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Naio's avatar
Naio
Explorer II
Jun 15, 2015

What should I have done? -> Updated

A pitbull got my cat this morning. Cat is in the hospital and dog owner gave them his credit card. I finally have a minute to breathe, and am trying to think what I could have done differently, for next time.

I was in bed at the time, and groggy when I got up. I couldn't figure out how to get the dog off my cat. And the cat kept getting away, and then getting caught again. I didn't have a firearm. I threw rocks at the dog, thinking the distraction would help cat get away. That works with cat on cat. I forgot that I had pepper spray in the rig. That may have helped although it doesn't shoot far and the animals were in brush, not visible.

Dog owners, cat owners, what is the way to go in this situation?

After about 15 mins of searching I found the dogs owner and got her to get him off. Then I dragged her dad and his credit card to the ER with me.

But is there any way I could have got that dog off my cat sooner? I am not as strong as a pit bull, nowhere near.

Maybe I should have sprayed them with a fire extinguisher, or a hose. That might have taken as long as finding the owner, though, to get stuff to where the animals were.

I feel like I failed my cat.

66 Replies

  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Dakota98 wrote:
    I'm glad you didn't have a firearm. :S


    Probably wouldn't have used it if I did, because of not knowing who else might be in the %*#@% bushes.

    I just figured I should mention it because it would be the first solution to come to some people's minds. And maybe the right one, heck if I know.

    I really feel flummoxed by this, and like I should not be.
  • Pepper spray sometimes gets a dog angry and makes it more aggressive....I would avoid using that. Also do NOT grab the dog by the collar--that could redirect the aggression toward you. Could you have placed some type of barrier between the dog and your cat? Make a VERY LOUD noise to startle the dog so your cat had a chance to get away?

    I've had cats before in the past---I have ALWAYS kept them INDOORS. That prevents them from being attacked by dogs, other cats, coyotes, and from getting hit by cars.