Cat Pecking
My orange tabby cat, Nut Nut who has decided NOT to run away from home, unlike my black cat when Frank arrived, seems to be getting along pretty well with the pup. The cat is indoor/outdoor. If Nut Nut's inside or outside, Frank usually chases him around and when he catches up to the cat he starts pecking at him. Frank pecks at him to try to engage him in play. I know this may sound really annoying behavior, but they do seem to be getting along. The cat is very outgoing and does egg him on a little bit. When they actually stop and do stand together, Nut Nut rubs up against Frank and Frank usually returns the favor by licking him on the head. When Frank gets a little too overbearing, Nut Nut swats at him and Frank usually retreats. Although he does have a tendency to bark at him which I will try to correct. I have to say the interaction between them has actually been pretty funny. I have witnessed people driving by the house pulling their cars over laughing to watch Frank run circles around Nut Nut in the yard. So in the fear that I am being sadistic, do you guys think I should start correcting this cat-interaction behavior now or should I just let them be? I don't know if I should consider this part of them getting along together or if Frank will become really overbearing later. Thanks in advance! |
|
|
| This happened in our house too. When we first got Carl he was smaller than our cat and watching the cat chase the dog was funny. As Carl got bigger the tables turned and he started chasing the cat, (who's name is Chase so what would you expect). The biggest problem now that Carl is a year old is that he doesn't know his own strength. He will hold the cat down or pull on him until Chase yells. We've finally got it to the point that if the cat yells he lets go but for a while there we were very worried that he would seriously hurt the cat because he didn't know any better. We still don't leave them alone together, just in case. |
| Baxter, our two year old sheepie, considers two of our cats to be HIS cats. And like Frank, he will chase these two around the house or "peck" at them to get them to play. Of course, the cats have been known to encourage these actions as when they are bored they will come over and swat at Baxter to get him to play! Nor do any of them pay attention to the size differential.
However, when Baxter does get a bit rough and the cats complain, I do interfere (more for Baxter's sake as the cats have all their claws and will use them). I call Baxter and redirect him to a different toy - a kong, a treat...anything to break him away from playing with the cats. I am also focusing on positive reinforcement - giving a lot of praise when he comes when called and when he plays gently with the cats. He is getting better at playing gently with them but it is taking a long time - and the cats are not helping with the training. I also have two rooms in the house that I have a baby gate set in front of so the cats have a safe haven - for when Baxter gets too excited. I started redirecting Baxter when I realized that he was getting rougher and I didn't want any problems to develop between him and the cats. I was also concerned that if he started playing/chasing the cats outside, that he could go further than I wanted him to (like into the street). I do have to admit though that Baxter's herding instinct is extremely strong so he may not be chasing the cats around the yard. Once several of our indoor only cats got outside (the door wasn't latched and one of them pulled it open) and he herded all of the escapees onto the porch and held them there until I came out. Hey...not everyone can say their dog is skilled enough to herd cats! |
| LOL, so I'm not the only one!
I have one siamese/ragdoll cat who was a rescue I intended to find a home for and never did (I should have sucker tatooed on my forehead) This cat is reallly short on smarts... I don't meant to sound mean, but she really is the dumbest cat I've ever seen. A sweet thing though... Anyway, she is very affectionate to Dancer, who, being an 18 week old oes pup, is a little rougher wtih her 'affections' toward the cat. This cat is so happy that Dancer is paying attention to her she really doesn't care. I've caught Dancer dragging this poor thing across the house by the ear to put the cat with the rest of Dancer's stuffed animals (she likes to herd her toys to one spot) This cat is completely relaxed, lying there without a care in the world, you'd think she was playing dead so the dog would let go, but no, if Dancer lets go and runs off to play with something else, this cat will follow her everywhere and rub up against her and offer to clean her etc. And she never has a mark on her, just drool. Winston, my other cat, is not so fond of drool, and Dancer will torment him as often as possible. I don't want to disrupt the heirarchy they are developing, the pecking order so to speak, but I don't want any of them getting hurt, so I have taken to using a spray bottle full of water to break them up when I think either has had enough or it looks too rough. But with me laughing so hard I doubt any of them are taking me seriously....  |
| Hi,
I loved hearing the story and antics of Nut Nut and the sheepie..I can hear about these types of stories all the time. Sounds like they are good pals. Willowsprite! You post just made me laugh, how humorous it must be to see these two together! I can relate to this post as I have four cats and 3 dogs. So that's 12 relationships I can see going on in the household. Very cute as for some reason two of the cats have taken to sleeping with Blue in the evenings...think they are viewing him as protector of Merlin. He still tries to rough house with two in particular. He leaves old Mama cat alone (a rescue) the kind that leaves terror in a dog's heart..actually they all leave her alone. Merlins best pal is Lil Girl...I received a call last year from the shelter to foster her and her brother. They were quessed to be only TWO hours old. She still hadn't been cleaned off by the mom and they were left in a paper bag on the doorstep. Never did know what became of the mom. She needed feeding round the clock every two hours and ironically Old Mama cat (whom I had only fostered 2 wks before and had spayed) took on the role of her mom (but couldn't feed them due to the recent spaying) Shaggy also cuddled with the two kittens ..so Lil Girl grew up with three surrogate moms...Me, Shaggy and Mama Cat. As a result she rules the house...I kid you not. She will push the dogs out of the way to get their food and they MOVE!!! Funny to see as she's the tiniest one in the household but has absolutely no fear as views herself as Human/cat/dog. Quite the sight to see her and Merlin race around the house...she loves it..and then I feel like she's saying nah nah naaaaaah when she jumps up high..drives him crazy. I only give him the "Leave It" command when he becomes too rough with the other two..one just cowers down and bleets like a sheep..:O( She's the one that needs protection and interference from me. All different relationships and each one has to be modified on how I handle it. Eeks kinda went off topic and not sure if I answered your question. I apologize! >>Goes back to busy household. |
|
Marianne...... |
| Thanks everyone for your stories, they are great. My cat(s) had grown up with an older OES so they didn't realize what puppyhood is all about. The "leave it" command is a good idea if Frank starts getting a little too rambunctious.
I don't mean to bum all of you cat lovers out but on a sad note, we found our missing (after a month) black cat Saturday. Unfortunately he was not alive and it looks as if he never officially "ran away" because of the puppy like I thought he did. He was only a couple doors down laying under someone's "project" car so he went unnoticed all of this time. I was searching right next to this car but for whatever reason we never noticed him under there. We're assuming that he got hit by a car the same night he disappeared and went there to die. We are hoping that it was a quick end for him, and by the position that we found him in, it looks like maybe it was. We are very sad, once again, to lose a family member. He was a really sweet cat and only 6 years old. Hopefully he is reunited with our recently passed OES, Newman once again. |
| Hi Verveup,
I was saddened to hear the ending of your beautiful cat and how sad for all of you. Please accept my condolences. I wish I knew something more to say that can make the grieving less difficult accept to say you are in my thoughts at this time. Marianne |
| Verveup,
My condolences to you and your family on your loss. It is terrible to be left behind when our little loves cross the rainbow bridge. I am sure that your kitty and Newman have been romping together in the sunshine with plenty of times out for treats and good naps. Henry's Mom |
| Willowsprite
I had to send your story to all my dog and cat friends. I have this great picture in my mind of Dancer pulling your cat around by the ear! |
| Debbie,
Sorry for your loss. Give Nut Nut an extra rub behind the right ear for me. Tell your husband to give you a a hug for me, too. -Ron. |
| Thanks everyone for your all of your kind words.
I am fortunate to have/had cats & dogs in my life and you have to love how uniquely different these species are of each other and the different personalities they develop. |
| Hi Debbie,
I just read about your kitty. I am so sorry. I know how much you loved him. I wish for peace for your family. There are a lot of people in the world who don't seem to understand that a loss of pet is a family member passing. How great it is to have all of the pet lovers here to say the kind words to make his loss a little more bearable. All 4 of my cats have completely different purrsonalities, but each one is so loved and special. Jack and Annabelle get along with all 4. O'Malley, my oldest doesn't have much to do with the sheepies, but Toulouse will rub up against them and will let them give him a little bath. The kittens, Berlioz and Marie think that Jack and Annabelle are a cuddly bed and a bath all in one. They are in heaven. I am lucky in that most of the time the whole upright and furry family seem to get along and love each other. I hope that your heart heals soon and that black kitty ( Im sorry I didn't know his name) gave you wonderful memories to hold on to. I hope that came over sincerely. Hugs to your whole family. Stormi and company. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|