I am attempting to add a 5 year old submissive Yorkie to my existing family of two cats.  The cats are 14 lbs and 7 lbs and the Yorkie is 9 lbs.  In this case, the Yorkie is absolutely posing no threat, but after a few successful introductions, when I tried another visit after I returned home from a week long visit to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah my cats attempted to attack the Yorkie. But, I lifted her over my head and one of my cats climbed me trying to get to her and left me scratched and bruised ankle to thigh on both legs.  The smaller cat is now terrified and she has actually become aggressive toward the bigger cat who for now is just ignoring her, but now I'm afraid he might snap again and this time go after her.  Right now, the Yorkie is with the owner again (who is trying to give me her dog so she can go into a nursing home, so time is of the essence here.)  Hindsight is 20/20 and I think I confused my cats with the smells from all the animals at the sanctuary in my laundry and on my suitcase and they took it out on the little Yorkie.  Anyway, am I crazy to try introducing them again.  I've been researching the internet and this site constantly since the attack (July 4) and I've gotten a lot of mixed messages.  I know that the cat who was responsible for my injuries lived 4 of his 6 years outside fending for himself and he was a fighter.  He loves the smaller cat though and because both of these cats have such an incredible loving nature with me and since the dog is SO submissive I'm having a hard time believing this won't work.  I did think about putting a large portable travel kennel in the living room and putting the Yorkie in there for a while so she is safe and just try to live a normal life like that for a while and see if the cats adjust--but I am still afraid if they can't get to the Yorkie they will redirect their aggression towards each other...is that something I should be really worried about?  Sorry this is so lengthy.

Hi,

I'm going to try this again,  I had a lengthly message written to you and something happened and I lost all of it.  I hope I can remember what I said.  First of all I think you need to think about this poor little yorkie girl who is about to lose her mom.  This will be very tramatic to her and I think you are bringing her into a very scary situation for her

Cats can be very unpredictable as you have seen and possibly the attack cat had some bad experiences when out on his own with dogs.  Cats can be very unforgiving when dealt bad experiences.  I worked for Best Friends for awhile and it was the best job I have had,  I loved it and miss it.  I worked in Benton's House for 2 years and had allot of experiences with allot of different personalities of cats. 

To bring this little Yorkie girl into a home that has started her off with a cat attack can be very devastating to her.  Crating her would be very unfair to her to see if the cat would settle down and accept her.  She is going to be very tramatized by losing her Mom first of all and needs a home that is very accepting and loving to her without drama.  I know you want what is best for her.  I believe another home would be best for her so she can live a peaceful safe life.

If you have no one in mind for her please don't put her in a shelter.  I have a consideration for you.  I have a dear friend that lost her Yorkie boy, he passed away at 16.  He was the love of her life and she misses him to this day.  She would love to have another Yorkie but can't afford to pay they enormous amount of money they go for and she hasn't found one in a shelter yet.  I know she would cherish this little one who deserves a forever home and the devotion that Laura would give her.  I don't know where you live but if you are at all interested in this option please contact me.  kookieforcritters.  I have some trouble finding my way around on this site.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Also I have 3 dogs and 5 cats and feed outdoor cats who have been left behind and a few ferals.  We have a great love for all animals and do as much as we can to help all. 

Good Luck  and thank you

Cheryl

I sympathize with your situation.  I adopted a young, very, very active dog two months ago.  I brought him home two weeks after my other dog died of cancer.  The new dog came from a home with cats and supposedly got along well with them.  He was very, very forward with my cats and it broke my heart.  He chased them, nipped them (pulling out tufts of fur).  My cats were very close to my other dog and couldn't understand why this guy who looked like her was being so mean.  We were fortunate that he has calmed down and the cats were patient.  They were stressed out but wouldn't give up.  I believe they will curl up together by winter.

It sounds like you have the reverse of what I experienced.  I have to agree with Cheryl.  The poor yorkie is going to be stressed out switching homes.  It isn't fair to him to be rehomed and then in fear of being attacked.  If things hadn't turned out differently with my new dog I would have taken him back to the owners.  My first responsibility was to my current pets.   If you can find it in your heart to let her friend adopt him everyone wins.  Good luck.

Thank you for your input Kookieforcritters and Tedsmom.  I'm in total agreement with the fact that the animals come first, and especially the Yorkie who is losing his mom.  Actually, that is one of my reasons to try to think out of the box and not just give up on this situation.  The current owner has numerous people who want this puppy and would love this puppy, but you guys might think this is wierd (although probably not people on this site,) this dog has chosen me.  What the current owner sees is that this dog reacts differently to me than to anyone else (and she is a very friendly dog,) but there is just something special about how she acts towards me.  Even after the "incident" I've gone over and taken her out on other outings and she has no hesitation about going with me in fact she beats me to the door and waits for me.  The other appeal that the owner has about me is that I am self employed and the puppy will be going to work with me everyday and not sitting home.  I have contacted an animal behaviorist and she believes that I just made the introductions happen to fast.  I'm going to hire her for an hour consult to discuss what to do differently.  Then I will at least feel like I have done EVERYTHING possible to make this work.  I'm considering everything from clicker training, to calming scents, to anti-anxiety medicine for the cats during the transition.  If anyone has any experience with any of these or thoughts about them I'd love to hear them.  Thanks again for your input!

Thank you for your input Kookieforcritters and Tedsmom.  I'm in total agreement with the fact that the animals come first, and especially the Yorkie who is losing her mom.  Actually, that is one of my reasons to try to think out of the box and not just give up on this situation.  The current owner has numerous people who want this puppy and would love this puppy, but you guys might think this is wierd (although probably not people on this site,) this dog has chosen me.  What the current owner sees is that this dog reacts differently to me than to anyone else (and she is a very friendly dog,) but there is just something special about how she acts towards me.  Even after the "incident" I've gone over and taken her out on other outings and she has no hesitation about going with me in fact she beats me to the door and waits for me.  The other appeal that the owner has about me is that I am self employed and the puppy will be going to work with me everyday and not sitting home.  I have contacted an animal behaviorist and she believes that I just made the introductions happen to fast.  I'm going to hire her for an hour consult to discuss what to do differently.  Then I will at least feel like I have done EVERYTHING possible to make this work.  I'm considering everything from clicker training, to calming scents, to anti-anxiety medicine for the cats during the transition.  If anyone has any experience with any of these or thoughts about them I'd love to hear them.  Thanks again for your input!