Day 12ish: Things that go bump in the night...

Sweet, huh? Cat sniffing dog; dog sniffing cat: making friends...

Unfortunately, this all changed after: The Sweets Incident.

Sniffer is called Sniffer for a reason. She sniffed out some sweets I am keeping for rewards at school: a whole bag of Skittles. She snatched them, then scooted under the bed to snaffle them. This was a sweet mission. Do you know what sweets do to children? Well it's the same for dogs. She was on high alert. No sleeping allowed.

Of course, this had to be the same night that the cat decided to have a wander around down stairs. Growing in confidence, she was going to try the great...well, downstairs.

While I was too exhausted to keep my eyes open, the dog sat up, sniffing the air and listening out for even the slightest sound.

About 3am Whiskey started her adventure. Creeping down the stairs, she was ready to explore. The dog stood to attention and started to bark at the door. Waking in the middle of the night, I just thought she needed to go out. She spent the next ten minutes with her nose to the floor checking every piece of ground Whiskey could have touched. If you have never heard a hound tracking, you need to experience it. It's something like putt, putt, putt, puuuuuttt or huh, huh, huh, huuuuhhhh. It's difficult to describe really. I dragged her back upstairs after letting her hunt for quarter of an hour.

The next morning, poor Whiskey was still in her hiding place behind the printer. Sniffer found her quickly and treated her kindly with a repeat of the scene in the picture above. 

I think the sugar rush had worn off.

Day 10: While the Mum's away...

Decided to have a long bath and leave the dog and cat to their own devices. I'm sure I could hear purring at first. I don't really know what happened but it sounded a bit like this:

Thump, dog's nails scamper across the floor, sharp meooooow and muffled scrambling noises. I found the cat hiding under the bed and behind a box again. Then later she was back at the window. 

I think if the cat runs Sniffer thinks it's a game: "I'll catch you; let's play." I don't think cats like playing with dogs...Oh well, I'll give the cat a break and keep the dog downstairs all day.

Day 9: Toys

A certain large pet store has a sale on. I picked up a few toys for the cat and some teeth cleaning chews for the dog.

Whiskey really enjoyed a catnip feather tipped stick wiggling thingy, see link: Cat's favourite toy However, she was completely freaked out by a mouse toy. It is a little mouse (pretend obviously) with a realistic squeak. The cat is supposed to tap it around using the holes in the toy. The mouse runs around in a circle and squeaks. She has been hiding ever since I showed her this toy.

It's the green toy that begins with 'Thrill' in this link

Mind you, I would jump if someone threw a mouse in my face.

Sniffer? Well Sniffer is enjoying her new chew.

Day 8: Even closer!

Days of stroking Sniffer then Whiskey, then Whiskey then Sniffer...seems to be paying off. Whiskey will let Sniffer sniff her and Whiskey doesn't hide while Sniffer is in the room. She even lets Sniffer look out of the window.

Sweet, but of course Sniffer still has her nose in the air. She really likes cat food.

Day 7: Getting Closer

First, yesterday's crime scene. Duh, duh, durrrrh. Sorry.  The below picture shows the impact of Sniffer flying in (no cape) AFTER Whiskey had left the room. This is why she's called Sniffer. She lifted up the table (as easily as putting on a cape, in a hurry to sniff the place where Whiskey had been hiding for some time.

Now, today. Again, Sniffer is living her name. She has spent A LOT of time sniffing the air,

sniffing everything in, around, on or near the cat.

Today, she showed a beautiful side. She wanted to make friends. Look closely at the picture below. 

Can you see the pleading eyes, the nose sniffing and the, "I'm sitting so you have to reward me." pose? (The last look only works on humans, and only some humans!)

This is Sniffer trying to make friends.

Check the pictures below:

Whiskey was hiding: "Give me peace!"

 "I'm not a danger. I just want to share your space!"

"I'm just chillin'. Nothing to see here."
Will they ever get used to each other? More tomorrow.

Day 6: Downstairs

Today I brought Whiskey downstairs. Unfortunately, she just spent a couple of hours hiding behind the sofa.    Oh well, it takes time, I guess. One step at a time. 
It's a short blog today. I would really like you to comment on this blog and tell me what you think happened here:

The Crime Scene

Day 5: Hisssssssssss

Sorry no pictures today...You'll just have to imagine the scene. 

It was time for freedom. I left the door open. Whiskey crept out of her darkened room (some poetic licence here), to explore the wilderness of Liz's bedroom (and it is a wilderness...over ten years of teaching creates some mounds of paperwork...must sort through.). A whole morning of exploring: three windows to look through; two beds to hide under; paper mountains to climb and...a bed to wee on. (We'll quickly move on...)

Sniffer's morning: Exhausting walk around a carboot sale. Too hot, pant, pant, too hot...ooo, a dog...pant, pant, too hot...must sit here...oooh, a very muddy puddle...must, must, must walk in, drink and drink...ahhhhhh!

2pm: Cat meets dog
Liz: I can't find Whiskey. She must be here somewhere. She's very quiet. 
I begin to wonder if she is moving from one room to another as I search. Ninja cat.
Sniffer don't...
Too late.
Sniffer is under the bed. She is snuffling and hoovering up scent. A low growl. A frantic scamper of nails on floor. Sniffer is out. Ahhhh, there's the cat.
Hisssssssssssss. Whiskey is twice the size and ready to fight.
Sniffer scarpers.

After that, it was a pretty quiet day.

Day 4: Meeting

Earlier today there was an incident where Whiskey jumped off a shelf and sent her food and box of treats shooting everywhere...much cleaning up. Perhaps, she just wanted to get into the treats...

A friend came round and Whiskey took some time to come out from under the bed. Perhaps, because of the incident earlier. She came out when I bribed her with treats though. (Those Whiskers treats this time.)

Whiskey and Sniffer meet, properly.

I brought Sniffer in to see Whiskey properly today. Sniffer was pretty happy about it. She was panting and wagging her tail rapidly. I kept her on the lead and let her sniff everything.

The cat watched.

 The picture below shows Sniffer's excitement.

 Sniffer really wanted to see Whiskey. Whiskey was staying put near the window.

 Sniffer then decided to eat any cat food that happened to by lying on the floor.

She did bark a couple of times but she was pretty calm really. At times, she was more interested in the cat food! Whiskey and Sniffer are still watching each other. They are getting closer...

Day 3: Ninja cat

Whiskey has become a Ninja cat after meeting Sniffer. I crept into the bedroom with treats to greet Whiskey but couldn't find her anywhere. Sniffer had obviously upset her. After ten minutes searching behind the cupboards, in the wardrobe, under the bed, on the windowsill, under my folders, under the bed, under clothes, under the bed... Ahhh! She was hiding behind the bed...This picture looks worse than it was:

After trying to tempt her out with various treats and leaving her be for hours and trying again, she still wasn't coming out. I chatted to a friend and decided that she should be moved to the spare room until she gets used to Sniffer. I armed myself with every treat I could find and eventually coaxed her out (once the dog had decided to stop barking downstairs). Those Dreamies treats worked well.

She is now resting in her new home and I can get a decent night's sleep. She seems to have settled in well. (See pictures)

She loves looking out of the window!

Day Two

Today was a very long day. Joy: Whiskey followed me downstairs. Do you know how difficult it is to photograph a nervous cat?

She had a good explore though. She even went behind the sofa. Spot Whiskey's tail!

Finally, she felt comfortable enough to sit quietly. I even think she was watching TV.

All of this was before Sniffer arrived. I picked up Sniffer from Derby today. Here she is looking bored after giving up on guessing what that extra smell is.

Then came the introductions: They seemed calm at first. I had swapped smells between them by stroking them both in turn without washing my hands. (I read this advice somewhere.) When I went into the bedroom with Sniffer on her lead she spent a long time...sniffing. Nose in the air, nose on the bed, nose in the air. She took particular attention to the place where Whiskey had been sleeping.

She knew there was an animal in the room but she couldn't find her, and neither could I. 

Then there was a shuffling noise. All attention went to the window. 

Then followed a staring contest that went on for hours. 

It went on throughout the night.

It went on all night. There was the occasional growl.

It went on until 5.30 when I woke up and decided it had gone on long enough. I took the dog downstairs and fell asleep on the sofa.

Day One

Whiskey is a calm cat. She doesn't usually go very far and likes to eat. (A bit like me.) She is a long haired, fluffy, tabby and white cat: ginger, black and white.

Whiskey has travelled from Hay-on-Wye, Wales, to Leicester, England. Whiskey is a cat used to dogs. Hopefully this move won't be too stressful.

She howled and meowed for about forty minutes from Hay-on-Wye to Leicester. So that's nearly two hours that she was quiet and seemed fine. 

I did a little reading and chatting before I arrived in Leicester. Keep the cat in one room. Don't force her out. Let her take her own time exploring. She will come out of the room eventually. Litter tray, litter, cat food... All ready.

I left Whiskey in her carrier for a few minutes while I got her food and litter tray ready. She was quiet and seemed calm. Opening the carrier, she still seemed calm. She stretched her legs forward, sniffed the air and crept out. She quickly scampered under the bed and I left her for a while. When I came back, she was lying, curled up, on the bed. She has been there for some time...

This is Whiskey the cat.

This is Sniffer the dog.

Soon, they will meet. How will they get on? Only time will tell.