Self-indulgent pet thread

[CRI]

I think she'll be okay - eventually. He's confined to the kitchen at the moment, partly because he's not 100% housetrained (i.e. is scent marking occasionally - I think neutering will help with that,) and partly to give him a small space to adjust to at first. Breeze has the rest of the house to herself. She's walked by the kitchen door a few times and given me a, "Good God, it's still in there, isn't it?" look, but I think her squishy little nose is just a bit out of joint. After a few days, once they've got used to each others' smells and he's settled in more, I'll do the introduction proper. Any advice welcome though.

 

[CRI]

He just did the tiniest crap I've ever seen when we were out. This is a very good thing as far as I'm concerned! #tinydogbenefits

 

[BoatieBird]

Aww, Hello Charlie
How old is he CRI ? Is he a pup or a rescue?

 

[CRI]

Aww, Hello Charlie
How old is he CRI ? Is he a pup or a rescue?

He's 16 months, a Taurus! I contacted the breed rescue, but no Paps were available. However, I was put in touch with a lady who shows them who had a little guy who wasn't fitting in - was intended for her granddaughter to show, but he didn't quite cut it and wasn't fitting in very well with the rest of the pack. A bit like Breeze's situ. The granddaughter grilled us before agreeing to the adoption though, and rightly so!

 

[Cribynkle]

I think she'll be okay - eventually. He's confined to the kitchen at the moment, partly because he's not 100% housetrained (i.e. is scent marking occasionally - I think neutering will help with that,) and partly to give him a small space to adjust to at first. Breeze has the rest of the house to herself. She's walked by the kitchen door a few times and given me a, "Good God, it's still in there, isn't it?" look, but I think her squishy little nose is just a bit out of joint. After a few days, once they've got used to each others' smells and he's settled in more, I'll do the introduction proper. Any advice welcome though.

The only advice I have is for introducing cats to each other but I'm sure it's similar for a big cat and a small dog.

Let them get used to each other's smells - swapping blankets around is the best way to do this
Let them see each other before they're introduced face to face
Introduce them to each other slowly (I'm always too impatient to do this properly)
If Breeze is getting stressed a Feliway plug in may help
When mine aren't getting on, I do a breaking of the bread and feed them together. Either a meal or treats, if there's a choice of eating or fighting, mine will always choose eating.

I'm sure you know all this anyway. And the biggest advice I have is that when you think it's all going horribly and they're going to hate each other always, you're wrong. They will get along alright, it may just take a bit of time. Good luck!

 

[Shirl]

Next door's cat, in our flat, about to help herself to our breakfast

It's lucky for her we're too soft for our own good

 

[ddraig]

the 2 cats, think sisters that visit often, not had both the same time for a while tho

 

[Callie]

I think she'll be okay - eventually. He's confined to the kitchen at the moment, partly because he's not 100% housetrained (i.e. is scent marking occasionally - I think neutering will help with that,) and partly to give him a small space to adjust to at first. Breeze has the rest of the house to herself. She's walked by the kitchen door a few times and given me a, "Good God, it's still in there, isn't it?" look, but I think her squishy little nose is just a bit out of joint. After a few days, once they've got used to each others' smells and he's settled in more, I'll do the introduction proper. Any advice welcome though.

I was chatting to a guy at a rescue centre about a situation the other way around (introducing cats to a home with dogs in it). His advice was you need to control the dog as much as possible and be able to get and keep the dogs attention in the first place and then keep this up in the presence of the cat. He suggested having human food treats (bits of sausage, chopped liver ) that you can also eat in front of the dog thus enforcing hierarchy as you can eat some while the dog is watching and the dog will want it more. Im probably not explaining very well!! He was also saying the cat must have high up places it can retreat to where the dog cant get at it. He suggested slow, controlled introductions where the cat is out of the way in the room and the dog was on a lead and being distracted by the foods.

It wasnt advice for me, I was asking for a friend who has two springer spaniels and has more recently acquired three cats and is having some issues integrating them all as one of the dogs REALLY likes chasing small fluffy things. Currently the house is spilt in two cat land vs dog land. One dog is behaving reasonably well during supervised introductions but the other dog.... not so good :/

 

[CRI]

Thanks Cribynkle and Callie for the suggestions. I think taking things slooooowly is the key here. It's a slightly unusual situation because Charlie is so much smaller than Breeze and she's not afraid of him - just annoyed by him I think. I'm more worried that she will do him harm than other way round. We put a puppy gate across the kitchen, so she can see him - but is giving him the death stare she uses on other cats! He's not overly bouncy and not the least bit dominant, so hopefully he'll stay calm enough that when they eventually are nose to nose, all will be fine. I've done the toy swapping and tried feeding them both treats while in the same room (Charlie on my lap, Breeze next to OH.) Breeze hogged down her treats but Charlie seemed nervous about eating while she was glaring at him. Otherwise though, his appetite has picked up today.

Interestingly enough, I was a bit worried that Charlie didn't seem to know how to play. This evening though, I started flinging toys around the kitchen and he started attacking a rubber chicken! He went out in the garden off the lead and for the first time, went a bit mad - immediately picked up how to fetch the ball (and drops it at your feet straight away - I think another sign of non-dominance.) When Papillons run, it really looks like they are flying! Hoverpups!

Tomorrow, the little dude gets the snip. Hopefully he'll start to put on more weight.

Charlie at the beach this afternoon.

 

[fishfinger]

He's really pretty

 

[two sheds]

the ears

 

[Callie]

Ive stroked a few papillions and they do seem like lovely natured dogs. Not the normal demeanour you might expect from a little dog, calm and confident but gentle and delicate. I would like one myself Im sure you know what youre doing CRI with introducing them. Has he met the pigs yet?

 

[CRI]

He poked his nose through the bars of the pigs' cage yesterday. Malcolm came up to "introduce himself" but Charlie sort of got bored and then ignored them.
True, Papillons don't seem to be like other tiny dogs - not yappy, not snippy. They're spaniels, but I think there's something of a herding dog in there as well. In the back garden, he was behaving a bit like a shrunken border collie, sort of "herding" his humans.

Malcolm - quite excited about having a new pet.

 

[Manter]

Malcolm <3

 

[trabuquera]

the ears

Cool furry ears are standard on a CRI pet. (except maybe the geeps.)

CRI: hope it all goes really well. You might end up doing a bit of cattification by building a ledge or cat runway (if things get problematic and Breeze seems cheesed by the invasion of space - so she can just remove herself from that yappy thing's presence). If your space/patience/budget/landlord allows for it. But hopefully no building work will be needed!

 

[CRI]

Well, we have almost total Dog Cat Cat Dog integration! Charlie was slightly subdued when he got back from the vets. Kind of let them find their own level. It was quite sweet to watch. Here are some edited highlights!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

 

[CRI]

I just had to swiftly make Charlie some impromptu boxer shorts out of a dishcloth. The "cone of shame" squashed his ears too much and he just sat in the middle of the room not moving. But, I had to do something to make sure he wouldn't get at the incision site. Off to Build a Bear tomorrow for some proper pants.

Edit: OH took a photo after taking them off this morning. Oh, the indignity!

 

[ddraig]

awww, wow! good job! so soon too
great pics

 

[CRI]

awww, wow! good job! so soon too
great pics

I was quite pleased myself. I think taking time for them to get used to one another was the key - so grateful for all the advice above!

I still can't let Charlie roam free in the house though. This morning, he peed/scent marked near Breeze's feeding station and against the bedroom door. Thankfully on lino so easy to clean, but I ain't having that going on. I'm hoping he just needs time to recover from the op and will get the hang of where and where not to piss, but again, would welcome any advice on this.

(Sorry if this is becoming CRI's self-indulgent pet thread!)

 

[ddraig]

don't apologise! please keep posting pics and updates of the menagerie!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

breeze often seems to look faintly miffed.

this looks like a whole new level of pussed off, though...

 

[ddraig]

such a good pic
face front! dog looks sideways a bit bricking it

 

[Orang Utan]

breeze often seems to look faintly miffed.

this looks like a whole new level of pussed off, though...

Best photo ever

 

[CRI]

It was just one of those hilarious moments and I was lucky enough to catch it.

They've been fine today - mostly staying out of each others' way, but amiable enough when crossing each others' paths. I don't think they'll become bosom buddies any time soon, but at least not sworn enemies!

 

[CRI]

OH found some pyjamas at Build a Bear with bottoms about the right size. I've cut a bigger tail hole so it should be more comfy than the home made pants from last night.

Someone thought it was a good idea to try the top on him first . . .

 

[Puddy_Tat]

OH found some pyjamas at Build a Bear with bottoms about the right size. I've cut a bigger tail hole so it should be more comfy than the home made pants from last night.

Someone thought it was a good idea to try the top on him first . . .

what's that picture of the meepsters in the background?!

 

[CRI]

what's that picture of the meepsters in the background?!

It's a portrait of Griff and Malcolm I got for Christmas year before last, yes!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

 

[CRI]

Well, they're starting to get on better, or at least are more comfortable being close. What's weird is that Breeze "talks" to him in a strange way - a high pitched squeak of a meow, which she's never done before (rarely meows at all, mostly trills.) These are from last night and earlier tonight.

And Charlie attacking his new favourite toy - Pinkie.

Oddly enough, Griff isn't overly enamoured of Charlie, and Griff loves everyone. Kind of strange that!