Cats and dogs please help dont know what else to do

[Guest]

I found a Mommie cat that was Preg about 5 to 6 months ago she was either lost or abandonded Took her home and she had 7 kittens who are all healthy and have new homes now. We kept 2 kittens and the mommie cat. My problem is we have two small dogs 30 lbs each,WE lived with My mother in law for like 6 yrs and the dogs have always been around cats. The problem is Mommie cat will hiss and try to scratch the dogs when they are not even looking Ie if the walk around a corner and do not see her. She does this when the kittens are out or not ( cats have there own room with a child gate so dogs cant go in "there" room)

We are not sure what to do, We have to lock the cats in there room when we are at work for fear of them getting into it.
when we get home we open the door so they can play in the house
We have several "safe "spaces for them to go to were the dogs cant get moved the china cabinet 4 -5 in ches from the wall and also the tv cabinet.And they all can jump over the child gate and get back in the room.

Our dogs are 12 and 13 yrs old and we love them very much. Mommie cat has quickly found a space in both of our hearts and the thought of having to give her up breaks our heart but it cant be good for her to be sooo upset bout the dogs.

We really really dont know what to do and help or ideas would be wonderful

I am sorrythis is so long but needed to try and give the whole story

Thank you in advance for any ideas

[davet]

i notice there were no answers to you inquirey and i think i know why...i don;t think any one has a nice easy answer for a problem like this, i sure don't except try day by day a little introduction and hope they eventually will get along...i suspect they will but it will take time.....good luck

[MA]

I know with my crew- I have 14 cats and a German Shepherd, but when a new cat arrives here, I have a large hospitality cage in my living room. It is big enough for a great dane to go in and lie down and turn around in. I put the new cat (after being vet checked) into the cage so Kenai (the dog) and the cat can get used to her. It also puts the cat into the main flow of feline traffic. The first time the dog comes in the room, the cat will spit and hiss and growl (usually) But Kenai, who has mothered many an orphaned kitten, will go over and sniff. The cat will jump back and Kenai will just lay there not doing to much. I let this type of introduction happen 3 times a day for a week. Other than that, the cat is up in the cat room. After I stop seeing adverse reactions from the new cat, I will open the cage and everything works out great.

To be honest, I do not know if this would work on smaller hyper dogs, or if there were more than one dog. But it is how it works in our home.