Hi we have a two year old border collie who is so fixated on our cat that she will not eat her meals we are getting rather worried about her the cats were already here when we got her as a puppy so she is used to them being here and this problem has only got worse in the last week. Thank you

Is she allowed to be with the cats when you leave the house?
Perhaps something happened while you were out to make her worry about them.

What does she actually do with the cats?
Just constantly watch them, run away from them or try to go after them?

And most importantly, would you say she is HERDING the cats?

She never hurts the cats she wants to play with them,only sometimes does she want to herd them and they are never left together when we go out, we are not to worried about the cats but poor Sleet is not eating and that worries us more because we have another border collie we won`t leave her food down but we would not anyway my daughter trains both Sleet and Wren,and no Wren never bothers about the cats she will even sleep with them if they do not scutch her lol xx

She never hurts the cats she wants to play with them,only sometimes does she want to herd them and they are never left together when we go out, we are not to worried about the cats but poor Sleet is not eating and that worries us more because we have another border collie we won`t leave her food down but we would not anyway my daughter trains both Sleet and Wren,and no Wren never bothers about the cats she will even sleep with them if they do not scutch her lol xx

Border Collies were bred to herd, it's in their blood, so perhaps now she is at the right age for all her instincts to kick in she is recognizing the cats as something she has to round up.

What exercise routine does she have? How much does she get daily?
The more exercise they get, they more relaxed they will be at home, as well as have a bigger appetite.

I agree with Shaz, if it's her herding instincts a little more exercise during the day and before meals could help her keep her appetite in check. Do the dogs get fed in separate rooms?

Could you feed the one dog in a separate room with the door closed or a baby gate up?

Are the dogs spayed?

Thank you Shazamataz and Aurora bell,Both Sleet and Wren get taken out for good long walks twice a day they also do agility and other training at good periods,yes they have both been spayed after there first season,feeding them both together is not a problem they are really close and never argue Wren never goes near Sleets food and visa versa but Sleet just keeps looking for the cats or should I say one cat as she is not bothered about the othereven if I put them out when they are to be fed she still stands looking for the cat and will not eat xx

Sleet just keeps looking for the cats or should i say one cat as she is not bothered about the othereven if i put them out when they are to be fed she still stands looking for the cat and will not eat xx

Is that the only time she stares at the cat? What happens if you feed the cat before you feed Sleet?

How old is the cat? Has it had any health problems?

Both cats are 17 years old now and we do not feed them at the same time Cats have there's at 8 and for the dogs 9 and 10 one of the cats is now deaf which is the one that Sleet bothers about the other arthritus in her spine but even if the cats cannot be seen she still frets about her she never bothered until just recently but I know they do sense that something is wrong as my husband has a bad big toe at the moment and both dogs will not leave it alone ,as for herding yes I understand that as we have always had border collies my daughter has always trained them in lots of things the can play a mucical instrument they skip and do lots of other things in every other way Sleet is great its just this one cat thing. Xx

Let me try to clarify what I was asking. What happens if you give the cat food or a treat just before/at the same time as Sleet is fed?

Has the cat had any behavioral/eating changes lately?

No there is no difference in there behavior I can feed the cats with no worry and the same with the dogs but I have tried giving Sleet a treat when the cats are fed and she will not eat it although Wren will but she is a really calm dog Sleet is the one that will bark etc and is a little strung up cats really do not care when dogs are fed they are normally out of the way.

I think what Cat is asking is if the one cat is having eating issues, maybe the dog is worried about her, and is almost offering her food to the cat.

Dogs have a funny way of bonding with both humans and other animals, are they very close. You said that the cats are almost 17, do you think that the dog is in fact sensing something else going on?

Thank you Aurora bell my cat has not got eating problems it's the dog who is so worried about the cat she is not eating we have tried to give treats to both cats and both dogs together which they like but when it comes to the dogs meal time the cats are already locked up for the night as there beds are in the porch and the dogs have a nice shed were they sleep otherwise they are all in the house together but if Gizmo the cart moves Sleet will follow her and that's the problem because if she is out of the way the dog will not eat but if she can see the cat it's the same,my daughter says its my fault but it happens with her also. I`M also proud to be Canadian xx

Well that's a strange situation. I'm not sure what else I can offer, aside from feeding the dog behind a closed door. Just so she is not constantly searching for the cat.

Maybe someone else will come by with a response. Best of luck! :)

P.S. We LOVE pictures! ;)

Thank you for your help,will try your idea by putting a curtain up on the door and window with luck this will work. All the best Rikki xx

If that doesn't work you could try feeding the dog and the cat side by side at the same time. The dog wouldn't be looking for the cat because it is right next to her eating.

Thank you Shazamataz my daughter will never go for that with meals but yesterday while the cats had there dinner in the afternoon we gave the dogs little treats it did keep her mind of the cat for a micro second and if I give to many treas she will be rather large lol but I do thank you for your adsvise, take care xx