Cat absolutely terrified of new dog, what do I do?

Question

We have had our new puppy (a shih tzu) for about 9 months. We have 3 cats. Two of them were completely fine with the puppy, whereas one of them simply ran away everytime he came near. This was the extent of the damage to the cat up until we took the dog away for a holiday this summer. Now, since we have returned home with the dog, the cat spends all of his time upstairs under the bed. He has to be carried downstairs to eat and out to go to the toilet. He is constantly so tensed up that he looks like a small, fluffy ball. The dog was relatively calm around the cat, until the cat unreasonably attacked him. He now barks and jumps up etc, making the cat even more petrified. The cat can't spend the rest of his life under the bed, the only way is for them to get used to each other. I've tried introducing them gradually, while restraining them, I've tried leaving them to their own devices. Please help me!

Thanks very much.

Answer 1

Split them up like keep the cat upstairs and the dog down stairs.Make sure that if one goes near the other you know other wise you could have to do a little kitty funeral. :(

Or just put a muzel on the dogs mouth so he cant bite or bark!

Answer 2

I agree with Ben P.

Death Match, Death Match, Death Match!

That or introduce your cat to alcohol or maybe valium or a cat mellowout drug. Just get the cat stoned, like people, the cat will make friends with anyone while it's wasted.  

Answer 3

There is only one way to settle this.

A no holds barred deathmatch. Last pet standing wins.

Answer 4

quiet the dog everytime he barks and if possible find a room where you can lock cat and dog together with a safe haven for cat and watch so no blood shed maybe if forced to deal witheach other they will come to terms of terf

Answer 5

i went through the exact same thing.i cried my eyes out cause i thought i had to return the puppy to the pet store...for weeks it was bad,the cat was at wits end.. but then it changed and now they are best of friends.  you just have to give them time to adjust to each other...believe me as upsetting as it is,,it will definitely work out fine....

Answer 6

I'm not sure if it will work for you, but my auntie found a cool technique which worked for her which was rubbing behind the cats ears and under their chin with a cloth of some sort, then rubbing the dog with the same cloth. This is the place on the cat where there scent is and you can put their scent on the dog to help the cat warm to the dog.