The new cat
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About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
Donna, thanks so much for saving this cat's life - she would have been euthanized if you hadn't taken her home!
All of us at PZF are wishing you and Annie O. all the best!
Don't worry about her hiding under the bed. This is normal for most cats in a new environment. This can also happen when you already have had a cat for a while and then move to a new home. Let her have her privacy. Coax her out for meals and treats and pet her so that she associates coming out from under the bed as a positive experience. Cats are all about "territory" so once she feels comfortable she will expand her area of comfort and in about 2 weeks she should be completely comfortable in her new surroundings.
Great Three Step plan for introducing cats to dogs, but it is only for ONE dog and I'd suggest limiting the introductions to one dog at a time based on that. Don't let Tess and Cowboy communicate with each other on their first impressions/impulses for the face to face.
There are some excellent points, such as making sure that the litter pan is out of reach for the dogs (cats don't digest all the protein which renders too much of a temptation to dogs) as well as making sure that you feed cats above floor level and taking care when you feed the dogs so the cat doesn't try to get in and share.
www.thecatsite.com
http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/50/Introducing-Cats-to-Dogs/1.html
and as a last resort....ask Josh how he introduced Rocket to his cat and maybe we'll all get some more Rocket stories?
I've got some big advice, give her a name! Unless you need some advice from your friendly and willing readers?
She is very pretty, keeping her and the dogs separated for a few days but able to get used to the smells of each other is key. Try getting down on the ground with the dogs after handling the cat so they can recognize how you accept the cat by smelling her fresh scent on your clothes while doling out praise to them (as long as their interest is appropriate and not aggressive). My dogs seem to understand the word "baby" and that they should accept and protect the thing being called a baby, do you have any key words for introducing your dogs to young children?
This is one of those times that you have to BE THE PACK LEADER and establish communications that they want to follow so that they please you.
I have a feeling that Cowboy will be just fine but you'll have Tess wanting to herd that funny looking lamb with the bad baa.
You are a wonderful and generous person for so many reasons that get displayed on this blog, but now you've gone and elevated yourself one more notch. One lucky cat, whatever her name is.
Get her a pin brush (& use it), don't make her wear a collar or anything else, and make her life interesting with some treats now and then (e.g.: Whisker Lickin's or similar.) She should love you unconditionally.