Cat vs Puppy

[broccolini]

My puppy growled at the cat today because the cat was eating out of her food bowl. She generally likes the cat so I think it's just a food issue.

My plan is to toss her treats whenever she sees the cat near her food. Does that sound reasonable?

 

[ruthcatrin]

yup, also however spend some time hand feeding the pup, and stealing food out of her bowl while she's eating (and then hand feeding that), though too, it'll help cut down on food guarding.

Could be worse. Apollo's intro to my younger cat (who's name is Trouble, and yes she earned it) was her sitting down in front of his bowl and eating his kibble while he sat there and stared and stared and then finally started crying till I could stop laughing and remove the cat.....

 

[LauraR]

I can actually picture that scenario and have to give you some major credit for being able to get yourself together long enough to remove the cat. I probably would have had a heart attack from laughing so hard.

 

[broccolini]

Poor Apollo.

I have been messing around with her food since we brought her home. She has no issues with me sticking my hands in her food. I also put high value treats in there occasionally. The first couple of times the cat ate with her, she didn't do anything. He ate from the bowl and she ate from the floor.

I'm not sure why she didn't want him in her food today. I just want to make sure I fix it so she doesn't hurt the cat.

 

[broccolini]

View attachment 19953

 

[Marrowshard]

@ ruthcatrin: we've got just about the same thing going on here. Oscar will sit there and look annoyed while our 10-lb female cat helps herself to his kibble. For this reason, the cats get fed first so Oscar gets a chance to eat ...

I wouldn't worry about it too much at this point. Sounds like you're already doing what needs to be done. On the rare occasion Oscar gets too close for comfort, both my cats can and will use fluffed tails and needle paws to assert themselves. I'm betting that the first time your pup gets smacked by the cat he'll learn an important lesson.

~Marrow

 

[ruthcatrin]

I'd keep an eye on it, but yah, the pup will learn, and the cat will learn (maybe), you're handling it right

and :lolbangtable: at the picture!

 

[ruthcatrin]

I can actually picture that scenario and have to give you some major credit for being able to get yourself together long enough to remove the cat. I probably would have had a heart attack from laughing so hard.

Considering that at 10 weeks old Apollo was already twice the cat's size.....yah.

My older cat, who we just put down, used to drive him across the house on shear force of personality till he discovered she didn't actually have front claws, then he'd just lick her ears till she went away.

 

[broccolini]

I wish the cat would just smack her. We actually have 3.5 cats but the only one willing to be in the same room with her is my giant, attention-seeking Maine Coon. He's really laid back and big enough to be unconcerned about the puppy.

Hopefully one of the more dangerous cats will come down and give her a good whack.

 

[ruthcatrin]

They will, and she'll learn. It takes time!

 

[broccolini]

Yep.

It hasn't happened again. I've been quick with the treats when the cat is around. Maybe the cat will live.

Also, this:

View attachment 19961

 

[ruthcatrin]

Aaaawwwwwwwww *melts*