Introducing a cat to a dog

[aligator79]

Do you have any suggestions for getting a dog (Coonhound) to stop chasing a new cat?  It's been 3 months and the cat still won't come upstairs when the dog is home for fear of getting chased.  He's really friendly and comes up to hang out when the dog is at daycare. He just needs more attention than he is getting only hanging out in the basement.

I've thought about getting a kitten- 6-12 weeks to see if she would be calmer around a baby- she does really well with small dogs or puppies at the dog park especially if they try to take her ball.  The older or bigger ones she gets huffy with. It's like she understands that they are smaller or they are just learning. When I got the dog at 6 weeks in July '14 I had 3 cats.  One hides in the basement and won't come upstairs. One liked her and would rub up against her- at least when she was awake and out and about- She died in March '15.  One seemed to antagonize the dog and get into fights.  We finally got to where they would sleep on the bed with me together and 3 days later he died (Aug '15)- got hit by a car- his own damn fault.  He liked to lay in the middle of the street. . I got two new kitties in Sept- 8 months and 14 months.  The 8 month old was fairly OK with the dog to start with then she scared him and he didn't like to come up anymore.  He got hit by a car and died last month (Nov '15). He wasn't supposed to be outside.  I didn't want another indoor/outdoor cat but I can't shut the dog door.

Anyway- Do you have any suggestions?  

[ginger899]

Many dogs will consider cats as prey, unless they have grown up together from being tiny. Likewise, many cats will behave like prey around dogs -unless they have grown up together.

I'm not 100% into introducing cats into a home where there is an adult dog. Not unless I know the full history of both, and know for a fact they have lived and been happy in mixed households before.

For your cats' sakes you will either have to choose between blocking the dog door, or fixing up tight perimeter fencing (wire) -tall with an overhang inwards at the top, and all overhanging tree branches cut.....round every inch of your property. But even then, there is a chance of a gate being left open....etc.

As for your dog, I don't know about introducing a tiny kitten at this stage. There well could be an accident. He is already treating the cat as prey.

He can't help it. Part of this is his genetic heritage. I don't blame your dog. But you will have to be careful.

[Margot49]

Sounds like your dog definitely has some prey drive whether it be going after the cats or just chasing them.  
My question is, why do you keep getting more cats if they have access to outside?  One has a,ready been hit.  I think maybe you should work with what you have and block off that doggie door.  
With a lot of dogs, they are going to chase something that moves suddenly or run.  Maybe try keeping the dog on leash so you have some control when the cats are around the dog.