What is the sudden problem between my cat and puppy?

Urgency:Need to know

Category: Behavior & Training

Asked by: Christine (kikgirl2) 1 year ago

My cat (I have 2, this one is the alpha)and my puppy have always gotten along, but respected each other's space (although my puppy is constantly trying to befriend the cat and is already good buddies with the other one). They have been getting along even better lately, yet last night, for honestly no apparent reason (my puppy was minding her own business, playing with her toy away from the cat) my cat just decided to chase my puppy, hissing at her and acting really mean. Of course I didn't help things with all of my shouting, but my puppy was scared to pieces and the cat just kept chasing until I sprayed her with water. Yet she acted scared too, of a certain area actually, like something scared her too (why chase the puppy though?). I just don't get it, we have had the puppy since winter and have never had this happen, ever. I usually am pretty knowledgeable with animal behavior, but this has me baffled as we are usually a big happy family. The cat acted scared for a bit after that, and all is fine today, but you can still tell there's some leftover tension. Any suggestions, or if this has happened to you and you would like to share, would be great. I don't want to lock anyone up and I just want them all to get along again!! ?? I want to keep this isolated incident just that, isolated!