Conference misery::feline_v1

    Welcome to feline, David!  I really enjoyed your story and hope
    to hear more of Cai & Co.  I love all animals so I'm happy to
    hear any animal stories, not just cat stories!
      Nancy DC
    

    I've been wanting to put an entry into this conference about my new
    puppy and my cats.  I'm at a real loss about what to do about this...
    I have two female cats (1 calico and 1 black "mutt") and just two weeks 
    ago I got myself an 8-week old Lhasa Apso for my birthday.
    
    When I first brought C.J. home, the cats were interested in sniffing
    and investigating, but when the puppy realized that the cats were there
    he started doing puppy stuff (jumping, wiggling, panting, etc.) and the
    cats just ran away.  They didn't hiss or spit, they just ran away.
    
    I know it's only been a couple weeks, but the cats aren't showing ANY
    signs of accepting C.J. in the near future.  They still avoid him like
    the plague (staying on the furniture or my waterbed, where they're out
    of puppy reach!!) and C.J. can't hardly stand it.   He wants to play
    with my cats SO bad, and when they run away from him he just sits down
    and whimpers real pitifully.
    
    My cats won't even come around ME anymore!  They used to sleep on the
    bed, and curl up on the couch with me (things that C.J. does now) and I
    don't know how to show my cats that I can love them and C.J. at the
    same time!!   I still play with my cats, I still pick them up and give
    'em kisses, I still pay a lot of attention to my cats .... but ONLY
    when C.J. is sleeping or in another room.  As soon as C.J. comes into
    the room where we are, they bolt to the nearest high spot.
    
    Does anyone have any wonderful suggestions on how to get my cats to
    accept this typical ENERGETIC puppy???
    
    I'd appreciate any help.
    
    Kelley
    mom of Underfoot, Jellybean and now C.J.!!

    Maybe CANINE would have some ideas.
    

    continuation of 2443.2 ... C.J., Underfoot and Jellybean
    
    I forgot to mention that I had called C.J.'s breeder and she told me
    that she also breeds Persians, so C.J. was VERY used to being around
    cats.  She told me that C.J. grew up with kittens, cats and everything
    in between (canary's too!)
    
    So, I don't know if C.J.'s being to "puppy-rough" with my cats (cause
    that's what he's used to), or if my cats are just too "soft" to handle
    a bouncy, wiggly puppy.
    
    Just thought I'd add this footnote.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Kelley

    Thanks for the suggestion, does anyone know which node CANINE resides
    on?

    Canine is on CVG::Canine.
    
    Jo

    Gee, I wish I could help, but I only have cats - no doggies.
    
    E.T.

    the best bet would be (i used to have dogs n cats of various sizes)
    is to make sure your attention is divided among all your
    pets--especially the cats as they are the ones who are reshuffling
    their place in the home, and to give it time.  the puppy is just
    to rambunctious for the cats now, i am sure and they will learn
    he is no threat to them soon enough.  it just takes a lot of time
    but the re-org will eventually settle down and you'll have three
    co-existing pets.
    
    kim

Hi!
	We had 2 cats (still do) when we added 2 Alaskan Malamute puppies to
   our family.  What we did was provide 'safe' areas for the cats and went out
   of our way to prevent the playful pups from rough-housing with them.  

	The cats trust us not to let the puppies over-run them and the pups
   learned that trouncing the cats was unacceptable (& they aren't chew toys
   either!).  It seemed like forever, but the cats became very relaxed around
   the puppies (who started out at 12+ lbs and matured to 80lb/110lb 
   respectively) and play with the dogs.  Our outside kitty would even visit 
   the male in his kennel - climb up the nearest tree and jump in to play, get
   washed, and cuddle. 

	Since then we fostered 3 Husky/Lab puppies and took the same approach.
   We've kept one of those puppies... unfortunately, he really thinks the cats
   are other puppies to rough-house with, so we have to make time to rough-house
   with him or be prepared to 'remind' him of the house rules.

	If you can, I'd suggest giving your cats more individual time without
   your puppy present.  A little reassurance went along way with our two.  They
   aren't being displaced, just getting another playmate (or two or three or...
   ;-).  Good luck!!

					-Caroline

    Thanks for the suggestions!  It's nice to know that this won't go on
    forever.  
    
    I brought him to the office with me this morning, and he just stole
    everyone's heart!  I had put him on my desk for about 10 seconds and he
    was sooo excited that he jumped on a full glass of water before I had a
    chance to catch him... what a mess!  I'm surprised that my keyboard
    still works....
    
    Thanks again for the advice.
    
    Kelley

    
    
    Hi there!  Boy can I sympathize with you.  Last July we acquired
    a bouncing, wiggly puppy on a camping trip.  When will I learn?
    It seems that every time I take my horse on an out of state trail
    ride, I come home with another addition to the family!
    
    When we got home not only did we have to deal with two cats that
    were left at home (with a drop-in sitter) for 5 days but we had
    the audacity to bring home a p-u-p-p-y.  Luckily he was much smaller
    than they are and he immediately got submissive with them.  In his
    puppy way he tried to entice them into a game of chase.  They just
    stared and headed for higher ground, a chair.
    
    Well Stark (the pup) will be a year old at the end of this month.
    He has grown to a hefty 60 lbs. and can put his paws on my shoulders
    when he stands up (welllll that seems tall to me! I'm only 5'1").
    The cats accept Stark, sort of.  He's still very much a puppy, full
    of exuberance, loves to play, eat, bounce, you know puppy stuff.
    
    Escho, who is the shyer of the two won't brook any nonsense from
    Stark.  Although she will touch him occasionally with a paw or sniff
    him when he's calm.  Though the other day I though I'd die laughing.
    Anytime I go to the bathroom I get an escort. I was in there taking
    a shower and Escho was snoozing on the open towel shelf (within
    dog distance).  Stark came in after I got out, Escho just looked
    at him.  I thought, 'finally they have come to an understanding.
    Peace at last.' HAH!  Stark looked down at Escho and blapped her
    right on the head, face and back with his paw.  The look on her
    face was priceless.  'What d'ya do that for?'  He looked at her
    like 'Tag, your it!' Then he did it again.  Escho promptly got up
    and sat in the window looking at me like 'Ma, did you see what he
    did to me?'
    
    Brandy on the other hand, is mellowing out.  He and Stark have a
    catch me if you can game going.  Brandy is a long cat and weighs
    in at 17 lbs.  As long as Stark is sleeping he'll jump on the bed
    with me and curl up for a while then jump up on the headboard (we
    have a waterbed).  Stark loves to buzz through the house when he
    comes in off the run and once I saw something right out of the
    cartoons.  Brandy was walking through the room, Stark was headed into
    the same room.  Brandy didn't move out of the way quick enough and got
    tangled in Stark's feet.  Stark headed in to the kitchen.  Brandy
    got up, shook himself and looked in Stark's direction as if to say
    'Dang, fool dawg!'  When all of a sudden Stark came tearing through
    the other way and got Brandy again.  You could see the question
    marks over his head.  By then I was laughing so hard, I couldn't
    do anything. Escho looked down at the whole scene like 'Boys!'
    
    For the most part, if YOU can survive puppyhood, you'll be doing
    well.  Yes, they do settle down or so I'm told.  Stark loves his
    kitties and they seem to love him - from a distance when he's awake.
    They have taken to sleeping on the bed with him.  Matter of fact
    I think that all started when I was home sick in bed for a week.
    Everyone took turns comforting me and I woke up with a dog on one
    side, a cat on the other side and a cat at my head.  I just couldn't
    roll over.
    
    The trick is to give everyone equal time and not have anyone feeling
    left out.  They do get jealous.  I talk to the other ones not being
    held as well.  I try to give them each a new toy at the same time.
    Though when Stark was real young I discovered he liked the kitties
    toy on the end of string better than his ball.  It was tied to the
    refridgerator door but he would bring it into the living room and
    let it fly.  Imagine my surprise when I saw this flying saucer headed
    right for my face.  I ducked just in time only to see Stark bouncing
    in the room, grab it and do it again.  Great toy Mom!
    
    Well enough stories for now.  Enjoy the kids, there's NEVER a dull
    moment.  And try not to worry about the scraps they get into.  I
    try not to interfere unless it sound like it's getting out of hand.
    
    TTFN,
    
    Roslyn, Escho, Brand and Stark