It`s not much but...

**ChrisH** · 04-29-2003, 12:15 PM

...I wanted to tell you about it
What happens every day when I take Bob for a walk, and/or outside to play, Ebbs ventures downstairs. Before we go, she sometimes will be upstairs looking through the window to see we are really gone, but most times she will sit on the stairs watching us and as soon as we are out downstairs she will come. I must explain at this point how I know this, it is because there is a small window right next to the back door that gives a view of the stairs on the right, and straight ahead, the hallway and living room. I always look through when we come home to see if I can spot where she is before I open the door, she usually hears the key, comes running and jumps though the stair rails and, again, sits watching for a short while.
This morning was a bit different. She watched us leaving from the stairs as usual, but she must have at last realised that I never let Bob straight in, because when I checked through the window on coming home there she was, sitting in the living room just staring back at me, and when I opened the door and entered she just kept on sitting there. Wasn`t quite sure what to do then, I talked to her as I took of my coat and boots etc but I know going in and fussing on her would just send her upstairs. I couldn`t just let Bob in because he would rush straight at her and who knows how that would go, badly I suspect. So, I sort of took the middle ground, shut the living room door, let Bob in and put him in his crate, then opened the door for her and this is what happened. (Id already run up for my camera)

She went back upstairs as usual anyway!

Like I already wrote, it was nothing much, don`t really know why I bothered you all with it!

**Cataholic** · 04-29-2003, 01:37 PM

Progress, in any fashion, is progress. Who knows what will happen next, now that you went to great lenght to make it better for her this time. So, is it that she is afraid of Bob? Or, that Bob won't leave her alone?

**Barbara** · 04-29-2003, 01:41 PM

That's great. She seems to enjoy that she's alone in the place

**Logan** · 04-29-2003, 01:52 PM

Oh, Chris, I'm glad you showed/shared this with us!!

Butter, who is an indoor/outdoor boy, loves to go on walks with us!!! I wish I had a picture of him running his little heart out to keep up when we take Honey and Lilly for a walk!! At our old house, we had to let him go one block, then let him inside to catch his breath!! No different here, except that the blocks are much bigger and not so easy for the little boy. But he LOVES to walk with us!! Mimi, on the other hand, just likes to watch or ignore, sort of like Ebb! She used to like to walk with us, but in her old age, she doesn't participate as much, and she likes having the house to herself, free of the dreaded Butter Cat!!!

**ChrisH** · 04-29-2003, 03:23 PM

Thanks Barbara, Logan and Cataholic for your interest.

Logan, Misty the cat from next door, would follow Glenys, (a lady in our street who cats just gravitate to

) on to the field when she took her then dog out on a walk. She would follow her owner across there too when she went to the local shop, she would stop at the end of the field and wait until she came back and then resume her walk with her. She (Misty) stopped doing so though not long after she was attacked by a dog from the next street. She was ok, no obvious damage, but it made her a lot more cautious of where she went after that. There is another cat who also follows her owner and their dogs on the field sometimes and I do worry about it. Its not like with Butter going around the blocks, it so very open and there are so many dogs about and no cover, if they got it in their head to chase her/him....maybe I am just a worrywort.

So, is it that she is afraid of Bob? Or, that Bob won't leave her alone?

Johanna, a mixture of both I think. Bob is a very bouncy, enthusiastic (sp?) dog, (a typical Springer

) and Ebby`s history regarding dogs is totally unknown. Bob is quite used to her being here now and seems to want to be friends, but Ebbs is still so wary of him, she took a swipe at him the other day! Maybe I am over cautious but I will not take the chance of just letting Bob run loose around her, he likes to chase too much and she will surely run! Basically, I am letting Ebby set her own scene, hoping one day she will be comfortable enough to be in the same room as Bob. One day maybe!!

Thanks again

Christine

**jenluckenbach** · 04-29-2003, 03:48 PM

I think Ebby is so smart. She KNOWS when she can safely come down stairs. Brainy little girl. Did she need to walk past Bob's crate to go upstairs (could not tell in the picture). But knwing that she stayed down even for a little while longer than usual, is progress.

**Pam** · 04-29-2003, 03:59 PM

Originally posted by ChrisH

Like I already wrote, it was nothing much, don`t really know why I bothered you all with it!

Chris please don't for one minute think you bothered any of us! I love to hear about Bob and Ebby and am hoping that one day they may at least be able to occupy the same room at the same time!

Ebby is a smart little girl and is to be commended for being wary. I enjoy all of your pictures and love to hear about the antics of your two. All of us here who have introduced a new pet to an established pet have gone through the worry that you are going through and totally understand and commisserate (sp?). In the meantime any pictures are always welcome!

**NoahsMommy** · 04-29-2003, 04:34 PM

What a cutie girl! She's very smart, knowing when its safe.

That was progress though, maybe she's realizing that he's not going anywhere.

You know how females kitters can be.

**ChrisH** · 04-29-2003, 04:47 PM

Awww, thanks Pam and Jen

and you too Kelly!

Jen, yes she does need to walk past Bob`s cage if she wants to go anywhere downstairs. I`ve enlarged the two pics where you can just see him, lying there quiet, bless him. He is top right in the first pic and on the bottom left in the second. Sorry about the picture quality, I really do need a better camera!

Chris

**kimlovescats** · 04-29-2003, 06:00 PM

Ahhhhhh how wonderful! I would bet that these little visits will become more frequent with time... and who knows... eventually Bob may be able to be out of his cage when Ebby is around!!!!

**krazyaboutkatz** · 04-29-2003, 11:43 PM

This is great progress.

Hopefully Ebby and Bob will be able to be in the same room someday without Bob being in his crate.

**Ally Cat's Mommy** · 04-30-2003, 12:34 AM

Oh I do hope the eventually end up being friends!

Ebby certainly sounds like a clever little kitty!

**ChrisH** · 04-30-2003, 06:35 AM

kim, KAK and AllyCM, thanks, hope so!

Ebbs didn`t come down today. She was waiting as usual but when Bob and I got outside in the yard it began to bucket down with rain so we went back in. We did go a bit later but by that time she had gone back up and was sulking in her hidey-hole

and she is still there!
This is Ebbs and Bob waiting for us to go

And this is the two of them sulking, Bob cos we didn`t go right away and Ebbs cos we didn`t go when she wanted us too!

And finally, if looks could kill.....

**IttyBittyKitty** · 04-30-2003, 07:05 AM

... Getting a kitty to like a doggie when they haven't been exposed to dogs before! Even if they have, they soon forget (my cat Milo lived with a dog for about six months into her kittenhood and loved the dog to peices, but nowadays is scared of even toy dogs)! Keep at it, you seem to be making some small steps of progress and good luck!