HELP! What am I going to do?

Hi,
We have 3 cats that are 2 1/2 years old. All this time, its been just the 3 cats and me & my husband. We recently got a 5 month old puppy. (Yellow lab mix) who is soo sweet and all she wants to do is play w/ the cats. 2 out of the 3 cats ignore her and let her know (by hissing) if she is annoying them. My Calico Kitty (who has always had an attitude) HATES the dog!! Hates hates hates the dog. The cat growls (a deep growl) at teh dog if the dog comes within like 5 feet of her, she hisses & swats too. However, now- she seems to be going after the dog (as if she were a dog) She like attacks the dog - my dog is afraid and backs up- but 2 minutes later chases her around for love. And, back at it again with the hissing & swatting. Why is it getting worse? What can I do?? Any suggestions?? PLEASE HELP!! I lvoe them all and I am trying to make teh cats not feel left out (esp. b/c the new puppy is hard being she follows me everywhere....)
Thanks for your time & help!

 

how did you work the introduction between your cats and the puppy?

 

about 1/2 way down on this link is info regarding helping cats and dogs to get along peacefully in the same home
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Poin ... wners.html

 

Well, unfortunatly....I kind of just put the dog in her crate so the cats could smell her......being the dog was already 4 months old, she is a bit big (Now she weighs 25 lbs and is over 5 months old-) SHe was only in her crate for about 2 weeks and she is pretty well trained on when to go out....I don't know if that was a bad move or not. Possibly. I mean, for 3 yrs the cats were #1 and still are, its just we added a puppy to the picture too. Last night it was like a cat fight...all 3 of them went after the dog!!! The dog just wants to play adn can't understand it- 2 out of 3 are ok with the dog, but my Cali is not at all!!!! It makes me sad....what am I going to do?? My house is open on the 1st floor, so I all I could do in the beginning when she wan't crated- was to put a gate up on the stairs so teh cats would know to go around it & run upstairs to their "Safe area".... They do their own thing now...even Cali, but as soon as teh dog comes near her- she moans and hisses...and then sometimes goes after the dog- ready to kill. I bought the feliway plug ins and the spray- hopefully this will calm her. What else can I do?? I think I messed up on the introuction part--should have kept them seperated, instead of allowing the dog to run the house......!! Please write back!!

 

read the info on the link I posted. You will probably have to start the introductions over.
Something else you can do is get advice from your vet. They deal with situation like this all the time.
But I'd start over...read and research what you can do
What kind of dog BTW?

 

A yellow lab/Pointer MIX. She is a good breed. She really is a good dog too. A big Mush- such a lovey!! (But I also see that she gets jealous if I am petting a cat or talking to my nephew who is 6 months old-she comes over and tries to jump on me....like for attention. I try to push her off & tell her no. I tell her the cats were here 1st- etc...not that she can hear me, but I think she knows!!)
I did look thru the website you gave to me....I printed up some stuff...maybe I should start the introduction again. Is it too late for that though??? I asked my vet- she fluffed it off, and said they will get use to eachother. But it seems to be getting worse after almost 2 months rather then better....well, for my 1 cat at least---she is bad.
PLease wriete back! : ) THANKS!!
DOES FELIWAY WORK TO CALM CATS???????