My boomerang son has come back to live with us for a while. He has a 10 lb male Jack Russell terrier and a 5 year old spayed female cat. We have a 3-1/2 year old spayed female cat. She's been an "only pet" since we got her. My son has his own space in the in-law suite so the animals don't have to share living space but he likes to bring them around our cat once in a while in the hopes they can all be friends.
My cat, Stella, loves the dog! He's a well behaved little guy who is used to cats and she is always happy to see him - she loves to stalk him and chase him around, and play with him. They have never had a dust up, and she only occasionally hisses when he gets a little too rowdy.
My son's cat, Amelia, is a different story. In spite of all efforts to introduce the two cats slowly - and they do know each other now - they just aren't having it. Stella will tolerate the other cat if she is across the room, but she watches her warily. One step too close and the hissing starts. Once Amelia crosses the line they get into full blown cat fight ending up with them BOTH running to their "safe place." My son's cat is larger and more aggressive than my cat, but my cat has the Home Court advantage. They equally scare one another, is how I see it.
Anyway, I don't understand how people have multiple cats that co-exist peacefully. And I don't understand how a cat can prefer a DOG over another feline! (I've only ever had this one cat, so I don't know all the intricacies of feline behavior.)
PS...Amelia previously lived with another cat belonging to my son's former roommate, and they got along fine.
My cat, Stella, loves the dog! He's a well behaved little guy who is used to cats and she is always happy to see him - she loves to stalk him and chase him around, and play with him. They have never had a dust up, and she only occasionally hisses when he gets a little too rowdy.
My son's cat, Amelia, is a different story. In spite of all efforts to introduce the two cats slowly - and they do know each other now - they just aren't having it. Stella will tolerate the other cat if she is across the room, but she watches her warily. One step too close and the hissing starts. Once Amelia crosses the line they get into full blown cat fight ending up with them BOTH running to their "safe place." My son's cat is larger and more aggressive than my cat, but my cat has the Home Court advantage. They equally scare one another, is how I see it.
Anyway, I don't understand how people have multiple cats that co-exist peacefully. And I don't understand how a cat can prefer a DOG over another feline! (I've only ever had this one cat, so I don't know all the intricacies of feline behavior.)
PS...Amelia previously lived with another cat belonging to my son's former roommate, and they got along fine.