How to help a cat and dog get along?

[carrot99]

My daughter is expecting soon and I have agreed to look after her two year old Parson's Russell Terrier for a month or two. I have a four year old cat. They have not got on when she has visited me, the dog wants to chase the cat. What's the best way to help them live together amicably? I shall borrow her dog gate and the dog has a muzzle, which it hates, for when she bathes it. Any advice very welcome.

[Annlinda]

If your daughter needs a muzzle to bathe a PRT ( I have 3) I suggest that as she is expecting instead of asking you to look after the dog she rehomes it to someone who is capable of looking after this breed in a correct way. If she cant handle it now problems that could occur when the baby appears could put the child in a potentially dangerous position. My PRT's will chase small furry animals its their nature. To introduce one to an adult cat could be nearly impossible.

[lankeela]

Why do you need to look after the dog for a month or two? I would have thought it best for her to have the dog at home when she brings the baby home or it will be more difficult to reintroduce it when she does. Thousands of women have babies when they have already got dogs. Your poor cat will probably leave home, and its certainly not fair to muzzle the dog.

[RATTER15]

Jack Russells are very intelligent dogs, I don't see why she needs to re-home it!! as long as the dog gets lots of fuss when new baby arrives there wont be a problem!!

If the dog is not used to living with that cat, you should not trust them together!! they may seem fine for a while but Jack may fancy exercising the cat when you are not around and once a Jack Russell gets it in his mind he wants that cat he may take some stopping

I love Jack Russell, I kept them for many years, head strong little bug gers and if it wants you cat it will have it, he will out smart you!!

Mine used to go to work with me killing rats and I saw my Jack Russell chasing a cat across the top of a silo 20ft up the cat jumped off the top and so did my Jack Russell, they both kept running after they landed, the cat was found dead later in the day!! Bad news!!

And my dogs were brought up with cats and ferrets and would all drink out of the same milk bowl together and would have trusted any of my dogs unreservedly with any child or baby but not a strange cat!!!

But saying all that, all Jack Russells are different!!

[Annlinda]

My worry is that if she cannot manage the dog to the extent that it needs a muzzle (presumably to stop it biting her) when being bathed what are the chances that if it takes against the baby she will be able to stop potential tragedy. They are so quick and bloody minded that you have to be aware all the time that they can get into problem situations.

[RATTER15]

I didn't see the the bit about the muzzle!!!

It sounds to my like the dog isn't trained and possibly unsafe around anybody, I certainly wouldn't have it near a baby or a cat!!!

[carrot99]

Thank you for all your answers. There is certainly a lot more to think about than I first thought.

Thanks all again.