Crying like a little moron again... dog and my kitties
Yesterday I started crying over my pets. This always seems to happen when I get a new one - the transition phase where my old pets are mad at me for getting a new pet - and my new pet is not totally bonded to me yet. 
That... and I want Halifax to sleep on top of my head while I sleep again.  I really miss him. I just wish they would all get over it and be friends for goodness sake. I have to keep Momo's crate in my room I guess - so I can shush her at night. That keeps the kitties out of my room though (and keeps them from the only place for them that they enjoyed staying).
 That... and my DAD decided to toss their cat tree out the door and into the mud! Now they have no where to scratch until I can get them a new one! And he is mad because they are scratching up the couches! This goes right down with him tossing out the litter boxes I bought for my cats!
As far as the introductions have gone Momo bit Kiley's tail last night to my horror... He was being very nice and sitting still and letting her sniff him in typical dog fashion too (enthusiastically and down right pushy!)! He was being so patient and Brad was holding her to make sure she didn't get too enthusiastic (jumping on him etc) I just couldn't believe that she did that! I keep trying to introduce them a little at a time - but it is so difficult when she keeps jumping at them (even with a lead on) and barking (it startles them). I know she is trying to play with them (she does the play bow)... but I have no idea what to do. Do I let her off the lead and let them scratch the daylights out of her? Or do I let her go up to them and possibly let her injure them? When are they going to be friends? Am I going to have to wait for another week or a month? |
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| Don't get discouraged...
I know this is hard as I brought dogs in to my house with Cats. My best advice is let Momo off the lead. Let the Cats scratch her or do what they are going to do, but make sure you are there and supervising. This will be the only way the Cats have to show Momo who is boss in the house. Momo will eventually learn that if she messes with the Cats they will get revenge  ..lol It may take a while and I know it can be frustrating. It will all work out in the end.
Keep your chin up!! What is Dad's problem? Elissa |
| Oh Integra! Just try to be patient. Not sure whats up with your dad, but what can you do... Don't try to interfere with the dog cat interactions too much. Although supervision is required to prevent serious injuries, you need tolet them work things out for themselves- the more you let them do that, the faster everyone will learn to get a long. Iris hated me for about 2 weeks after I brought Bell home, but now she loves her (well most of the time- Bell has her moments...). It's the best thing I could have done for her. And she was back to being my snuggle bunny by the end of the 2 weeks. Just hang in there and enjoy your puppy!
Karen  |
| Don't worry, it'll get better. I felt like Lucy hated me for the first month that we got Clyde. She wouldn't eat and she was just acting really out of character and I had a big breakdown too. Now they've learned to live together and Lucy's back to normal. I think she even likes having someone around to play with too. I know how you feel though. I still worry that I don't give her enough attention so sometimes I have "all Lucy" days and I let my boyfriend be Clyde's buddy for the day. It makes her feel important. Usually I'll take her for a car ride and buy her a hamburger and then we go for a walk in the park. I know you can't really do that with kitties but maybe you can move her crate outside your room for an hour or so and just spend some time with the kitties like you used to before Momo.
I'd also suggest just letting her off the lead. Let her explore on her own and she'll learn to understand the cats' limits and vice versa. It might be stressful to watch at first but give it time! |
| Hi Integra,
Don't worry, they will eventually be friends. We just brought 2 more Ragdolls into our home 2 weeks ago, and they are already becoming friends. When you introduce your himi's to Momo, try and do it at a time when Momo has had lots of playtime and she is worn out from it. Then spread a little cat nip in front of her while she rests, and let the kitties come up to Momo on their own. You might also put the same bath powder on the cats and Momo, so they all smell the same. As for the scratching posts, try lots of different things, try the one's with sisal rope, and spread cat nip all over it. Also try the cardboard ones as well, some of my cats love the sisal, some like the cardboard better. I also have one who loves carpet.... But the solution, was getting the carpet samples that are like a foot squared, and putting catnip on those, so the cat realizes, the rest of the carpet is off limits, but this square of carpet is his. That would be the last tactic, because the carpets can take a scratching until the kitty learns. A spray bottle on hand at all times with a firm no, and then take the kitty where he is supposed to scratch at.
Another great thing, is keep the kitty nails clipped. Use a regular human clipper, but clip straight up and down, not sideways or the nail will splinter. You can also try the softclaws....a material that goes over the cats claws, and saves furniture and makes parents happy.  They are sold at Petsmart and Petsco, places like that.
Don't feel too bad, I also have a Dad who was like that when I was growing up, he didn't have the same love and patience I did for my furry friends. I do know how you feel. If you ever need to talk or don't mind me rambling on about cats...LOL...email me.
Good luck with all of your babies!! PS. Your avatar is cute!! Stormi and co. |
| Ditto on things returning to normal...in fact Chris is now more clingy then before we got Pooh. Last night she decided to sleep in the covers with me between me and my wife. She is a character. |
Actually - my cats are GREAT with scratching posts!  I started them early and I can put whatever I want infront of them and scratch it myself and they do it. I reward them with attention each time and it really works. I never ever had to use catnip in my life.
I'm currently triming their nails etc etc... The problem is... my dad TOSSED the scratching post out. One part of it had broken off - and I told him I would fix it. Hammer and nails would have done the trick. He told me "Don't worry about it, I'll fix it." He fixes it by tossing it out in the mud while it was raining!
Problem: My father is absolutely nuts! He tossed out their scratching post. He tossed out their litter boxes once we got the litter maid (even though I bought them). I would scoop them everyday - but he would freak out if they used it even once! I tried twice a day but it still didn't help any.  I told him that I would use them later on for when I left... He tells me "ok!" *toss into the trash after he breaks them!*
He did the same thing with Momo's crate! When we got her we spent the day showing her off - and when we got home we put the crate in the living room because afterwords we had to go to play practice. We stayed there until 11 pm... >_< Got home - took her for a long walk, took a bath with her in the room... etc etc... went to sleep at 1 am - got up to walk her at 5 am... I'm totally awake by 7... and he knocks on my door asking me "Hey? What are you going to do with this crate? Are you going to move it?" I tell him - Yes! I'm going to probably use it to put the cats in later. Let me put my clothes on and I'll be right out there to move it." He "ok"s the idea and I hear a big CRASH outside. You guessed it! He tossed the darn thing into the mud! I swear... there was flames shooting out of my ears. After I got dressed and put my shoes on - I crated Momo and saved the car crate.
My father is crazy... and when I say crazy... I MEAN crazy. He is obsessed with objects and how things look in the house. I take Momo out all the time because I DON'T want her to do anything.  She peed on the floor because she didn't want to go outside the other day - well I took her out anyway so that theory was lost on her part so she hasn't tried that tactic again. But I swear... when she did it I nearly wanted to throw up. I know puppies will have their moments - but with my dad... everything has to be perfect... PERFECT. I cleaned it up - thanking dear God that my dad wasn't home when it happened. *shiver*
He has never said anything about the dog going to the bathroom in the house... but this is how I see it. If he gets mad as heck about the cats using a LITTER BOX... then how would he react if he found out the dog peed on the CARPET? I just want to add that I did not get mad at Momo when she had her accident I was very calm and did what I needed to do... but the inner turmoil was enough for the both of us probably. |
stormi wrote: PS. Your avatar is cute!!
Why thank you! Oooh... do you have any pictures of your Ragdolls? I would love to see them. |
| Thank you everyone for your replies - they make me feel so much better now. I have taken her off the lead or given her more slack with the kitties and she is much better. She tried nipping at Tigger this morning - BIG MISTAKE! He bopped her one this morning - one of those 4-slap-side-to-side moves. Other than that and the hissing and barking it's going a bit better. Not perfect by anymeans - but a little better without the lead. ^_^ I hold new hope for them. |
| My Dad was crazy when I was growing up. If he got mad at me he would come to my room with the garbage can and swipe everything off my dresser and into the garbage. I know how weird Dad's can be. He also had a habit of throwing things...especially when they were not in a place he desired it to be. I totally understand your situation...
Elissa |
| I can understand your situation as well, but that is a soap opera in its self. The only other thing I thought that might would help is......if you are allowed to cut on your bedroom door and put a cat door in it. When you move out, you could replace the door. The litter boxes could be in your room and maybe it wouldn't be an issue for you dad any longer. Also they make the covers for the litter maids, that could help with the odor. Also, arm and hammer makes a powder that helps absorb the odors as well.
Also, maybe keep the kitty toys and posts in your room as well. I wish you well. Hugs, Stormi |
| I grew up with a crazy dad too and I remember being very young thinking about how long it would be until I could move out. Luckily, my mom fixed the problem and divorced him first! It sounds like he makes it pretty stressful for you and poor Momo. Puppies have accidents and that's stressful enough let alone worrying about someone else yelling about it or throwing something in the mud! How old are you Integra? Are you planning on moving out soon? I know you mentioned a fiance before. |
| My dad is almost always worried about how the house looks and about money. It drives my mother and my sister and I insane. He is constantly worried and upset, and he never seems to be happy and carefree. We have two big crates, and he hasn't "done" anything to them....if he feels something is in in the way, he tells someone he wants it moved.
But I feel for you. I agree with letting the dog and cats work it out. I don't have cats--just dogs--but I've had people tell me the dog now know that the kitty is boss after it gave the dog a little scratch on the nose and a "Reow!" to go with it . |
| Hmmmmm... *trying to figure out how she can fit all of that in her room* I think I can do it if I move Momo's food dishes out.
The only problem with bringing in the litter box in my room is this: If it doesn't smell in the common area... he will actually GO into my room and says it smells horrible! Of course it's right after they potty.  I am going to figure this out though.
The kitty door is a good idea... I don't think I could talk my dad into it even if I said I would replace the door though... but it's worth a try. I could buy some skinny posts and put them in the corners of the house where they can't be seen... then I can get a couple bigger ones to put in my room. I'm going to start making Halifax come into my room again at night so he can get used to it again. She doesn't bark in her crate so there isn't much she can do to scare him anyway. I'm currently having problems keeping their toys in my room though. Momo keeps picking them up and they are very small. I am afraid she might swallow them and choke. I have no idea how to get her to stop as of yet. They like the dangly toys better though - so maybe if I get a really tall one... |
| I'm 22 yrs old and I have a fiance named Brad. I'm still working on my Lib Studies degree (so I can at least teach as a sub). After Fall semester is over... I'm so out of here. I'll be counting the days.
I was so mad when my dad yelled about Brad being over. We have been very good at making him go home when he needs to - very good about not comming over too much. Since Momo has arrived we've had to stay home so we can take care of her - not to mention papers are due and finals are comming up. I swear... it's times like these where I keep loving him more and more. He has taken care of Momo while I've taken a nap... played with her while I was studied. He has been nothing short of wonderful and a life saver. I really look forward to the day when Momo has had all her shots and we can finally take her out to petsmart and the like. I loooooove going there and to the park... and the beach... ^_^ I think it will be wonderful when I can start my life with Brad - and I can take my babies away from all this drama. |
| Hi!
I just tried a new kitty litter, and thought it might help your situation. It's by "nature's miracle" (the people who make potty cleanup spray). It's really awesome!!! It's a clumping litter (so it works in the automatic kitty boxes too) but it isn't clay based. It's made of some soprt of organic product- which is wood colored, and it smells AWESOME like yummy pine stuff. It's actually nice to look at, and the color sort of camoflages the waste- so in the 10 minuted before the rake cleans out the litter, you don't even really notice it isn't clean! Best of all- no dust, and no little litter granules all over the floor that, if they get wet, clump on the floor, get into the carpet, and get into the grout (or whatever else they happen to be on!) I bought it on a whim to try to romance Iris into more regular use of her litter pan, but I really really like this litter! It may help you with Dad's obsessive nose
Karen |
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