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Some of you may remember a post from a couple weeks ago when I mentioned we would soon be having a houseguest. A woofie houseguest! My husband’s parents have been on vacation for a week now, and we have been keeping their dog Ellie for them. She arrived last Sunday. She wanted to share a few selfies with you today.
Things have been going really well with Ellie here. Delilah, Sampson, and Sophie already knew Ellie, but Sassy and Caster hadn’t ever been around a dog (at least not that we knew of). I was a bit worried about how Caster would react – he can be a bit of a bully. He has been just fine though. Mostly the cats just ignore her, and vice versa. They are all coexisting very nicely. Of course I was hopeful for sweet cat-dog cuddle time, but I am happy with peaceful coexistence 🙂 What has been a huge surprise is how Sassy has reacted to Ellie. As most of you know, Sassy lives upstairs and has no interaction with the other cats – she’s FIV+ and is aggressive. Anyway, we brought Ellie upstairs to meet her to see what would happen. Sassy did hiss a bit, but that was it. She just didn’t want Ellie to come too close. Luckily, Ellie hasn’t been interested in her at all and doesn’t approach her, so Sassy hasn’t felt threatened by Ellie. At bed time, the two of them even get up on our bed… together … AT THE SAME TIME! No cuddling – they are always on opposite ends of the bed – but this is a HUGE breakthrough. I think we’ve discovered that Sassy isn’t actually aggressive – she’s just defensive when she feels threatened. If Ellie comes too close for Sassy’s liking, Sassy gets hissy and runs away, but she doesn’t attack Ellie. The interactions with the other cats have made it seem like Sassy is aggressive towards them, but really I think she was just feeling threatened and lashed out because they were invading her space and wouldn’t leave her alone. Maybe I’m wrong, but this seems like an issue that could be more easily correctable than if Sassy were just flat out aggressive. If we can just figure out a way to keep the other kitties from approaching Sassy, then maybe we can reach a point at which Sassy no longer feels threatened by them and actually becomes comfortable around them. Or maybe I am being too naive or optimistic. I don’t know. I just refuse to give up on the idea that one day Sassy will be able to happily and peacefully coexist with the other kitties. I would love to see them play and even cuddle together. |
Queen Delilah claimed Ellie’s bed almost as soon as we put it down.
We all wish everyone a restful and lovely Sunday and a wonderful week ahead!
We are participating in The Cat on My Head‘s Sunday Selfies Blog Hop. Click the badge to the left to visit their blog and see the other entries. Maybe even enter a selfie of your own!
Lovely Selfie Ellie.
Thanks for the nice comments on Buttons post. Maybe if you put her in a carrier (with some treats) and just put it on the floor where the others were. Then rotate turns of the other cats visiting Sassy while they are in a carrier in her room? I have also heard of putting up a screen door so the cats can see each other but have no contact.
No matter what I do hope she does get more comfy over time. Our Miss Fitz has taken several years to be comfortable around our others. (Rumpy and now Einstein have caused a few setbacks)
We love you Halloween look too
Purrs
Timmy and Crew
Awww! A woofie! personally I am not a fan, but The Staff has just gone all googoo!! We kitties will hiss generally when we are frightened. It’s a form of bravado! xox
Ellie is a little doll! We hope Sassy comes around with the cats..that would truly be wonderful! And Queen Delilah…we have a Queen over here too.. Queen Mitalee!! 🙂
the critters in the cottage xo
Hi Ellie! Nice selfies. Good to hear you’re all gettin’ along, so well.
Purrs,
Nissy
It’s an unwritten rule that cats always steal the dog’s bed. It’s good to hear that everyone is getting along. That makes life so much easier than worrying that all heck will break loose and someone might get injured.
Hopefully Sassy will learn that the other cats aren’t a threat to her. Feeding them where they can see but not contact each other may help, but you’ve probably already tried that. Somehow she has to learn that good things (or at least not bad things) happen when the other kitties are around. I know that sounds easy….hopefully you can get it to work.
Your Halloween Header is adorable and so is Miss Ellie. We think you all are so generous to let her do the Sunday Selfie today. Our other suggestion for helping integrate the kitties are the calming collars and feliway spray. You know that we too have issues, but Astrid has chosen to separate herself from the others (except Mau) as much as possible. It would be so nice if Sassy were able to have more interaction and companionship. Astrid is sending Sampy enough kisses to stretch around the world a billion times. She wishes she could see him on a daily basis. Sending all our love and hugs to all of you. Thanks so much for joining and supporting our Sunday Selfies Blog Hop. XO, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
That woofie is adorable, and the picture of the queen in her borrowed bed is excellent.
Lovely selfies ! You all are very kind with that woofie ! Purrs
Oh Dat is so wunnewful ’bout Sassy. And no, yous not faw weachin’ it can and will happen. Wee just know it. Yous not know sis Lexi’s whole stowwy, but hers wuz considered aggwessiv by udder peeps but her wusn’t. She wus just defensive and had a vewy big idea of what wuz “her purrsonal space”. Mommy learned how to work wound dat fear and hers is da bestest big sisfur in da universe. Weez will purray fur Sassy and all of yous. Ellie be vewy cute.
Luv ya’
Dezi
Ellie is adorable. She looks like my blogging friend Sasha.
I, Madi, have never met a wolfie either…just my human sis’s kitties
Hugs madi your bfff
See? Woofies aren’t bad AT ALL! I LOVE my “woofie” brother! Love, Cody
Ellie looks like the sweetest houseguest ever!!!
We don’t think we would do well with a woofie in the house. Ellie is very cute…and she does a good selfie!
Ellie is so cute! She took some great selfies. Mom wonders if you have seen Jackson Galaxy’s video on introducing cats?
Those are such terrific selfies! That was a great story too and we hope that is a positive sign.
I’m glad Ellie and Sassy actually were able to share space! Sometimes kitties are less territorial with a different species than they are with fellow felines.
Ellie sure is cute! How nice that she and Sassy were able to hang out together. 🙂
Ellie is such a cute girl! How nice she and Sassy share space and bed nicely. This make me feel very positive about Sassy and other kitties getting along well with each other in the future!
Delilah is too cute taking Ellie’s bed 🙂
Great doggie selfies. And Delilah looks adorable too!
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
Aww, Ellie is adorable! I love your new fall-themed header – too cute! 🙂
Hiya Ellie!
Well done Delilah =^.^=
Purrs
Ellie looks like the sweetest houseguest ever!!!