I am five months in to my role as Cat Butler. In truth, though, since we’ve only been a fully integrated household for one week (wahooo!! more on that later!!), I’m still new to a lot of the cat proclivities. And I’m noticing quite a few differences between Newt and the boys.
The dogs are oafish. They knock into furniture. They knock over furniture. They bump into me, into each other, into the walls and doors and laundry baskets.
She tip-toes soundlessly, materializing periodically to startle me, then she slinks off to do quiet cat things.
The dogs plod around the house. They follow me from room to room. Even when I walk into a room, forget what I was going for, go back to my desk, then remember what I was looking for and go back… they’re with me.
The cat appears, examines the room, then – once in a while – settles in with us, though usually she slinks off, again, to her cat things.
The dogs are brutish. They’re loud and clumsy. I don’t think I’ve ever not known their exact location in the house. They’re frequently gnawing on each other’s head/neck/leg.
Newt? I can search for her everywhere and not find her, until she surfaces as I make a snack.
The dogs demand attention. They nudge my hand off the keyboard. They paw my leg when I’m on the phone. They stick their heads in my lap until I pat/scratch/kiss them.
The cat prefers not to be touched. Except sometimes. But only on her head. And for three seconds at a time. Or else.
The dogs vote Team Blake. The cat votes Team Ceelo.
Despite their differences, they share one thing in common that’s so strong it’s become the tie that binds: cheese. Well, food in general. All four team up against me at 7 am and 5 pm to insist upon their bowls being filled, utilizing a combination of meowing and pawing and pacing that is impossible to ignore. Once Emmett learns Newt can get the lid off the treat jar, I’m sunk.
Those of you with multi-pet households? What differences have you noted? Are your cats and dogs taking on each other’s habits? Or are they totally different?
The most surprising similarity I found between the two species was sleep. Up until four years ago I’d only been a life-long cat staffer and took for granted how much time the warm, bony pillows spent curled snoozing. When Hershey came on the scene I discovered my new dog doing much the same thing! Why wasn’t this mentioned in any of the brochures?! Dogs were active, I thought; dogs were giddy; dogs were always on the go! Those first two are generally true but only between massive amounts of time taken up hogging the bed or couch(es).
Cats do get bursts of energy and going running around the house; I don’t know if Newt has done that for you yet. When she does, keep a close eye on how the dogs react since she’ll be doing a very good impression of prey. I haven’t’ had anything serious happen between species in the house but I’m still cautious.
I’m glad your plan for integrating your pets has worked out! Keep it up!
Thanks, Erik! Newt’s gotten the “zoomies” frequently, but while she was upstairs and the boys were downstairs, they could only hear it… that is, until two nights ago! 🙂 She took off in laps all over the house. Cooper definitely decided it was a game of CHASE, exactly like he plays with Lucas, which didn’t go over well with Newt. Do you step in? Or let it play out? I’m walking that thin line between allowing them to get to know each other without too much intervention on my part… versus… keeping everyone safe!
Because Hershey is SO much bigger than the cats I generally step in when she is interacting poorly with them; much as I do at the dog park when things get a little too exciting. Graham is about the same size as the cats (except for his ridiculous stilt-like legs) and at times thinks he IS a cat (never mind the barking and play bows). When he attempts to play with the cats they generally sit stock still and/or hiss and bat at him. If I see him getting too wound up I’ll call him off too.
My cat is actually a lot like a dog. Totally ungraceful, loud, follows us everywhere. The dog would prefer to curl up in our bed all day long and sleep.
Except when people come to visit.
That’s so funny and very, very sweet! 🙂
This may have opened up a whole post idea for peaceabull. In our household our cats actually outnumber the dogs, though it is very much a dog’s world.
Our oldest cat, Boo Kitty, considers Kevin her personal servant.
She will stand at his bedside screaching at him at any time during the night. (Usually 3 am) What does she want? She wants him to walk her to the food bowls, stand there and watch her eat.
Jae will push against any body part he can in order to be pet and will often meow to be picked up.
Ray will stalk squirrels in the back yard. Still dog-oafish, but it is definitely a commando-cat type of stalk.
My animals are obviously having a breed identity crisis.
Please, please post about it! I can’t wait to read about their identity crises!
Have you ever heard people say that all cats are female and all dogs are male? Now you know why. 🙂
I suspect a cat is in our future, Honey likes them very much and I suspect a cat would fit better into life aboard a sailboat than another dog. I’ll keep this post in mind for the future.
Woo hoo!
Oooh! That sounds exciting!! I can’t wait to hear about that process, and I’d LOVE your thoughtful take on caring for cats.
Congratulations on your integration! I know exactly how difficult it can be and I only had one of each to worry about.
My cat and dog couldn’t be more different in their perspectives and reactions to the world. It’s pretty fascinating to watch them interact, as well. Since their body language is also quite different they seem interpret each other’s behaviour in ways the other did not intend, one thinking like a dog and the other like a cat. It can lead to disputes at times, just as it can between humans who speak another language.
So glad your crew is getting along!
Thanks, Kristine! And YES!!! They are totally misinterpreting each other’s cues. Cooper sees Newt flick her tail, and he’s like, “Jump! Chase! Play!” whereas she’s like, “I’ll cut you.” I’m hoping over time they learn to reach each other better?
The only difference in our house is that I have yet to see our dogs sitting calmly next to our cats. Our dogs love the cats, the cats hate the dogs because they’re big, wiggly, loud, and they’re always snuffing them.
HA! And Newt seems to think these guys smell. It offends her. 🙂
This post was hilarious! I loved all the photographs, especially the one with all of them lined up for food. That cracked me up and I get the same scene here when it comes to feeding time. Glad to know that I am not the only one with silly dogs!
Their stomachs are the most accurate clocks in the whole house, that’s for sure!
Of course, don’t they all have a love of food in common! I think ours are more the same than different now. Beagles can be independent like cats, and our cat Samantha likes to hang around us sometimes like a dog. Our cats are klutzy, and not graceful at all. They like to steal the dogs’ treats, and the dogs like to get a nibble of their cat food when they are done eating.
It is so great to see the photo of Newt sitting there with all three dogs!!!