Expert: Jannie Balliett - 9/12/2009

Question
Hi, I just got a 2yr. old Boxer,about 4days ago and I have a 2yr. old cat, witch hides from the Boxer.once I held the cat and let my Boxer, smell Lucy the cat, and she jumped out of my arms an hid. my new 2yr. Boxer went wild an ran after her, should I force them to smell each other or  kennel my Boxer while my cat tries to roam the house for awhile she hides all the time. I am my cat will maybe have a heart attack can that happen please tell me what I should do.

Answer
Linda, I hate to tell you this-- but Boxers are notorious for hating cats- at minimum, chasing them.

The only way they could have coexisted is to have the Boxer literally grow up with the cat.

Since the Boxer is already 2 years old, the instinct and curiosity is already established.

It is totally unfair to kennel/crate the Boxer to allow the cat to roam freely, and totally unfair to lock the cat up in another room because of the Boxer.

One will have to go if it can't be resolved.

Otherwise, you need to allow nature to take it's course, and reprimand the Boxer verbally when chasing the cat, letting the Boxer know it is unacceptable behavior and wrong.

Buy a whistle, and blow it each time the Boxer chases the cat- then verbally reprimand.

If it doesn't work, one will have to be re-homed.