Just Pass Me By

Ever do something thinking, I have to protect my cat, but end up sending the wrong message. That what I did last night. Dad was able to get his dog from the foster home who been training for some stuff, she not a service dog but a companion dog because of dad emotional and mental state of mind. Dad been very happy I haven’t seen him smile this much. Him not having the dog isn’t a option. Otis gets along with dogs, and I knew shadow got along with cats, so when I brought Shadow home I just lift her have free run of the house which would have been find…..
At first Otis and Shadow just sniffed each other butts, okay not worrying about it. They played for a little while, so I felt hopeful. Otis came to get attention from me and Shadow wasn’t going to have nothing to do with that, so every time I gave Otis attention, Shadow would attack Otis. Well, Shadow is very territorial, so giving her the run of the house was not wise.
After giving Otis some attention I had to go to the bedroom to print up a couple of things, so I went in. I decided that Shadow should not be allowed in the Master Bedroom that is mine and bubby’s room, and well Otis place to go when Shadow is to much for him. Otis played very gently with Shadow, so he is very fatherly type of a cat, and will not do much damage to the dog. Otis was hissing and growling loud and shadow will beating up on the cat. I told Shadow No, bad… Otis is used to me just saying bad, and knowing he better find the Westgate out of trouble.
I picked up Otis to get him away from Shadow, and brought Otis into our bedroom, and gave him attention. Otis was very upset, and didn’t much want any attention from me.. When I got done with my work, I came back out with Otis and Shadow started in on the cat again. Otis got so frustrated he shed a bunch of hair under his chair, and was growling and shaking, he peed on himself. Otis has never done that so I can’t much blame him. I brought Otis back to the bedroom with me for a while, and give him more attention and love. By removing Otis I was showing Shadow she was boss not Dad or I and hubby or Otis who lived her first and this is his home. Otis had tears in his eyes by the time I’d gotten him in the bedroom with me. This wasn’t the right thing for me to do.. Yes I was right in wanting to protect cat, but I should have grabbed Shadow first and put her dad’s bedroom, but I felt that would be mean, and both pets should have the run of the house.
I got very worried about Otis because he was showing to many signs of stress, hiding under his chair and even with me pulling him out form their doing his low meow of leave me be or else, and walking away crunch as close to the floor as he could, I got worried about Otis and his responds, so I brought him back to the room. After a while I decided I would call the dog sitter I clearly need help Shadow not listening and I have stressed out cat on my hands.
When I called I told her I have a question and I do not know what to do. I told her the interactions first question was is the cat okay. Well their no physical damage, so yeah but Otis is really upset. I told her what Shadow was doing. Here I was worried about Otis hurting Shadow and not the other way around. Otis is close to 20 pounds he’s not a tiny cat, Shadow is oh maybe 6 pounds so how can one little dog cause so many problems for Otis, poor Otis.
What I was told is that I should have picked up Shadow, not Otis and put shadow in dad’s bedroom.. Otis I should have came back to.. But you know it’s hard Otis is like my little one, so to watch him being picked on my first instinct was to pick him up. What I was told is that for the next 24 to maybe 48 hours shadow is to be confined to one room, she is not to have free run of the house, because she will try to run control over it.. She needs to learn the humans and cat are in charge. I think Otis won’t care as long as he can get his love from me and attention from me. He has shared me with other dogs, and will be welling to share me with Shadow. If Shadow was a service dog for deafness or sight she would strictly be dad’s dog, and Otis would have no worry, but shadow is a companion dog so their a small different.
I think I might have dad and Shadow both go through some training together. Plus I will need to find something to clean up her bathroom mistakes she retaliating against me! What I have learned when you introduced two different animals it’s wise to let them meet each other and if you have one already there and bring a new on in. It if the new one starts being territorial that it’s okay to place it in a bedroom and give it a smaller area to be in.
Tomorrow depending on how Otis is acting I will let shadow out, but if he still acting scared then I might have to let them visit with each other every day for a little while, then put Shadow back in the room, and gradually increase their time together. I believe Otis and Shadow will eventually get very close to each other.. They were fine until I gave Otis attention..