When you live in a house with a 9 yr. old, 2 dogs and a cat you’re bound to have some turmoil. At least once a week I’m required to diffuse a dog vs. cat situation. Our 95 lb. lab, Gus, loves the cat and will sniff, nuzzle and pretty much get along with him. The Border Collie, Ridley, on the other hand, has a taste for pussy (come on, I couldn’t resist!). Several times a week the cat – who is very docile AND dimwitted – comes downstairs and presents himself to the dogs. We’ve had the cat for almost three years so it’s no news to him that dogs live in this house, nor is it news to him that Ridley will attack him. I believe the cat must either enjoy being harassed or has some type of memory loss. As soon as the Borderline Collie sees the cat it is all out war. He chases him into a corner or oftentimes manages to grab him by the neck and drag him until I come to the cat’s rescue.
Yesterday morning while I was making coffee the cat suddenly shows up at my feet. He begins to entwine himself between my legs, purring and meowing. I’m not sure how he managed to slink downstairs without the dogs noticing but it only took seconds for them to realize that he was within mauling distance. Ridley immediately cornered him in the bathroom, Gus followed to watch the pursuit. The cat was on the back of the toilet and had nowhere to go. I came to his rescue, snatched him up and proceeded to carry him above my head like so:
The dogs, of course, think this is a game so they run after me, jumping, barking and trying desparately to get the cat. I am usually able to make it to the stairs where I drop the cat off on the hightest available step so he can quickly retreat to his upstairs lair. This time I was, apparently, not quick enough because at some point Ridley jumped at my hip, digging his claw into my side. It hurt like a mofo but I didn’t realize how much damage was caused until this morning as I was climbing into the shower. I have a full length mirror in my bathroom (stop thinking dirty thoughts) and out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of purple and red and….this is what it was:
Yowzer. He got me good. This is the culprit:
Looking sheepish and innocent. Don’t let him fool you. He’s a maniac. Oh, you’re probably wondering how the cat fared. I managed to toss him high enough up the stairs and he got away unscathed. His rescuer, on the other hand, gets to wear the battle wound – a fancy new bruise.
Yowzer is right!!! Looks painful. He got you real good. Just wait til it turns a lovely shade of green and yellow!
Our cat, Hamburger, is outside with most of the dogs, and she sleeps and eats with them. It’s weird seeing this little cat eating next to big ol’ hungry Bassets. You’d think they would be bothered by this, but they could really give two shits.
Yep, he got me real good. Oooo…can’t wait til’ its yellow. Ick.
This is the first dog/cat living together-not-getting-along situation I’ve had. My previous feline slept right next to the dog – always. I can’t figure out why the dog’s so intent on whooping the cat’s ass. I’m wondering if maybe he thinks he’s a squirrel?
Cute PJ’s (I’m guessing) but the bruise, not so cute. I want a mirror like that in my bathroom. I like mirrors like that. Really, no pun intended. 🙂
I’m pretty sure it’s not an option at your place, but I’d have one less dog or no cat if I were you. Poor bruised up baby. 😉
Thanks, Mr. P (yep, pj’s – I put ’em on for the photo so as not to offend anyone with too much stretch mark action). Yeah, the bruise is pretty unsightly. Thankfully no one has too see it …hahahaha…except thousands of you out in blogland now! Maybe you should get yourself a mirror like that. Heh.
We did have 3 cats and the 2 dogs…but one cat died of old age and the other got hit by a car last year. 😦 I would certainly be happy if we didn’t have the cat…but it is my daughter’s cat and she would freak out if I got rid of it. And no way am I giving up my pups!
That’s a wicked bruise. I’d get a bigger cat to sic on the mauler.
Yes it is.
Hmmm…like maybe a mountain lion…or panther?
Ouch ouch ouch…..
I can see how they would think this was a game though.
And you totally read my mind when you mentioned the full length mirror…woohoo!!!
Yep…they have great fun playing leap for the cat.
Heeheehehe…I know you so well…I TOTALLY read your mind!!
Yeah, Ridley, hot after that pussy, typical guy, will claw through whatever to get to it! 😦
That bruise looks bad! Really bad! I’m surprised you didn’t notice it until THE NEXT DAY, it looks like it hurt like the devil!
He does look rather innocent in the picture…. how funny!
Hope your boo-boo gets better soon! 🙂
Funny, it hurt like a bitch when it happened but I don’t feel any pain from it now. Weird. It just looks God-awful.
Thanks, Anne! I’m sure it will heal in no time – but not before it turns all kinds of funky colors. Weeee….that’ll be fun to watch.
Aww…that is so unpleasant, hope you feel better!…and I must ask, what the heck does the cat do when you’re not in the house to save the l’il bugger???
Thanks, Romi. It actually doesn’t hurt…it looks far worse than it feels! Percy, the cat, has the rule of the house when I’m not home – the dogs have to stay in their crates. So, I’m sure he comes down and taunts them. I can picture him sitting in front of the crates just staring at the dogs while they bark their heads off!
I know this isn’t funny, but the “taste for pussy” comment cracked me up. I think it’s because I can relate. I have a similar issue everyday with my cat and dog. It’s like a running joke now, but I let the animals sort it out on their own. My dog is not so large and my cat knows how to fend for herself, but I do still sometimes have to take the upper hand. You cat is adorable! And so is “the culprit” love that shot of him! Sorry about that really painful looking battle scar though. I hope it doesn’t hurt too much!
The funny thing is, the darn cat will not fend for himself. He has never once hissed, clawed or otherwise tried to defend himself. He just lets the dog have his way with him. I’ve never had a cat like this before. He’s one of a kind!
Thanks…it’s really not painful…just awful looking. I was so amazed at the size of it I had to share!
OUCH!
Ouch when it happened…but not so much now.
Man! That looks serious. Silly dog.
Nope…not serious…just looks that way. I’ll live. Crazy dog is more like it.
ooooo, that’s a good one. He does have a disarming look. I can never stay mad at a dog.
It’s lovely, isn’t it? I didn’t even get mad at him…he’s just too freakin’ adorable.
Hi 2,
We’ve got two Border Collies. One is quite reserved and non-aggressive, at least since she got tossed 20 or so feet by one of the cows we used to have. The other still can’t resist any opportunity to pester the other animals and, when excited, she’s very willing to bite whoever happens to be within reach. That one now resides exclusively at my wife’s clinic. I don’t think this behavior is their fault, since, if we’d be nice enough to provide them with a few sheep to chase around all day, they’d probably get their fill of herding and wouldn’t need to look for substitutes.
the Grit
Hi Grit,
He’s really not aggressive…just hyper. And who knew a dog claw could do that much damage? I probably should get a few sheep for him to chase around the back yard. Heh. Not sure my neighbors would be too happy about that.
Hope you are ok? I am still really sore 😦 my dog and cat are like that too 😦
I’m fine. Thanks for asking. It looks far worse than it feels. So glad you are feeling up to visiting blogs! I’m glad the surgery went well for you. Take it easy!
Damn! That’s some bruise!
And thanks for the heads-up on the facial recognition thing. Sadly, it tells me I look like Mary Kate and/or Ashley Oleson — I still don’t see it. Then again, hey, at least it didn’t say Ernest Borgnine!
Yes, it’s massive.
I thought the celebrity look alike gizmo was fun, but seems that folks are getting some awfully odd matches…Mary Kate and/or Ashley Oleson??? Hmmmm?
Egads, that looks awful! When we had a cat (in addition to our dog), it was a definite Garfield/Odie situation. The dog was/is the dimwit. The cat would clean the pug’s face wrinkles and then smack her as if punishing her for being dirty in the first place.
Ha! That’s great. For some reason our cat hasn’t figured out that he can use his claws to defend himself. He sure doesn’t have a problem using them when he’s bracing himself against my arms. Ouch.
Holy crap, that’s pretty significant! And if he does that to you, it makes you wonder what injuries your beautiful cat gets underneath the fur when the dog does get to him before you can intervene.
Why won’t you defend yourself kitty? 😦
Exactly, why doesn’t he defend himself? He doesn’t even struggle or try to get away. It’s crazy. He doesn’t seem to get injured though…he does have SO much fur…the dog usually just gets a mouthful of it.
Criminy, 2LD – you better get some of that goalie padding for early morning frolics with the pets. Although the purple must nicely compliment your new dining room walls. 😉
WC
Good call, WC. Hmmm, I wonder if my brother still has his hockey padding? The purple is now greenish-yellow; so much for complimenting the dining room walls!