Need help with yorkie/cat problem!

[Tophersmom]

Ok...here's the problem....

My daughter rescued a beautifiul cat a couple of years ago. She's gorgeous, de-clawed, spayed, etc. and about 8 years old or so. Poor thing never had a real steady home so we took her in. At that time we had our terrier mix who really didn't mind cats...but the cat on the other hand was TERRIFIED of dogs. She obviously was chased/hurt by one or more at one time in her life.

Our terrier passed away and we got Topher, who just wanted to play with the cat, but the cat wanted nothing to do with him. I know that if the cat decided to play, she would have had a good time. Topher had no pre-conceived problems with cats...he just wanted a playmate! The cat wanted nothing to do with him.

The poor thing lives pretty much in my daughter's room. Her food is in there and up until last week she did her business in the litter box that's in the laundry room in the basement. (We have a gate in the doorway so the cat can get in or out but the dogs can't get in)

Last week we got Sophie and we introduced the two, figuring that the cat wouldn't mind a tiny puppy. Well, she didn't like Sophie either and took off. She's terrified to come out of Kaitlyn's room and because of that she peed on my daughter's bed (I checked, she doesn't have a UTI) so the reason she peed was that she's scared to leave the room and go down to the laundry room.

So now I've had to put a litter box in my daughter's room (ugh...we keep it clean, but it's not the place for it). This cat is terrified and we feel so bad for her. It's not much of a life being holed up in my daughter's room. My daughter loves her so won't give her up.

How in the world do we de-sensitize this cat so that she'll be able to enjoy life with the dogs? They don't want to hurt her at all, but she doesn't understand that.

Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated, or any ideas of where we could turn for help.

Thanks everyone!

[Gracie2006]

I would suggest you not force the issue. My cats all learned to "live up" out of Gracie's reach until they got used to her. One of my cats still prefers to live in my bedroom, only coming downstairs for meals in a gated off area where Gracie can't get to her. Gracie just wants to play. Kitty needs time to adjust at her own pace. When possible, try playing games that all can join in the fun with, like one of those mittens with long fingers on it, or playing chase the ball. Animals that play together tend to get along! Give kitty lots of extra attention. Bring one of the dogs' used blankets or toys into the kitty's room so she can get acquainted with the smell.

[blondflava]

I wish I had a solution... I hope someone can help? My mom has a problem with her cat (a female that she's had for about 2 years now - spoiled rotten ) and a Yorkie puppy. The cat HATES the dog and they've had to be kept separate for over 4 months now. The puppy wants to play, the cat hisses and tries to beat the pup up. The poor thing got a beating a few times already when not watched closely enough. Puppy hasn't learned his lesson though, still trying to bother the cat.

[Tophersmom]

Cats, if they have their claws, can really do a number on a poor unsuspecting yorkie! I brought Topher over to my friend's house and of course he went up to the cat to say hello and she had a fit..she came at him with claws slashing and got him on the nose. He's so lucky that she missed his eyes as that's what she was aiming for! I don't bring Topher there anymore.