Alex
Living with 2 Akitas and 2 cats i do sympitize with your plite. I'll start by saying NEVER underestimate the sneeky ways of a cat.
Akitas and Chows are not know for their love of other animals. They can learn to get along but s*** happens. 95% of the time we all live in piece around here. But watch out for the other 5%. My 2/12 yr old male has never shown the slightest sign of aggresion to either of my cats. They were here before him. He has always had respect for thier claws. A month ago my grey kitty (huge pest) sniffed his ear while he was sleeping and before i even saw him move he had her in his jaws and was shaking the snot out of her. He droped her the min i told him to and she was unhurt allbe it quite shaken. 1hour later he was giving her kisses and licking the spot where he had grabbed her. My older female akita has nailed the cats on a few occations mostly because they were mousing and she got in the middle and when the cats growled at her the fight was on. Neither of the dogs has ever seriously injured the cats.
Your mom said that the cat was sleeping when the dog just grabbed her. Now that its over maybe you can go back and see if your mom remembers the dog sniffing at the cat before grabing her. If that is a possibility then maybe the cat growled at the dog and well you know the rest.
I agree with always supervising animals (cat & Dog). Sometimes there is interaction between them that we mear humans dont see or understand. If they have been around each other most of their lives id say that they will still be friends most of the time but I would ALWAYS be carefull and supervise their time togather. It may never happen again but be safe and keep an eye on both.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> My female Akita loves CATs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Only one have eluded her in the last 5 yrs.the others have gone to Kitty heaven. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

So as not to sound as a cruel person, all the cats dispatched to Kitty heaven were in the Akita's back yard.

Most cat owners think that their cats can roam as they wish. Not around our house.

Te Akita will not harm a cat outdie of her yard.
CAT TRESSPASSER"S BEWARE!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> :rolleyes:

Butch, you might want to check into your local ordinances regarding cats. Where I live, there are no cat control laws, and it is unlawful to keep or dispose of a cat that has a known owner. You might be liable if someone were to find out that your dog killed their kitty (especially if you are aware that your dog is a cat killer, and that cats frequently come into your yard). You might consider taking steps to keep cats out of your yard, such as fence toppers that tilt outward at an angle. Cats are much less likely to cross such a barrier.

Alex, I agree with the others. Even if your dog and cat are raised together, you can never completely trust that there won't ever be an incident. That's not a good reason to not get a cat if you really want one, but it is a good reason to take appropriate precautions. Not only can your dog hurt your cat, but the cat can hurt the dog as well. My friend's dog got her cornea scratched by a kitty, and it was a long, painful healing process. Every time the dog barked, it reopened the wound. Not fun.

Originally posted by Lisa Swanston:
Butch, you might want to check into your local ordinances regarding cats. Where I live, there are no cat control laws, and it is unlawful to keep or dispose of a cat that has a known owner. You might be liable if someone were to find out that your dog killed their kitty (especially if you are aware that your dog is a cat killer, and that cats frequently come into your yard). So they sue and get what? Fair market value of their now deceased c*t that was so valuable they let it roam loose all over the neighborhood. Give me a break. And no you do not get punitive damages. :rolleyes:

I seriously doubt whether there is any state or municipality (except in the Bay Area, of course) that would punish the dog owner in this type of case. You let your c*ts roam into yards w/dogs and your c*t is likely to end up on the Other Side. Or hit by a car. Or around here, et by coyotes, spirited away by hawks or owls.

Joy, you never know. If you KNOW your dog kills cats, it happens regularly, and you do nothing to prevent it, this could be considered animal cruelty, especially if it happens in your presence. One or two unavoidable incidents is one thing, but repeated incidents over a prolonged period of time with no steps taken to stop it could be seen very differently.

http://www.law.utexas.edu/dawson/cruelty/tx_cruel.htm

Whether you disagree philosophically with free roaming cats or not is not the point. I will not get into a pissing contest over this. I was just giving Butch and anyone else who allows cat killing something to think about. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

And the cats who kill innocent mice and birds?

This is what happens when peta nuts gain influence.

Lisa, take a look at the wording of the statute. To be liable requires a showing that the cruelty was committed *knowingly or intentionally*. There is no mention of *negligently*.

As is normally the case when a *criminal* statute is being applied, the *intent* is the most important element.

You're talking apples and oranges when speaking of civil action, ie heartbroken neighbor sues on behalf of decedant kitty. Lotsa luck there as well.

Joy, cat predation on wildlife is a conservation issue, not an animal rights issue. Apples & oranges.

I would think that "knowingly" implies that you know your dog is in the act of killing the cat and you do not stop it. In addition, I do not see that a cat trespassing in one's yard is a defense.

Again, I didn't want to start anything. Just, if you have a dog that kills things, be careful. That's all.

This is getting a little off topic.........

As someone who owns cats and dogs, it would be hard to convince me that I have any legal rights at all if my cat wanders into my neighbors fenced yard and is snuffed by his dog. Why should he have to put barriers on his fence to keep my cat out???? :rolleyes:

My dogs live with and play with my cat, but I would guess that 2 of them would kill a cat that was in my yard if it ran or got cornered..... inside the house and outside hold different rules for most dogs, especially prey driven dogs.

Responsible pet owners keep their animals under their control, bottom line. Accidents do happen but showing reasonable care to keep your animals contained is the key.