Wonderful Menagerie

Freki and Angus get to know each other

I know the post is late this week, but we've had a lot going on. Things have been in a rare upheaval, and it all began with a cat.

We'd wanted a cat for a long time. At least, we'd talked about getting a cat. Cute, cuddly, purring- what's not to like about a cat? So, Saturday, I picked out a cat at the local shelter, paid for his neuter, and waited for them to call Monday and say he was ready to come home.

We tried to prepare the dogs, really, we did. Showed them the litter box, the treats, crate, toys, food. But somehow, the message didn't get through.

Freki hated Angus on sight.

---

Freki can now walk past Angus without barking- even wags her tail.

It was predictable. Clearly our alpha girl does not like things she cannot control. And she'd never encountered a kitten before. We were subject to her barking, growling, lunging. Angus didn't know what to do. We had ideas, but would they work?

With the kitten tucked safely in his crate, we allowed the other dogs a chance to meet wee Angus. When the Corgis didn't seem upset, we let the kitten out. Dixie gave a sigh that pretty much said, Just don't let it touch me. Ben crawled in my lap and nudged the kitten away. They have accepted the change in the house, though the kitten is low man on the totem pole as far as they are concerned.

Freki claimed the cat was evil. And her job was to protect the family. It was a long night.

---

Angus feels right at home.

I have to admit, things weren't looking good. My day was patterned with carefully rotating who was out, who was in, and who could exist in the same room together. There was no room for error.

And then we had a breakthrough. It wasn't easy. It took hours of Freki on leash, Angus given free rein so he did not feel trapped, and me offering calm, reassuring words to both animals. Yesterday morning, we logged an hour. 5 minutes of together time, 5 of treats and play ball in another room. Return to Angus' room, repeat. Last night, two hours. But at the end of the day, Angus stretched out on a box, asleep, I sat on the floor a foot or so away, and Freki laid beside me, gnawing a toy. 

---

Can he be any more relaxed?

I'm not saying there won't be spats. And, to tell the truth, Freki jumps two feet off the floor if the kitten so much as sneezes. But everyone has reached their version of a truce, and the house has gone from Defcon 1 (maximum defense readiness) down to Defcon 4 with an eye to everyone's mood and security measures in place. Co-existence seems to be just around the corner. Dare I hope for friendship?

---