MF-boy
Savannah Child
Hi again,
this are more under control, BUT we can't figure out if the cat is still territorial or is simply teaching the rough and clumsy puppy how to interact with him. He would initiate a chasing game, just like they play with the older dog, but because the older dog is very gentle, even being 10 times bigger, he only makes sounds but never played really rough. The puppy is is puppy, clumsy and silly, so the cat gets chased and caught, drops on his side or back and.... Here is what the next step of the scenario would be with the older dog: the cat would make a face like "crazy dogs running around, don't let the peaceful kitty meditate..." --and the dog would put his paw around the cat, so he can't get away, and start barking into his ears... Then the cat breaks loose, and the cycle continues.
But with the puppy who doens't know the rules of the game what happens is that the puppy tries to grab the cat's paw or head with his paws or mouth, and if I am still a few steps behind, the cat hisses, makes vicious faces and taps/grabs his muzzle showing claws (which we trimmed, nut still...). The puppy hasn't been hurt, so I assume, the cat is not trying to kill him but maybe teaches?
another reason why I think this is what must be going on -- the cat would walk past the puppy calmly on many occasions (but still stay in close proximity watchmaking him and change places as he moves. Today he again invited him to play casing games, and when the cat jumped on the bed (the older dog is supposed to jump after him, then the cat would sneak out between his paws and run away), the puppy got stuck climbing and did not notice that the cat already jumped over his head and ran away, so he kept climbing the bed and sniffing for the cat. The cat looked a little disappointed, so he returned, watched for a few seconds how the puppy is searching for him, then tapped on his tail -- "hello-oo!" And when the puppy chases and catches him, and the cat begins to protect himself from the rough play, he (the cat) looks somewhat disappointed -- why can't this "also a dog" play by the same rules?
He eats much better, and now sometimes sleeps in the puppy's presence, and he seems to have changed the statement "a good puppy is a crated puppy" to " a good puppy is a quiet puppy" -- which is not too bad
so I wonder: what are the important signs I should watch for to be able to tell if the cat is territorial/aggressive or just assertive and defensive, if he is simply teaching the puppy the manners or he wants the puppy to be gone? He now often comes to sniff noses with the puppy, I saw he licked his ear, but then would hiss, growl, show claws -- sometimes without any reason, at least, visible to me. any thoughts? thanks!
this are more under control, BUT we can't figure out if the cat is still territorial or is simply teaching the rough and clumsy puppy how to interact with him. He would initiate a chasing game, just like they play with the older dog, but because the older dog is very gentle, even being 10 times bigger, he only makes sounds but never played really rough. The puppy is is puppy, clumsy and silly, so the cat gets chased and caught, drops on his side or back and.... Here is what the next step of the scenario would be with the older dog: the cat would make a face like "crazy dogs running around, don't let the peaceful kitty meditate..." --and the dog would put his paw around the cat, so he can't get away, and start barking into his ears... Then the cat breaks loose, and the cycle continues.
But with the puppy who doens't know the rules of the game what happens is that the puppy tries to grab the cat's paw or head with his paws or mouth, and if I am still a few steps behind, the cat hisses, makes vicious faces and taps/grabs his muzzle showing claws (which we trimmed, nut still...). The puppy hasn't been hurt, so I assume, the cat is not trying to kill him but maybe teaches?
another reason why I think this is what must be going on -- the cat would walk past the puppy calmly on many occasions (but still stay in close proximity watchmaking him and change places as he moves. Today he again invited him to play casing games, and when the cat jumped on the bed (the older dog is supposed to jump after him, then the cat would sneak out between his paws and run away), the puppy got stuck climbing and did not notice that the cat already jumped over his head and ran away, so he kept climbing the bed and sniffing for the cat. The cat looked a little disappointed, so he returned, watched for a few seconds how the puppy is searching for him, then tapped on his tail -- "hello-oo!" And when the puppy chases and catches him, and the cat begins to protect himself from the rough play, he (the cat) looks somewhat disappointed -- why can't this "also a dog" play by the same rules?
He eats much better, and now sometimes sleeps in the puppy's presence, and he seems to have changed the statement "a good puppy is a crated puppy" to " a good puppy is a quiet puppy" -- which is not too bad
so I wonder: what are the important signs I should watch for to be able to tell if the cat is territorial/aggressive or just assertive and defensive, if he is simply teaching the puppy the manners or he wants the puppy to be gone? He now often comes to sniff noses with the puppy, I saw he licked his ear, but then would hiss, growl, show claws -- sometimes without any reason, at least, visible to me. any thoughts? thanks!
