u/Substantial_Iron7722

Hallo, vorige maand hadden wij meerdere dagen achter elkaar een kat voor de deur zitten. Hij bleef uren wachten, was ontzettend aanhankelijk en wilde graag naar binnen. Daarnaast zagen we dat er levende wormen uit zijn anus kwamen. Uiteindelijk hebben wij de dierenambulance gebeld. De kat bleek niet gechipt te zijn en kreeg vervolgens een week lang een zwerfkatbandje om met ons telefoonnummer, zodat eventuele eigenaren contact konden opnemen. Hier hebben wij geen reactie op gekregen.

Daarom hebben wij hem uiteindelijk naar binnen gehaald en eerst naar de dierenarts gebracht om te controleren of hij verder gezond was. Daar bleek inderdaad dat hij wormen had, een infectie in zijn linker oor en daarnaast ook ondergewicht. Hij woog slechts 3,5 kilo, terwijl het een kater van ongeveer 3 à 4 jaar oud is.

Toen de eigenaren hem uiteindelijk kwamen ophalen, gaven zij aan dat ze al op de hoogte waren van zijn oorprobleem, omdat hij daar vaker wondjes had. Ook zeiden ze dat hij een wormenkuur had gekregen. Toch zagen wij drie dagen later opnieuw levende wormen uit hem komen hangen, wat bij ons vragen oproept over of dit probleem wel goed behandeld was.

Wij hebben vervolgens drie weken voor hem gezorgd, totdat de eigenaren na drie weken contact opnamen omdat zij hun kat op Amivedi waren tegengekomen. Ze hebben hem opgehaald en vertelden dat het een boerderijkat was, met de opmerking: “Wij houden niet van onze katten, ze zijn puur voor de muizen.” Dat gaf mij eerlijk gezegd geen prettig gevoel bij het teruggeven van de kat.

De eigenaren wonen ongeveer 500 meter verderop, waardoor de kat nog steeds dagelijks bij ons langskomt. We merken dat hij opnieuw vermagert, dus geven we hem elke dag wat eten. Daarnaast zagen we dat hij constant aan het krabben was. Toen wij hem met een vlooienkam kamden, heb ik al 13 vlooien verwijderd — en dat was nog niet eens alles. Omdat hij er duidelijk last van had, hebben wij hem een vlooienbehandeling gegeven.

Ik vraag mij daarom oprecht af: valt dit onder verwaarlozing? Voor mijn gevoel krijgt deze kat niet de zorg die hij nodig heeft, zeker gezien zijn toestand, het ondergewicht, de parasieten, de oorinfectie en het feit dat hij telkens weer bij ons aankomt.

We adopted a cat 4 days ago. He was originally a stray and started coming into our garden. Our dog, Rico (a Golden Retriever), reacted very strongly when he first saw the cat through the window—barking, jumping, and getting very worked up. He generally reacts more intensely when there’s a barrier like glass or a fence, and he has never really liked cats.

After we adopted the cat (Zuko), we kept him upstairs the first day so he could get used to the dogs’ scent. That day, we let them see each other briefly a few times (about 30 minutes total, spread out). Rico was on a leash with a muzzle, and the cat stayed on a table.

At first, Rico barked a lot, but we redirected him with treats. Every time he fixated, we called his name, and when he looked at us, he got a reward. After about 10 minutes, he improved and started looking at us for guidance.

On day 2, we held him by his collar instead of using the leash (since he’s reactive on leash). He was already less fixated. We repeated the same training, and also started feeding the cat downstairs so he would associate that space positively.

Later, the cat walked around more freely, and Rico stayed calmer, even lying on the couch next to us (still a bit stressed, panting, but less reactive). By the third session that day, Rico was mostly curious. He wanted to get closer, but he’s very enthusiastic and a bit clumsy, so he would try to rush forward. We prevented that and guided him back.

At the end of day 2, they could lie across from each other. Rico wasn’t allowed to stare too long and responded well when we called him.

Now on day 3, Rico doesn’t bark at the cat anymore and often ignores him. Only when the cat suddenly moves close by, Rico reacts—he might stand up quickly or give one bark, but then settles again when we interrupt him. Sometimes he just startles slightly instead of reacting strongly, and we’re working on improving that too.

Today was day 4: The cat was pretty chill around the dogs and fell asleep on the couch. Rico was still slightly nervous at the beginnen but started to calm down after a few minutes. Zuco actually got pretty close and rico barked at him to scare him away so we corrected him and Zuco came back a minute later and Rico didnt really react the second time it happened. Ofc we wont let rico loose from the lead until the triggers are fully gone.

Any tips or advice? We also have a rabbit and he was never reactive to him

How strong is my Golden Retriever’s prey drive?

We adopted a cat 4 days ago. He was originally a stray and started coming into our garden. Our dog, Rico (a Golden Retriever), reacted very strongly when he first saw the cat through the window—barking, jumping, and getting very worked up. He generally reacts more intensely when there’s a barrier like glass or a fence, and he has never really liked cats.

After we adopted the cat (Zuko), we kept him upstairs the first day so he could get used to the dogs’ scent. That day, we let them see each other briefly a few times (about 30 minutes total, spread out). Rico was on a leash with a muzzle, and the cat stayed on a table.

At first, Rico barked a lot, but we redirected him with treats. Every time he fixated, we called his name, and when he looked at us, he got a reward. After about 10 minutes, he improved and started looking at us for guidance.

On day 2, we held him by his collar instead of using the leash (since he’s reactive on leash). He was already less fixated. We repeated the same training, and also started feeding the cat downstairs so he would associate that space positively.

Later, the cat walked around more freely, and Rico stayed calmer, even lying on the couch next to us (still a bit stressed, panting, but less reactive). By the third session that day, Rico was mostly curious. He wanted to get closer, but he’s very enthusiastic and a bit clumsy, so he would try to rush forward. We prevented that and guided him back.

At the end of day 2, they could lie across from each other. Rico wasn’t allowed to stare too long and responded well when we called him.

Now on day 3, Rico doesn’t bark at the cat anymore and often ignores him. Only when the cat suddenly moves close by, Rico reacts—he might stand up quickly or give one bark, but then settles again when we interrupt him. Sometimes he just startles slightly instead of reacting strongly, and we’re working on improving that too.

Today was day 4: The cat was pretty chill around the dogs and fell asleep on the couch. Rico was still slightly nervous at the beginnen but started to calm down after a few minutes. Zuco actually got pretty close and rico barked at him to scare him away so we corrected him and Zuco came back a minute later and Rico didnt really react the second time it happened. Ofc we wont let rico loose from the lead until the triggers are fully gone.

Any tips or advice? We also have a rabbit and he was never reactive to him