NOT! Puppies are a lot of work, but add trying to integrate a puppy with your 2 resident cats and it can be overwhelming.
They all have their moments, but I feel like the only time I can let my guard down is when I’m sleeping. No, neither the boys nor Chester have been hurt in their 2 1/2 months of cohabitation. Seems like a miracle, though.
I would give a lot to just sit down and read a book, or sit down and knit for half an hour, and not have to referree between the three of them.
I know some people say just put them together and let nature take care of it. The cats will teach Chester who’s boss. But I would really love for them to at least get along, even if they never do snuggle up together — to the point where I’d feel comfortable leaving them all alone together. I don’t yet.
I read one post on Chihuahua People where the person wrote that her Chi puppy was chasing her cat, but she hoped they’d learn to love each other.
Hello!? If someone entered your home, took away some of your attention, and chased you around the house, just what do you think your feelings would be? I doubt it would be love.
Now that Chester is off leash except generally outside, he does chase the cats sometimes. Of course, they chase him sometimes, too. I try to make him come, sit, and stay when he even looks like he’s going to chase, but it’s difficult. It’s a good thing he’s so much smaller than they are.
I started writing this post a while ago. Since then, Simba has head butted Chester a couple of times, and even tried to give him a lick or two. I could probably leave them alone together. Simba is amazingly tolerant of Chester.
Gizmo is a different story. He’s doing okay, but he’s made it clear that he doesn’t like Chester. And Chester knows it, too. When Gizmo is laying on one of his beds that happen to be on the floor, Chester will try to illicit play from him. When that doesn’t work, he’ll growl at him. He rarely does this with Simba.
It drives me nuts that the boys have lots of places where they can get away from Chester, but Gizmo often chooses to be on the ground when Chester is in a nutty mood.
Still, I suppose it’s payback time. The boys did chase Puss when they were kittens, and Puss did not appreciate it. Now they’re getting a little taste of what it’s like to be bothered when you’re not in the mood.
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