I am a new owner of a Great Pyrenees that I adopted from the Salt Lake Animal Shelter.  We have had him one week now.  We have two cats that have been in the basement since he arrived.  Everytime they try to come up he chases them back down and when I try to hold them and bring them up he lunges at them.  He is so sweet and so incredibly calm until he sees the cats.  Yesterday one of the cats was brave and came up when he was sleeping.  He woke up and lunged at the cat and I was scratched up in the process.  Now that particular cat is so upset and scared for even me to touch him.  At first I thought he was chasing them in fun but now it does not seem like it and the cats seem in real danger.  From the research I did online before we adopted the dog the information leaned to the idea that this is a great protective dog for children and cats.  I take adopting very seriously and want to make it work but I have had my cats for 8 and 14 years and am not willing for them to have to live in the basement.  If someone with Great Pyrenees experience and able to give sound advice could please respond I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you, Louise