Dogs killing cats??

[MakNat]

How likely is it for a 5 year old dog to start killing cats that shes grown up with??? I found one of my cats mauled to death in my barn, right where one of my dogs sleeps.. Although the dog does sleep in the house some nights. She does chase/play with the cats. But now Zonk is dead and it breaks my heart.... Hate to think Ruby did it, but thats what all fingers are pointing too. And what do you do about it..? Is it only a matter of time, before she kills the other 2?

 

[krcote]

I think there needs to be more investigating before the dog gets all the blame. Seems odd that the dog decides to kill the cat suddenly?

 

[MakNat]

wouldn't a fox or coyote carry it off???? My cat was too chicken to fight a possum or coon. The bite marks were the size of Ruby's... Unless there is a stray dog lurking in the dark??? It just sucks... Luckily if it is Ruby, my sister said she would rehome her. She has 5 acres and 2 other dogs.

 

[lockedhearts]

A single dog, own their own that had never harmed a cat is not likely to just suddenly start. However , if that dog got caught up in a pack mentality with other dogs that did kill cats, then yes a grown dog can start that behavior. How do I know this, I have 4 Jack Russels, they were fine with cats until a friend came to visit and brought her dog that chased, caught and killed cats. Yep, you guessed it, my dogs went after a cat because of that dog, now they will chase cats if I do not keep an eye on them and kill cats if they catch them.

However, I think you should investigate further. If the dog sleeps in the barn it could have simply been that the dog was sleeping and the cat scared the dog and it was a reactive thing. Or it could have been something else that killed the cat.

 

[Imp]

Sorry, that would be a horrible dicovery & decision.

Maybe the dog just found the cat already dead.

Imp

 

[dewey]

Oh how sad. I'm so sorry about your cat.

I wonder if your dog could have just brought your cat in after finding him dead or perhaps even brought him home after "saving" him from another predator. It's unlikely for dogs to suddenly become cat killers, unless playing became too rough, or, as another mentioned, other dogs were involved. It wouldn't be too unusual for a dog to chew on an animal they found already dead. When I had outdoor/indoor cats my dogs would never harm them, but strange cats or dogs that wondered onto the property would be killed instantly.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[chisNchickens]

What breed of dog? If you say siberian husky I would say yes as they are more primitive and I know of similar occurrences. Also breeds that have high prey drive could turn on a cat if the cat was perhaps frightened by something and bolted...the dog could "lose himself" and give chase. Hope this is not the case...
Holly

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

It may also be possible that the dog found the cat already dead and mauled it after death. That would be my guess. My dog has been known to take dead turkeys out of my brooder box and he would bring them to his sleeping area and lick them to try and bring them back to life. If we would walk into the garage while he was doing this, he'd cower and put his tail behind his legs. We knew he didn't actually kill the baby turkey though. One time, my dad had taken one of the babies out of the box and left it on the trash can to go get a baggy to put it in. When he came back, my dog had it and it was all wet.

So that scenario is not totally impossible!

 

[taraann81]

Quote:
Sorry this made me laugh! Also how do you know your dog is not killing them? Just out of curiosity.

OP-You say your dog has chased and played with the cats. I think since the dog was allowed to chase the cats, that makes the scenario of the dog killing the cat more likely than if she never chased your cats. Stranger thing have happened. I think the type of "play" she had been exhibiting towards the cats might give a better idea of if she could be the culprit. Sorry about your loss.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Quote:
Sorry this made me laugh! Also how do you know your dog is not killing them? Just out of curiosity.

OP-You say your dog has chased and played with the cats. I think since the dog was allowed to chase the cats, that makes the scenario of the dog killing the cat more likely than if she never chased your cats. Stranger thing have happened. I think the type of "play" she had been exhibiting towards the cats might give a better idea of if she could be the culprit. Sorry about your loss.

Usually we knew the babies were dead already. It mostly happened when my dad took the babies and sat them on the side of the box so I could dispose of it.

My dog is certainly a character. I had a momma hen and her babies free ranging by the garage and my dog steam rolled one of the babies coming down the hill. The poor chick didn't even know what hit it! It was completely flat with the faint mark of a paw print and was soaking wet because the dog realized what he did and we found him licking it. I was about 13 and cried so much! Now I can't help but look back and laugh.