Wild (and Sometimes Crazy) Wednesday – Mixing it Up With Pets

Sorry there was no post yesterday. We were dealing with fire here in the Ojai Valley. So far, it’s close, but we’re within the small section of the west Ventura County that (so far) has not been affected other than by smoke and our anxiety. Many friends and family affected in various ways. Some have lost everything. Everyone safe.

Now for today’s theme. We  just have cats. Although there were times, when my girls were small and I was younger, when our household tried to accommodate cats, dogs, a bird, and even horses, sheep, and an occasional rabbit or hamster. We were a busy, on-the-go family and our activities revolved mostly around the animals (as you can imagine). And it’s a challenge to keep all the animals at peace with one another and relaxed in their surroundings.

I thought it might be helpful for some of you if I’d offer advice from the experts and links to help you with your multi-species household. Too often I see animals displaced when a new type is brought in. Cats turned out for the first time to accommodate a dog or vice versa, dogs crated or penned or tied up when a cat or lamb or pony becomes part of the family and so forth. It’s often difficult to maintain peace even among animals of the same species—like when you adopt a kitten and expect an aging cat to be happy about it.

There are remedies for most animal problems. I marvel at pet owners who are successful when bringing in multiple cats or dogs, for example. Sometimes I wonder if the demeanor and attitude of the person has a lot to do with how well animal strangers will adjust.

If your pets have issues with one another or you’d like to introduce a pet of a different species to your household, consider this: http://www.dogchatforum.com/introducing_dogs_to_cats.htm

http://messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/heavy_petting/2005/03/dogs_and_cats_living_together.html