Hello all, Max here.
My folks have been talking about getting me a friend. Even though I'm getting very, very old and might not tolerate someone constantly nagging me, it also gets very, very lonely when Mom, Dad and Jessica leave the house. Also, having a friend means that someone might run "interference" with Jessica so she would pay attention to the new friend instead of my ears, especially when I'm trying to sleep.
So far, so good? Not exactly, my folks are thinking that my new friend is going to be...to be...I can't even say it: a c-a-t! Jessica loves c-a-t-s, and yes, I've heard a million times how they are easier to take care of the dogs. Dad thinks that I might be old enough and mellow enough that I won't really care if a c-a-t comes into the house. But then there's still the dachshund instinct, which even almost 17 years of age can't extinguish. Dad thinks that there is still a possibility that I my want to eat the c-a-t. Unfortunately, it's not like you can bring a c-a-t over for a play date to see if I will get along with it. It's kind of a all or nothing proposition.
Hmppph. Can't my hoomans just get me a buddy like my pal Basie instead of a c-a-t? Even though Basie is 12 years younger than me and has every conceivable physical advantage, Basie readily backs down to me. Even when he's eating, if I want what is in his dish, I just walk over there and Basie backs away and lets me eat it. Now, that's the kind of friend I want!
Hrrrrumph! C-A-T, INDEED! Dolly and Maddie 'portin' in with our not so humble opinion of this dastardly propostion. C-A-T means only three things. C. C. E. That's Chase, Catch and Eat. This dire situation sounds like a meeting of those for DWD-Dachshund World Domination-need to gather and discuss this C-A-T bizness. Do you really think, Max, old feller (and we say this with the utmost of respect) that a C-A-T is the answer? Do you think that you can actually tolerate a C-A-T in YOUR house, in YOUR room and (gulp)in YOUR bed? Do your hoomans think that you will just IGNORE the C-A-T? We have our doubts, for once a sniffer of cat, ALWAYS a sniffer of feline fur. Give your hoomans the L@@K! Urge them to consider carefully the consequences of their actions. Convey to them that a nice Baisie type dachsie would be much more suitable for your play enjoyment and that you don't need to be boxed in the ears by some pushy k-i-t-t-y--c-a-t.
With deepest sympathy,
Dolly and Madderoo
Sandi here! Hey! That's great that Jessica likes cats! I hope you find one that is gentle and kind, and not minding the frequent kid mauling. We had a cat named Tom (real imaginative name) growing up and that poor cat suffered such indignities as being forced to wear diapers and hats and even a wedding outfit, for he was to be married to Tabby the dog. He was a great ol' cat and we kids still talk about ol' Tom with much fondness. While Max may not be thrilled at first, I'm sure Cat will establish his/her place with ease and Max will learn that not only dachsies can rule the house.
Mark LOVES cats but unfortunately, Dolly is VERY prey driven (look at our possom adventures) and I'm afraid that Kitty would just be another rodent to be had on her MUST KILL AND EAT list.
Hey Max. We think a cat is a good idea. That is a tough one though not knowing if you will think of it as friend, or food! We're hoping you think friend. :xfinger: Is your Dad considering a puppy pal for you at some point too?
We have been kicking around a four-legged canine buddy for Max as well as the feline one. We're kind of torn between letting Max live out his days without having to worry about another dog (or cat) competing with him, versus both the loneliness issue and the "interference" issue with Jessica. I've had an affinity for some other breeds besides dachsies, notably German Shorthaired Pointers and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Obviously, neither of these would make a good combination with a very elderly dachshund like Max. We may go dachshund again, too, or another small breed like a Lhasa Apso. I think it's really just a matter of what is loaded into the dogapult when it lines us up in our sights.
These are the times that really make you wish they could just tell us what would make them happy! Hummmm....it's a tough one. Has Max ever been around a c.a.t.?
There is a few good questions here that need to be answered before getting the C-A-T. You must know the temperment of your dog, of course. My husband had an older doxie and he KILLED everything smaller than him (a hamster, a bird). This dog even chased a HUGE rabbit and took the rabbits tail off (tore the fur and made it bleed). So you see, some doxie's really have the hunting instinct. You wouldn't want to get a kitten with a dog like this.
Our two darlings now, Dash and Annie like their C-A-T-S. Yes, we have three indoor cats, plus two doxies running around the house. The dogs do chase the cats. The older cat runs and hides in a high place. Dogs can't find her and lose interest. Youngest cat tries to stand her ground but the puppers tag team her and she gives up and watches them from the top of her high cat tower. The only male cat in the house could care less if the doxies are out. He dares them to chase him. Dash chases him and then the cat turns around and chases Dash! What this cat has figured out is that if you don't run, they don't chase. It is very frustrating for Dash and Annie who will bark and bark at Sam, who will just not run if he doesn't feel like it. In fact, Sam will just throw himself on the carpet and sleep while Dash and Annie run around him barking like crazy trying to get Sam to get up.
Doxies and C-A-T-S do get along but I think you need to know your animals. Also, the cats were in the house first. Dash and Annie came as 9 and 11 week pups and even though they started chasing the cats from the start, the cats just got used to them. As long as the cats have a high place to go, they tolorate the dogs. Only Sam has boxed them and that is with claws in. He has only scratched them once and after that he never had to do so again. We also watched all the animals very carefully when they first got together to see how they would react.
With that said, the puppers see the cats as "their" cats, but not as real companions. The cats are companions to each other. Dash and Annie are companions to each other. But all together? The Cats and Dogs just tolorate each other right now. Because my puppers are just over 6 months, they are VERY active. Maybe when they are older and calmer, they may sit with a cat, but right now they want to play.
I don't know if this helps or not, but I hope it does.
Tess
Hi max, we're with you on da C A T issue, and the CCE is a good option.
Amy and OLiver
Roberta.
David we brought in Ingrid to Emma about 2-3 years prior to her going to the bridge, she hardly tolerated Angus as pup!. Ingrid did get a few GRRRRRRRR away from me, kiddo, but Emma ignored her, till she got a bit older. Age wise we still had to watch the other two running with her as they tended to knock her over. Alos the Lhasa Apso need a lot of upkeep coat wise and I've known a few with seizure issues.
On cats I'm not lover, would not hurt them, but to fussed about them.
I thought you meant C-A-N-C-E-R. (That's our family's C-word!)
a CAT?!!!!!! Let's see what the dogapult does...
Max lived with cats with his original owners. He liked chasing them, but he never hurt any of them. Eventually him and the oldest female cat learned to tolerate each other. There were moments where Max would actually lick the cat and the cat would purr. However, it's been nearly 14 years since he last lived with a cat.
I'm not worried about the cat's welfare. A cat can easily jump up out of the way, and there's no way that Max could even keep up on a level field chase. With a good number of his teeth gone, he really can't do much damage in the event he actually managed to catch a cat. I'm more concerned about Max's mental well being. While he is in good shape physically for a dog less than a month shy of his 17th birthday, mentally he's definitely slipping. Whatever various neuroses Max has had in his life, old age seems to exacerbate them. It's not a quality of life issue for him yet, but I could see it becoming one. A cat might be enough to send him "over the edge".
:thinik:
Well, David, you've got a pickle there. A c-a-t just might be too frustrating for Max. Maybe an older mellow cat? My best friend had an older dog (not a doxie, but with perhaps some doxie somewhere in the blood) who just crossed the bridge last Dec. Bruce was 18 or 19 years old when he passed. He had a younger dog as a friend who he pretty much paid little attention to as he got older. Belka was quite a few years younger than Bruce. When Bruce couldn't go for runs or long walks, he didn't give much attention to Belka. He slept quite a bit and waited for his mommy who came home to see him on her lunch hour. He would then sleep, eat and piddle till mom got home to clean the kitchen floor and help him outside for air.
So I guess what I am saying is that maybe just lots of people attention would be OK. Each dog is different. Sam the cat thinks it is very fun to have the doxies chase him under the table. He jumps on a chair and then from chair to chair to chair, just out of reach of the little doglets who chase him from underneath all the chairs. Sam is such a tease!
I hope everything works out well for you and Max.
Tess