MEOW

 We've always had cat companions with our dogs.  2 years ago I brought home 2 little kittens for Marc for Christmas.  Sisko had only been around adult cats but I was sure he would be sweet and gentle with the babies and I was right.  The night I brought them home they gave a couple of tokens hisses at the large dogs sniffing at them, but this was the same night:




They became fast friends and cuddle buddies.

And they would play together.




But when we brought Booker home it was a whole different story.  He was a crazy puppy who ran at and chased them.  So they would hiss and hide.  After a short time all 5 cats would tolerate him from a distance.  And by a couple of months in Sulu and Chekov wanted to play with him, but Booker wants to play like a typical Boxer puppy.  Which means biting, chasing, punching with his paws and standing on their heads.  Not surpringly the cats do not like that!

So we have been working really hard with Booker to try to teach him not to chase the cats or bite them.  And to be gentle.  It is super hard for him, but he has been trying really hard.  The cats have generously giving him chance after chance.  When they would walk by and rub themselves against him and he managed to stand there without going crazy or knocking them over, I considered it a victory.

I was thrilled tonight when I heard some commotion in the kitchen and witnessed this:


This is the start - I hope - of Booker learning boundaries with the cats, and in turn, the cats learning to trust him and feel comfortable playing and maybe even cuddling with him.

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