I have a lovely little white cat that loves to lounge everywhere, as cats do, and I would like to try to train Bella to avoid stepping on her. A few times, Bella has stepped right on her without even noticing the cat is there...I think. Does anyone have any ideas to keep the dog from stepping on the cat?

I live in an apartment, so space to walk in can be an issue. I usually keep myself in between them when we are walking by, and Bella always is on my left, so that helps. But, I am also wondering if she knows the cat is there, and just doesn't care. When she does this, she is following me somewhere, and it doesn't even seem to register that the cat is there.

Thoughts?

Man, I'd be happy if Fetz just wouldn't try and *eat* my cats.


You'd think that if the cat didn't like getting stepped on, it would avoid that type of situation - cats are usually smart that way......

Cats love to lay in spots that tempt fate, or feet. When she gets tired of getting stepped on she will lay on the couch or someplace off the path. My rule for the cats is "If I'm walking you better get out of the way." It avoids those kitty death traps in the dark when you can't see them but they still expect you to go around them.
If Bella gets tired of corrections from you, or the cat's squall every time she gets stepped, on she will watch out for the cat, otherwise the cat will not have to modify her behavior, and she will continue to rule to roost in kitty fashion.
My Slasher Kitty doesn't worry about dogs stepping on her, or even walking too close, she has trained them all to avoid her...

I got this in an email the other day, no author listed:

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Treats! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Diary

Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They
dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or
some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations
perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my
strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an
attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I
had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly
demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Jerks!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed
in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could
hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due
to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use
it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this
again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The
dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be
more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to
be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am
certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective
custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

We have 4 cats. And I can testify that much of what they do is ON PURPOSE!

They routinely lay where I was just going to sit/lay down. They drink out of the dog's bowl, and I have a particularly evil tortoishell who runs over and lays in front of my dog's ball when we are trying to play fetch. And then glares as if to say 'I dare you.' Please note my 61 pound GSD is terrified of this 6 pound cat because she WILL shank you.

We just insist the cats move. We tell them no, we pick them up and put them where WE want them to be. We spray them with water as needed. And I gently scoop them out of the way with my foot when necessary. They have tried to murder me by tripping me on the stairs a few times.

I really think you should focus on training the cat, rather than the dog...lol...he's right the cat is trying to train YOU! And I've seen that email before - hilarious!

RJ regularly "Tastes" our black and white cat. The solid black one has finally allowed him to get near him after 8 months but still keeps the dog in check. Sooner or later the black and white cat will tire of being a hockey puck. The second he hurts one of the cats in the slightest, the ecollar will come out. If being stepped on by your dog really bothers the cat, he'll move.

Labs - well, I've only had one and she NEVER knew where she was stepping, usually on my toes, but on other things as well. I'd say Bella is innocent of evil doing and kitty is, ummmm, well let's just say she should know to get out of the way by now . Unless she extremely smart and feels that if she moves away quickly before getting stepped on, Bella's prey drive will be triggered.

Either way I wouldn't worry about it, maybe annoyed but not worried. Silly animals, lol.

Oh my...this is good. Cats definately know how to control the dog. I'm sure they do it on purpose. My 2 will sit in the hallway effectively blocking it and Bayley will not try to go past them, she'll whine and sit down. She's been whacked by both of them on numerour occassions and she's learned to respect the claws. The one is declawed (not my doing, he came to me that way!) but he's a Maine Coon and when he hits something you can hear the whack! Bayley won't touch her toys if there's a cat next to it. Then my one cat who passed away recently, would go lay down in her crate and have a little nap.

i have a cat who while tough doesn't really have defences....his front right leg is amputated, he has no teeth, and he's old. he can largely get by on attitude alone, but b/c luc gets excited at the cats and paws at them ('do you....paw.....paw.....want to play?'), i find a loud 'aahhh' noise stops him (due to the size difference, i don't let him play with the cats. esme and he hang out together, but there's no roughhousing allowed). i have another cat who is also at risk due to medical issues. i've used it successfully to stop luc from stepping on a cat as well....two of the cats can take care of themselves without qustion, but i figure it's not a bad thing to reinforce what is and is not acceptable.

edit: i've worked it so that the cats are higher in pack structure in luc, and so in my house, he has to move out of their way. it's actually worked surprisingly well. again, i did that mostly b/c of having at-risk cats and the huge size difference could cause an accident.

Thank you all!

I really liked that story about the day of a cat and a dog! Seems so true...

I also have been trying to convey the message that the dog is lower than the kitty. I am not sure how it is working. I will try to feed kitty before doggy, and same way if I am about to give everyone some belly rubs. This is why I thought the dog stepping on the kitty could be construed as a hierarchy issue. I step right over the dog, instead of around her, so I was thinking if the dog steps over (or on top of!) her, she was displaying rank over the kitty in some way. Funny, as I was typing this, the dog rearranged her position, and almost sat right on top of the cat! Well, I guess she doesn't know where the h*ll she is going!

Howard, I am also right on top of agression towards kitty. 'Taint gonna happen! Although these two get along great, there have been a few times involving a kitty trying to investigate the food bowl as I was preparing it for Bella, where the dog showed agression...I cannot be held accountable for what happens to you when you mess with Snowball...

Hi Rick,

My 3 cats seem to have one goal in life...to get in the way as much as possible. And if they can "get one over" on the dog at the same time...so much the better! I feel sorry for True. He tries so hard to be friendly and these 3 are just jerks.

Tell the cat to move...Yes, you can "train" a cat to respond to that command. Or let her figure it out.