INTRODUCING A RESCUE SPRINGER TO YOUR CAT
Written by Terry.
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Springers and cats can get on really well if introduced slowly and without fuss. This is Jethro, Terry's previous springer, with Holly, who later had to be introduced to Terry's latest rescue, Rosco. |
Reigning Cats & Dogs!
“OH NO!”, said a passer by to her husband, “That huge Springer is going to rip that poor little cat apart!”. The cat was just about to walk around the corner of the house, right into the path of the hungry looking Springer, and the scene for a potential blood bath was set. As the cat turned the corner, the dog ran at it, and started licking in her ears, and sniffing her all over, whilst the cat just wanted to rub to and fro under the dog’s chest!
Allow me to introduce Rosco first, my 4 year old black and white English Springer Spaniel, re-homed with me some 11 weeks ago by English Springer Spaniel Welfare. He has proved to be “Superdog”, fitting in with us incredibly quickly, and proving himself to be well trained, obedient, willing to learn, and highly intelligent. He had not associated with cats before, so this was a cause for some anxiety as we drove home with him. What was he going to make of Holly, our 2 year old cat, obtained from Cats Protection nearly 2 years ago?
On arrival home I took Rosco, on a lead, into the kitchen and sat on the floor with him for cuddles. Holly appeared at the kitchen window asking to come in. Act naturally I thought, don’t show an air of worry or fear, they would be bound to pick up on it. Holly appeared through the door and Rosco nearly dragged me, a formidable task, across the room with him. He wanted to get to the cat. Holly hissed and backed away but didn’t run off. She realised that Rosco was tethered. She stayed out of range whilst Rosco strained on the lead with tail wagging.
I gave Rosco a few inches, and the cat stood her ground, growling deep down and flashing her claws as a warning. Rosco, too keen to be bothered by such threats, still wanted to have a sniff. I called him back, without pulling the lead, and he came to me instantly. He sat beside me whilst Holly at the other end of the kitchen sat and watched him. This was after all, her kitchen. Every so often I would let him move towards her, but controlled him by voice without restraining with the lead.. Feeling confident, but ready to rush forward if needed, I released the lead.. Holly sat, and Rosco stood out of range, wagging his tail.
Holly asked to go out again, and did so, whilst I continued my bonding with Rosco until it was time to feed them, when Holly returned. We put their respective bowls down, about 4 feet apart and let them eat. No problems! But as soon as Rosco had bolted his food, he again wanted to introduce himself properly to Holly, who naturally enough, in view of the enormous size difference, was wary! He is a very stocky Springer, and she as a very small cat, had every right to be apprehensive. And so it went on throughout the evening, each time getting closer, and a little less flashing of claws.
5 hours after getting home with Rosco, I went up to bed with dog at heel. I sat on the bedroom floor to give him a few small treats, which had been a routine with Jethro before him. Holly appeared at the door, looked at us both, and edged slowly nearer. She too was used to having treats at bedtime. I put the small treats down one at a time, in front of each of them. Occasionally Holy shot forward, brave or stupid, and grabbed Rosco’s treat! He let her. After just a couple of minutes they were both laying on the floor, facing each other, 18 inches apart, whilst being given treats in turn.
That night Holly slept on the bed against my leg, whilst Rosco, unaccustomed to being allowed upstairs OR in a bedroom, luxuriated on a mat beside me on the floor. He lay there content for the entire night, appearing to happily accept his new surroundings. We had anticipated him pining, or missing his former home, but this never manifested itself in his period of adjustment.
On his first full day with us, Holly sneaked cautiously over to Rosco laying in his basket, and bravely sniffed noses with him. This was real progress. He just lay there as if realising that movement might frighten her. And so it went on day by day, with the pair of them getting ever bolder. Rosco, unaccustomed to a small furry bundle to play with was quite rough with her, and had to be reminded frequently to be gentle. Holly, without actually striking him, regularly swiped towards him with her claws, firmly establishing herself as the dominant half of the partnership. It has stayed like this since!
In exactly a week, Holly went over to Rosco in his basket, got in, made herself comfortable against him, and went to sleep. They sleep on the bed with me at night, after their treats, and either cuddle together, or him between my legs, and her against the outside of my leg. They are such firm friends, that when a neighbour’s cat encroached in our garden, the pair of them charged side by side down the garden to see it off. I haven’t seen that cat in the garden since!
When Rosco comes home from his walks, Holly waits at the top of the drive and runs to greet him, enthusiastically rubbing up and down against him. He likewise, when Holly returns to our garden from one of her scavenges, hears the jingle of her collar, and runs to her for a good sniff as she jumps down from the fence. They go to each other before coming to us!
They are the best of friends now, often eating side by side from the same bowl, even though they each have their own. The only flicker of jealousy is when Holly jumps up on a lap for cuddles, and he wants the same treatment. But at 23½ kilos, this is a little impractical. It is so nice to see them playing together now, quite boisterously sometimes, and to know that they each have a companion who is other than a human. Long may it remain so!