I have a Scottish Terrier mix at home. She's about 5 years old, ran out of the house this morning when my mom was going to send my dad down to the LRT station. My mom came back to the house to find my dog holding onto something in her mouth, wagging her tail in excitement. It turns out she found a kitten and brought it back home.

Mom freaked out and more or less swept the kitten to the side. I came back home and tried to take care of it a bit but gave up after realizing that I have damn well next to nothing required to take care of a kitten. Ended up handing the kitten over to a neighbor, hopefully it lives and grows up fine.

Anyways, should I worry that my dog will try to harm the kitten? She brought the kitten back to our home completely unscratched, carrying it in her mouth. She seemed rather intent on getting to the kitten, jumping up on me to see it. I let her get close enough to touch the kitten on one occasion and she tried to pick it up in her mouth again. Scared that the dog will hurt the little kitten.

So once again, should I worry when my dog tries to bring home a kitten? Would she actually eat the little animal? And how should I take care of an orphaned kitten in the future?

Thanks

Unlikely to eat. Your dog is just using her gaming sense hahah.... track down a kitten but more for play lah since scottish terriers aren't killers.... but some terriers kill rats but if she doesn't bark and growl at it and show her teeth, then it is all for play.

A dog that is a pet won't eat a cat.... well, some dogs would try... like my dog, but he is a big working breed and his nature is to hunt... but it just gives me the creeps that he caught and ate half a cat and vomited back out....

So would she actually try and take care of the kitten? I can't imagine what my dog would possibly want to do with the little thing. I was afraid to keep the kitten at home because I have no clue how to take care of it.

Now my dog's rather depressed. I think she's given up looking for her little friend.

yetieater I hope the kitten survives

Ewww disgusting

Thank goodness mine doesn't eat the cat, I would be so mad

Is there a way we can stop dogs with killer instincts from going after catz?

When my pup, a Maltese sees a cat in the garden, he will rush to the cat too. Altho he's slower than the cat, still, he will go after the cat.

Have you tried giving her a soft toy as a substitute? Very rare for a dog to nurse and care for a kitten.... not that never happen before lah coz it did, but then rarely happens.

Training.... those really pro training I guess where dogs learn to let go on command and not hunt on command.... but then I think depends on the dog. Mine got hunting instinct... the killing I think was just mistake loh. Now my dog don't dare eat cat hahah... he just chase and that is it.

Well, natural for dogs to go after anything smaller than them that is not a dog and runs fast. Put a mouse or guinea pig or rabbit, will also chase.

The thing is, he can never race a cat. When the cats jumped onto something higher to avoid my pup, my pup will turned his head to me, as if he wants me to help him to catch the cats.

This post has been edited by jdreamer: Apr 13 2006, 07:15 PM

Pets sure are fun.

For future reference, how should I take care of a young orphaned kitten? What type of food do they eat, what type of liquids should they be consuming?

Thanks for all the responses. ^^

since its a terrier u better be careful... cannot judge this dogs... they toy rott weilers...