Cat anxious around senior dog

A dog that's become less mobile is actually a more unsettling change for cats than most people expect. Your LaPerm is used to reading that dog's body language and movement patterns — they've built a mental map of how the dog behaves. When that changes, the cat can't predict the dog anymore, and unpredictability is one of the biggest anxiety triggers for cats. What's the dog's situation specifically — is it arthritis, post-surgery recovery, or something longer-term? And what are you seeing from your cat: hiding, aggression, spraying, something else?

That makes complete sense. The vocalisation is key — those sudden yelps from the dog are unpredictable and startling, and your cat can't tell whether that noise signals danger. Hiding and avoidance mean she's managing her stress by removing herself, which is actually a healthy coping strategy, but it also means she's losing access to a big part of her territory. That's worth addressing before it compounds. A couple of questions: where does she spend most of her time when she is relaxed, and is there a room the dog rarely or never goes into?

Good — that bedroom is your foundation. She has a genuine safe zone, which puts you in a much better position than many people in this situation. What I'd recommend is a Feliway Classic diffuser plugged in specifically in the bedroom, where she's already retreating. Feliway Classic uses a synthetic version of the facial pheromone cats deposit when they rub their face on things — it signals to the cat that this space is safe and familiar. The reason I'm recommending Classic over Feliway Friends (which is designed for multi-pet tension) is that her anxiety isn't primarily about the relationship with the dog — it's about the unpredictability and the loss of territory access. Classic addresses that directly. You leave it plugged in continuously; one refill lasts about 30 days. Give it three to four weeks before expecting to see her venturing downstairs more.

Start with just the bedroom. You want to reinforce the safe space first — if she feels secure there, she'll start extending her range naturally. If after four weeks she's still not coming downstairs at all, then adding a second diffuser in a spot she'd logically pass through — the hallway or bottom of the stairs — makes sense as a second step. But don't try to do both at once. Let the bedroom diffuser do its job first, and give her the time to recalibrate. The product you're looking for is the Feliway Classic Starter Kit — it comes with the diffuser unit and a 30-day refill, and it's the most straightforward version to start with.

A few practical things that cost nothing: make sure she has at least one high perch in the living room — cats feel safer observing from height, and it gives her a way to be in the same room as the dog without being at ground level with him. If there are moments when the dog is settled and quiet, that's the best time to encourage her downstairs with play or food, so she starts building positive associations with the space again. And if the dog is having a harder pain day and vocalising more, don't force any interaction — just let her set the pace. The diffuser handles the background anxiety; these small routines handle the day-to-day trust rebuilding.