This is my family.
It's a typical afternoon. M has locked all of us three dogs and three cats in her bedroom. She does this when she takes care of the kittens. This is no life for a dog! I admit, two of the cats were here before me, so I accept that, but what about all the others? Every new family addition makes me have to wonder about my safety. At just under four pounds, my life is not to be taken lightly. I'm a teacup chihuahua, therefore I'm fragile.
A mixed cat and dog home is not unusual. We live in relative peace and harmony, excluding feeding times which require a lot of door locking and strategic locations. I've even gotten used to the existing cats, despite getting an occasional swat as I go by, but enough is enough mommy dearest!
I heard that M wants to keep all of the remaining kittens and their nursing cat mom. I was hoping for a least another cat adoption, or more so I tried to reason with her. M said her decision is final. We, the dogs, don't agree with that. Our bed is already full. What's going to happen to us next?
The nursing cat and her kittens live at the other end of the house in a room we call "the nursery". The nursery came to be only after the pregnant cat became aggressive towards us, the dogs. M keeps them separate for our safety, but it's been a little over two months now and I understand that both ends of the house are going to have to learn how to live peacefully together. I have my doubts.
The #1 reason to have doubts.
Nursing cats are overprotective of their kittens, and this one is not exception.
Check out her face. She's one intense cat.
A few weeks ago, she jumped and lunged at our largest dog (60lbs). I wonder if I'm next.
This little beauty, the calico kitten that goes by the name of Puddles, is another reason for me to worry.
Miss Alley, the pointed kitten.
Yet another reason to worry. I hear this one's wild!
Mr. T, aka Trouble Splitz
This tuxedo kitten's name says it all. He IS trouble.
Do not let his cute photo fool you!
We're holding a dog meeting this afternoon to come up with either an escape plan or cat and kitten training tips. If any of you have any ideas on how to go about opening the nursery door without much drama, please share your thoughts. At the end of the day I want to be able to exclaim: Venimus, vidimus, vicimus!
Twinkie
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13 comments:
Hi Twinkie! We think that you are right to be cautious, but don't need to be too concerned. Once the kittens are a bit older and the mom is spayed, things will calm down a bit, and with the kittens meeting you so young, they will learn to be nice. And their mom will learn too - it just takes a little time and some discipline (like if she is being threatening give her a nip). And they will all learn from the other three that you are all nice doggies, as long as you are nice to them of course.
We have heard that you can put like vanilla on everyones heads, so everyone smells the same, to keep some peace, but we haven't tried it, and we have only heard that for cats - not sure how it works with the interspecies thing - but there has to be some good advice out there somewhere!
I think you should just buy some catnip. That will take care of your problems (at least until you run out!)
Taking things slow is good, though admittedly I've never tried to introduce multiple dogs to multiple cats before. That is gonna be a whole lot trickier!
Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com
Right now your best strategy is to divide and conquer. The kittens will probably get very attached to the doggies at this age, if the doggies are amenable at all. It's the mom who's the fly in the ointment. She'll be less protective in time, but will it be soon enough for the kitties to think they're doggies. That's the question. I guess the best thing would be for one doggy to have some quality time with one kitten at a time and see if relationships can be fostered. Mom is, at this point, a total crapshoot. What her personality will be after her hormones settle down is a known unknown. Motherhood sometimes makes permanent changes, but no telling yet whether those will for the better or the worse.
lotsa good luck licks, Lola
Twinkie,
I live with two kitties and everything is fine. They didn't have a Mommy until Mommy found them. Now we are one big happy family. It just takes a little time and also I never try to boss the kitties around, they wouldn't stand for it. You've got to admit, those cats and kittens you live with are beautiful!!
Love, Cupcake
Why didn't woo believe me???
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
Please to pass the catchup?
wif love from the Luke
I know your life is very interesting with the addition of the kitties to the family!
Hmmm.... yes.... catnip for all of them...
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
oooooooh :D lovely family
Kissslobbers
El'bow & Hauwii
you got one good looking familia
Benny & Lily
Oh Twink,
We aren't much help on the kitty cat front. When my mom got the first hairless wonder we were very concerned that Bailey out staffy bull would eat the cat. Herod was sequestered in a room away from her. One day I just decided to test out if Baiely would in fact eat Herod... if my mom knew I did that she would have freaked. But all ended well, no one was eaten and all get along.
I think my main concern would be Farrah, I believe the kittens still have time to get to know dogs and like them....
What a tough situation.
xo martine & the kiddlets
Twinkie! This is most irregular. I believe that you need to adopt a cat pound limit in the house. No more than 20 total cat pounds allowed or some such. Either that or you need a few more dogs.
Slobbers,
mango
I know your life is very interesting with the addition of the kitties to the family! Hmmm.... yes.... catnip for all of them... Kisses and hugs Lorenza
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