As of January 2010 when this page was started, we had three cats and a dog.
The page is updated Sunday the 24th of January, 2016.
Since we take Misty, and sometimes Xanna, for walks with our dog, there are some interesting anecdotes on the subject. This page is a blog - with links to other relevant pages.
I could write a lot on this subject but the relationship will always make itself: I think there is little the owner can do to assist. We carefully chose Poppy for temperament, reading up on breed characteristics and choosing a breed that was likely to do well. Poppy is 75% Springer spaniel, with 25% Labrador. We also carefully considered the breeder: Poppy was born into a private household and had lots of human company in her early days. Her mother (Springer-Lab cross) had a beautiful temperament.
All three cats fairly quickly accepted Poppy - though as far as we can tell, none of the cats can think of any use for her!
We went down to Green Bottom for a few days after christmas. Snow everywhere. Very cold, very wet. No problem for a dog, but not very clement, so she only had couple of shorter walks, But for a cat - and a Siamese at that? We left Misty in the warm.
So, when we put Misty in the car to leave, she completely lost her temper and was a real rat bag. Misty, normally a very placid and happy cat, snapped at Poppy, and at Xanna. And at us! She really was upset we'd not taken her!
The problem with cat and walks is that their communication and body language is not on the same level as a dog, who has little problem communicating with a human. But a cat mewing in a car? I it excitement or distress? With many of the cats I have walked, they are clearly asking me for something: not food, not affection. I have suspected it's walkies. With Misty, there is now no doubt - she is addicted to walking with us!
Then I happened to look up: there was Xanna some 25 feet up the mains electricity distribution pole outside the house. We tried to encourage her down. no luck! So I knocked on the neighbours door - yes, they had a ladder though it wouldn't be quite long enough. Getting a cat down from a live electricity pole is dangerous: I'm an electronic engineer and have a healthy respect for electricity!
So I started extending the ladder up the pole. Part way up, Xanna decided it was now safe and backed carefully all the way down to the ground! Shame I didn't have the camera - but we were rather more concerned with Xanna's safety. It's the second time she's hot stuck up an electricity pole (first was in Witcombe). I wonder how many lives she has left!
However the Forest of Dean was beautiful in the snow, see the pictures of Green Bottom in the snow. After Misty telling us off at the end of December, we had to take her on the walks. Being a Siamese cat, she has a thin coat, so can't take the cold. So she spent most of the three walks in my coat with her neck craned out to see what was around. She ventured out a few times, but that white stuff was really cold to walk on!
It did the trick: she was her normal happy self on the way home.
© 2010 Richard John Torrens.
Page first published Sunday the 17th of January, 2010.
Last modified: Tue, 18 Mar 2025 11:55:47 GMT
Document URI: www.torrens.org/Cats/blog.html