles will wrap his arms around Bode's front legs and bite at his chest. He also loves to go for Bode's ears. Sometimes, Bode will even just be minding his own business chewing a bone or something and Myles will go running straight at him, Ninja jump and swat at him, then run away!!

We never leave them unsupervised. If Bode is relentless about chasing Myles and Myles isn't interested, we separate them. But we do allow the playing/wrestling to a certain extent. They both seem to enjoy it. But always supervised. Even though it's just play, something can go wrong very quickly and then we would have no more kitty.

it does sound like what happens between Kiba and Buster! Part of me thinks "aww they are playing" but then i get so nervous b/c all it takes is one wrong move and poor Buster could get hurt. I guess we will just keep vigilant about supervising them just to be sure that nothing ever does happen.

Yesterday was a perfect example of how Buster tempts Kiba to chase him. My pup was sitting next to me while watching tv and Buster was on the other side of the room darting back and forth and making noises at Kiba to get her attention. When my pup got up to investigate he sprung out at hour and popped kibas legs and then popped back into his hiding place. lol....ridiculous animals. : )
This is Buster when we first got him has a kitten.

Here is a video of our two playing. Please ignore the Korean in the background...I was watching Lost. Lol

MGoBlue wrote:

oh my god that is the sweetest thing.

Sounds like they are just trying to play to me. Just make sure you are vigilant on it. They need to know and understand to be gentle with the cat while playing is all. They tend to pick it up pretty fast if you help enforce it.

Quote :

Here is a video of our two playing. Please ignore the Korean in the background...I was watching Lost. Lol

Yeah thats not how Tika plays with my cat at all. It's much too respectful and polite

- Tika follows Cat down the hall
- Tika Mouthes Cat Gently
- Cat Turns
- Tika Runs away
- Cat Chases
- Tika Jumps on her bed and lays down
- Cat Rushes up Smacks her in the face and walks back down the hall.
- Rinse and Repeat


It happens less now that Tika has Ripley to pick on.... But her nose was scratched up good when she was a puppy.

~Chris~

I worry about Lucian with my calico Sadie. Sadie is usually a very easy going cat, aside from her "mood swings" when she turns into total, "don't touch me, don't move me, don't speak to me, or I'll growl at you" cat. I'm not too fond of Lucian chasing her. He never really does manage to catch her, she goes upstairs, where he is not permitted, and knows it. Sometimes he flat out ignores her, other times he mouths at her. I've been trying to just let them go at it for the most part. I just don't want him chasing her. I'm afraid that prey drive will take over, and he'll hurt or kill her if he actually catches her. He won't mess with Gypsy. He's been smacked in the muzzle a few times by her, and keeps his distance, lol.

If buster had some mood swings and gave her some god swats she may be less inclined to bother him. My moms cat hissed at kiba and the whole time we were at their house she gave the cat a wide berth. Cute video! Your husky is very gentle with your cat!!! I'm teaching my pup " gentle" right now...maybe it wil translate to buster eventually

Oh I should mention buster got bike grease on his face in that picture lol . He was trouble with a capitol T as a kitten

I'm a bit upset because kibas gotten more rough very recently. She's nipped at buster and chases and has knocked him down. Also if she can't get to him she has this awfulness high pitch bark she does at him. It seeming more prey than playfully in the las week or so. What's an appropriate way to reprimand this kind of behavior??

Also we don't leave them unsupervised and I try to preemptively stop her if she's starting to stalk. buster has escape routes and safe places. Regardless, I'm a worry wart

I've been using a squirt bottle filled with water on Lucian. It seems to distract him pretty quick. But he doesn't like water, I suppose it wouldn't work as well if your pup likes water.

Not sure but there's one way to find out! Tomorrow i may be stopping at the dollar store for a squirt bottle