It was around 10:30 Wednesday morning. I was working at my desk, Smooch was napping on the back porch, and
JohnnyCashCat was napping in the reading chair behind me. It started to rain and I heard Smooch whining to come in the house.
What to do...what to do... A face-to-face encounter between the two would have to happen eventually. Why not now?
Erring on the side of caution, I put Smooch's leash on her and walked her into the office.
She was immediately suspicious...
...yet she neither saw nor smelled the feral beast in the chair...
...until the feral beast twitched a whisker. Rather than let Smooch's hackles raise any higher,
I lured her to the other side of the house with the promise of a cookie.
I left Smooch's leash behind us with a stern warning to both of them that it was not to be crossed.
Smooch got her cookie and decided to hang out in the bedroom for awhile. I went back to the office.
But never one to leave well enough alone and wanting to get this whole dog-meets-cat thing over with...
...I beckoned Smooch to come. She's usually not this enthusiastic.
Perhaps she thought I was going to reward her with a cat instead of a cookie.
She took her spot on her side of the leash and stared at Johnny for the longest time...
...until she got bored and went back to the bedroom...
...only to return a few minutes later.
Smooch: It's lunchtime. Can we have cat?
Me: No.
Johnny: How about dog for dessert?
Me: Be nice, both of you.
Smooch: I've got better things to do.
Me: You're being such a good girl!
Smooch couldn't stay away for long and soon joined Johnny and I back in the office.
Smooch poked her head over the arm of the chair once and Johnny let out a ferocious hiss.
Smooch got his message loud and clear and backed off.
At this point, I'm not at all concerned about Smooch hurting Johnny...
...it's Johnny hurting Smooch that I'm worried about. The feral beast has a wicked set of claws.
Wow. they did really well! Johnny was very laid back.
ReplyDeleteI guess Smooch will reconcile herself to sharing the house now.
Street-smart cats always train their dogs. Eventually, they'll be best buds. :-P
ReplyDeleteCaution is best. Lest we have to become accustomed to a big, angry scar on Smooch's beautiful face. It will happen. Keep that Vetricyn in the house...
ReplyDeletehappy dance, happy dance! That Smooch is such a smart girl. Bless her heart for being so patient with JCC. And I think we all figured out that Johnny is one savvy kitty. the word "feral" on his resume must have been a misunderstanding.
ReplyDeleteIt might never be everlasting love but I think they will learn to tolarate each other without shedding blood. An encouraging start...
ReplyDeleteHow nice that the first meet and greet happened without any casualties! Before long, they will be sharing the bed in the sunroom together! ;)
ReplyDeletetheir first "meeting" went rather well,....no blood ;)
ReplyDeleteI must say ..I am most impressed that you can create a boundary for Smooch just by laying down her leash! So happy to see everyone will be hanging out indoors for the winter.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to the whole herd this Thanksgiving!
Lisa G in TN
Again I say, Smooch is the very best dog I have ever known! I have two dogs and Smooch is even better than them. She's so smart and well behaved and wants to please.
ReplyDeleteHooray!!!!!
and cats can and will attack and hurt a dog. it looks like you have it all under control... amazing photo of them side by side in bed/chair... good luck to ALL of you
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you, Linda, practicing the art of detante 7 miles south of nowhere. Who would have known that you would add this new skill set to your resume? Come to think about it, between snakes and porcupines, pigs and chickens, horses and burros, I guess that skill has been well developed for several years.
ReplyDeleteAnd a rousing cheer was heard throughout the land! It won't be long before they are curled up together in Smooch's bed.... or in the leather chair!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Johnny Cash Cat is taking over the house. He looks so comfy in the nice leather chair. He's just doing what cats always do: rule!
ReplyDeleteBest always,
Yeah! I knew they would be fine! Have a great day!
ReplyDeletemarsha.kern@yahoo.com
Smooch is such a good girl. Looks like they have a mutual respect for each other...that's a good thing. Have a lovely day and hugs to all. Just love your pictures.
ReplyDeletetouchdown.....they have met face to face and both lived to tell the tale. It only shows to go you...tee hee, they both want your approval and are willing to act accordingly (if only briefly) to garner your attention. You're such a good furry baby momma. Love to you all. Oma Linda
ReplyDeleteI just love Smooch so much...she is such a character! Stay safe Smoochie...
ReplyDeleteThat went well.
ReplyDeleteI hoped Smooch would be ok with the cat.
My Siamese does not like my Collie which bothers her to no end. She gets along with everyone except the Siamese. Just don't get that collie nose in that Siamese face and all is well. Same at your house I would think.
By the way, I love your posts and your furry gang. If I lived close, I'd be stopping by and you'd think who's that. I'd bring coffee and treats that's for sure.
Just saying ...
JC
Those "meet and greets" are always so much fun. They both were so well behaved, and I love the way Smooch doesn't cross over her leash.
ReplyDeleteYou absolutely made my morning ;)
ReplyDeleteSharing the house with a cat again was probably not high on Smooch's 'to-do' list. I'm sure there will be a few altercations to come...but they will work it out. :)
ReplyDeleteI brought home a feral cat for the same reasons as you. I also have four very large Labradors, none of whom would hurt a fly but were very interested in doing a meet and greet with our newest household member. By time Oscar was done with those dogs, none of them would even make eye contact with him.
ReplyDeleteNow a couple of months later, he has decided he is part of the dog pack. He goes out when they go out, and comes in when they come in. When they eat he insists on having his bowl of food right there with theirs. He pounces on their heads while they are sleeping, and chases their, always wagging, tails. At 4:30 am the dogs know it is time to get up and come to the side of our bed...Oscar jumps right in the middle.
I don't know that he has caught any mice yet, but he sure is fun to have around!
Smooch is the best dog ever. And Johnny owns both of you. Thank you so much for the gift of your blog every day. It really makes mine better!
ReplyDeleteI have a visiting dog here who needs to take some lessons from Smooch. Or maybe my cat could take some lessons from Johnny.
ReplyDeleteWell done on everyone's part! Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteOur Luna is in for the winter and she's let me trim her nails on one paw only. I guess she wants to keep the other one ready in case our Willow needs to reminded of her place in the house. Poor dog. It must suck to be on the bottom rung of the ladder all the time. ;o)
That Smooch is >such< a good dog!
ReplyDeletewaw great news really. if Johnny wanted to go feral, he would have transformed himself into a hissing ball. I think yo have a special fluid that made the encounter quite peaceful. very good. no nail trimming, it is Johnny's only defense means outside in case of a bad encounter.
ReplyDeleteTerrific! A (potentially) tense situation handled exquisitely by everybody involved. What a good dog Smooch is, and Johnny sure is one cool cat.
ReplyDeleteEvery dog that has come through my home (foster or permanent) has known that the cat runs the show. Lol
ReplyDeleteWhew! glad that went so well. Smooch will do fine. JCC is the one who will need to chill. He will learn fast. Look how far he has come already.
ReplyDeleteLooking good! I bet it won't be more than a couple of weeks before you feel comfortable leaving them together without supervision. Smooch is a smart dog, after all.
ReplyDeleteYou might need to promise Smooch again that she's your Number One. She might look a little like Wiley Coyote, but Johnny's the Trickster and he's got plans!! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome photographs! I enjoy posts like this. Thank you!
ReplyDelete