09/02/2026
Why "Gets Along With Cats" Is a Safety-Critical Policy at Flatwallet Farms
When we ask if your dog gets along with cats, we aren’t asking if they simply tolerate seeing one across the room or live in the same house without incident. We are asking about high-prey-drive reactions, sudden movement triggers, and absolute safety.
Back during spring break, we boarded a husky whose owners assured us got along fine with cats at home. However, when our resident cat, Barn Kitty (BK), jumped down from her elevated feeding station, the husky’s prey drive was instantly triggered, and the dog grabbed her right by the head.
At first, BK appeared relatively uninjured—just a bit beat up with no initial obvious puncture wounds. But severe animal bites frequently lead to hidden deep-tissue trauma:
1 Week Later: An abscess erupted in BK's ear where the tooth pressure damaged the internal muscle structure.
5 Months Later: A second major abscess blew through the side of her face along a hidden track of infection left by the original bite.
Current Status: BK is on a strict treatment regimen of weekly antibiotic injections and deep-wound flushing to clear the infection track. If this fails, she faces extensive reconstructive surgery.
Financially, that single boarding stay generated $275 in revenue, while BK’s medical care has already exceeded $500—and continues to mount. Beyond the financial loss, the unnecessary physical trauma to our animals is unacceptable.
What This Means for Boarding & Care
Moving forward, we must know your dog's exact, honest history around cats before intake.
Movement Triggers Matter: Living peacefully alongside a calm, inactive cat does not equal safety around a cat that jumps, runs, or startles easily.
Full Transparency is Mandatory: If your dog has ever lunged, chased, nipped, or fixed intensely on a cat or small animal, you must inform us prior to booking.
Strict Evaluation: We reserve the right to decline or strictly isolate any dog demonstrating high prey drive or unpredictable behaviors around smaller farm animals.
Our priority is maintaining a safe, stress-free environment for every animal under our roof. Thank you for helping us protect all the pets—big and small—that call our facility home.
