So we've recently been adopted by a young, thin male cat. He's at our house every day and he tries to march right in the door if I'm not careful. I'm thinking that if he's going to live with us then it will end up being my responsibility to fix him. My hesitation at this point is what if someone else thinks they own him? He is very friendly. I don't believe that one can "own" an outside cat; being responsible for one yes, but not own, not when it doesn't have a collar or an appropriate fence.

Anyways, my labs do not seem to be animal aggressive, just the normal doesn't know that they can hurt something much smaller than they are stuff. My Husky/Sheppard Lady is not aggressive to our indoor cat, but I know that's not the same as an outdoor cat. She was a stray too once that adopted us. Mishaps have led to the loss of other house pets (fell asleep, forgot to shut the crate door, etc), another crazy incident where she fetched (but didnt' hurt) a guinea pig out of its cage and presented it to my Mom's corgi, but she has come a long way too. The parrot can flap and carry on and she seems completely desensitized to him given that there is appropriate distance between her and the cage. When we first got her, if the bird even moved she cued up.

WELL hubby said that yesterday the cat was laying right outside our front door as has become his habit, and the main door was open, glass storm door closed. Lady came by, hackles went up tail went straight, ears went back. Outside cat understands doors apparently as he just stared at the dog, but hubby knowing the weak latch on the storm door shut the big door to avoid any issues.

I screwed up this morning. Outside cat could care less about the labs and takes their potty time as an excuse to bid for my attentions. Today he didn't run off when I walked Lady. I pet the cat before being affectionate to the dog which I realize now was the wrong thing to do. Lady greeted the cat much like a dog, a quick sniff towards the face and then stuck her nose at his tail. My cat will hiss or swat if sniffed by the dogs like that then leave (dogs understand the don't chase the cat rule). I got a little nervous when Lady then moved so her entire head was over the cat and decided to go back inside. The cat and dogs head are about the same size. I'm guessing that was an "I'm dominant" to you action.

Anyone have some advice for me? I rather fix the cat and give him some shelter etc. than take him to the humane society and give them $100 to hold then euthanize him, if they are even taking again as last I'd heard they were not accepting or had a 3 day turnover. But not if he's going to become dog food.

How old is the dog in question?

Have you heard of/started marker training any commands with this dog?

If you decide to take the cat in, you are going to have to teach the dog what is expected of her...meaning no eating kitty!

So use the search bar to look up "desensitizing" and "marker training" if you are not familiar with it, and start teaching the dog to leave and ignore this cat.