I have friends (a couple with two adult children) who currently have six dogs and a cat. However, this story occurred soon after dogs three and four came into the family. The oldest son works at the local Blue Cross centre and lives on site. They got two dogs in, as the owner had died in hospital. While the neighbours had gone in every day to feed the dogs, not being pet people, they didn't think about flea treatments. So Katie (a brown peke) and Toby (medium mongrel with black and grey wiry fur) came in with severe cases of flea infestation and Toby with a very bad reaction to the beasts with the usual flea allergy symptoms. As Toby would need intensive treatment, the two were separated.

After several days pining for each other, they were reunited, to the pleasure of both. The decision was taken that they needed to be fostered until Toby was well and then they could be rehomed. My friend's eldest son promptly volunteered his parents to foster the dogs, without their knowledge. The dogs arrived and quickly settled into the home, with the two resident dogs, Patch (Rainbow Bridge) and Gemma, both King Charles Spaniels. Patch was top dog, but the top animal was definitely Henry the cat.

Henry likes peace and quiet in which to eat, doze, etc., and has free access to the outside through a cat flap. Katie, never having met a cat before, was fascinated. She would follow Henry around the house, sniff at him and generally annoy him. Henry took to staying outside more often and snoozing on furniture too high for a peke to reach. Every time Katie saw Henry she would run to great him, sniff him, etc.

Although Henry was clearly explaining to Katie that this behaviour was not desirable, she missed all the signals. One day, when my friend's husband and I were sitting in the conservatory chatting and drinking tea, Henry trotted in from the house, quickly followed by Katie. He sat near the back door looking out of the window. When Katie started sniffing him again, Henry gave another warning and had a 'long suffering' look on his face. Katie obliviously continued her behaviour. Having had enough, the cat decided that direct action was called for. Henry turned around, wrapped one front leg around Katie's neck and whacked her across the face with his free paw (claws in, so only pride damaged). The stunned look on Katie's face was hilarious and I didn't know a peke could move that fast. The two of us in the conservatory were practically rolling on the floor laughing, and it was a few minutes before we could describe why we were laughing so much.

It is a shame there wasn't a camera handy, as this would have made a great picture, and I still laugh whenever I remember it. Katie has never bothered Henry again. She and Toby are now part of the family. Toby is well and almost all of his fur grew back. A further two dogs were added before Patch, a lovely boy, went to the Rainbow Bridge, and another dog came into their lives soon after. Henry is still the boss.

Copyright © Andrea Fuller
April 12, 2001