Conference misery::feline_v1

    Wellllll, you say 4 month "pup" and a 9 month "kitten".  I think
    that says it all!  Hang in there for about a year and a half -
    maybe by then they will have calmed down - spaying and neutering
    (spaying females at 6 months - neutering males at 7-8 months)
    "usually" helps!  I think that if the pup gets too rough, the
    kitten will be smart enough to leave the area - usually high
    enough where the pup can't climb.  My 12 cats do the 1200 yard
    dash 24 hours a day - they roll, tumble, chew each other - they
    have all picked up a habit from one of my girls - raise a paw
    and bob one another on the head, then run!  
    
    Hope you stay with Feline - keep us informed - sounds like your
    two babies will provide us with many funny stories.
    
    ZhivagoCat Lady + 12

    You'll enjoy this one.  I keep kitty's food up high so that pup
    won't
    eat it, but now as they do the 3 yard dash across the dining room
    into the kitchen kitty scoots across the table (though she not supposed
    to) onto the counter, hits her food dish which lands on the floor
    then we have a mad dash from both trying to see who can get to the
    food and milk first.  Is there any way I can hang her food from
    the ceiling?
    
    Will it really take over a year for them to calm down?  
    
    Kitty has learned to hide from the pup she either gets up n the
    piano or some high perch or she hides in the flower pots that are
    lined up against the wall with other plants in fromt.
    
    Great fun!!!!!!!

    RE: Is there any way I can hang her food from the ceiling?
    
    How about on top of the refrigerator?  Worked with my last cats.
    
    Holly

    I used to use (back when I only had 3 or 4 or 5 cats) a doggie crock.
    It's very heavy - even my kids that like to burry what they don't
    finish can't push it too far!  Try the large size - it's weighs
    more - you probably won't fill it - but the extra weight helps.
    Isn't it fun sweeping up the krunchies??  After they crash into
    the bowl, they turn around and look at you and wonder why you
    are hopping up and down.  Sigh,.... Enjoy them - they are only
    babies for a short time!
    
    E.T.

    Wait!! Wait!!! This behavior isn't a bug, it's a feature!!!
    
    Enjoy it!!
    
    Edd

    Boy, my 12 are developing new features every day - think I
    should market them??
    
    E.T.

    I thank you all for your responses and will certainly try everything
    and anything I can.  Wiping up the milk and crunchies daily reminds
    me of the days when my twin sons were going through the terrible
    twos.
    
    Seriously though my concern is that the dog will begin to hate the
    cat cause she is the one that ends up getting swatted with the
    newspaper, cause the cat disappears after she gets the circus started.
    
    Any hope of them becoming friends?

    I agree - enjoy the experience and find creative ways to handle
    their antics.
    As "youngsters" you haven't a whole lot to worry about with your
    pets, if they are enjoying each other, that's wonderful, it COULD
    lead to a respectful peaceful coexistence throughout their life
    spans. However, as obvious as it may seem, it is always wise to
    keep in mind that dogs/cats are natural enemies - so as they grow
    older, you may be a bit more cautious with interaction. By that,
    I mean to monitor your dog's behaviour for signs of attitude change
    toward your cat.
    
    They may remain "friends", but much will depend on your dog. If
    you ever see your dog take after another cat (with violent intent)
    you might have to eventually separate them. Growing up together
    may create a bond between them, so hope for that outcome - it seems
    you have as ideal a situation as you could hope for in that respect.
    Encourage their friendship, however you can.
                                                    Marvin

re: .10

Brandy (my dobie) makes a clear distinction between "her" cats and the
"invaders" that drop into her yard uninvited....she will chase a strange
cat BECAUSE it runs away and her instincts are to chase when something
runs.  She does not hurt any cat she corners, she just tries to sniff
it, which gets her nose thoroughly scratched....so, DON'T PANIC if your
dog chases other cats, it's just nature and does not mean your dog
will hurt your own kitten(s).  I do recommend a strong verbal reprimand
when the dog chases a cat, but I know from long experience that dogs
and cats co-exist for years - not only without problems, but with deep
affection for one another....my gang sleeps in one big happy cluster
on the water bed during the day....and ear washing is a service provided
both ways (although Brandy does get everyone REAL wet when she reciprocates).

    
    RE:0
    
      If your in a hurry for your dog and cat to stop running your not
    gonna like my experience.We got a dobe at 4 months and had a cat
    as well.They got along great untill the cat got too old to run a-
    round with the dog.the cat is still alive at 13 years.The dobe and
    the cat would run from room to room untill as I said the cat got
    old.We got another cat 3 years ago the dog was almost 8 by then
    and it started again,that dog never got old at heart,she would keep
    up with that cat and when they were tired would lay down together
    to rest untill the cat (she would usually start the chase) would
    get frisky again.The dog ran and played with that cat like two big
    kids running around the house untill the day before her emergency
    operation (died 2 weeks later from a twisted stomach).
      We now have a 2 year old greyhound and this dog really flies around
    the house.Just as before the dog and cat get along great,untill
    we have enough of the noise and yell at them to "KNOX IT OFF" then
    the cat hides and the dog lays on her mat untill they start again.
      Have fun watching your animals play as long as you can stand the
    noise.Our dog never heart the cat,infact the cat made the dog cry
    a few times,claws are sharp.
    
     Steve