Thoughts about my puppy from a former Cat Lady

I have spent most of my life in the company of cats. My parents had a female Siamese called Ophelia when I was born (and she hated me until the day she died at the ripe old age of 16). I got my first very own cat when I was 8 and many, many cats followed. My cats had full run of the outdoors until we moved when I was 17. After one of the cats had a fatal run-in with a car, we decided to have only house cats and I continued that tradition for most of my life.

We took the dog plunge first in the late 60s with the purchase of a Cairn terrier puppy we named Sgt. Pepper. Unfortunately, he had a fatal run-in with a car and it wasn't until 1974 that another dog entered our lives. Wadleigh (as my father and I named him one evening after a few cocktails) lived for a good long time and we all loved him. But we always had cats in residence. 

As an adult, I always had cats. As you may know from my former blog, my last cat in residence was Gracie - a beautiful British shorthair who had the unfortunate case of resting bitch face. But she was lovely. I had to rehome her after I moved to Oban. She hated the move and both my son-in-law and my younger granddaughter were extremely allergic to her. She was rehomed in December. By April, I was feeling very alone and knew I needed a fur baby. But I wasn't sure if I was up to having a dog. Now I have Roxie, a 12-week old Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix. So, what are my observations since going to the bark side (apologies to Star Wars)? 

When it comes to temperament, I have to say that I find a dog far more amiable. Cats, with few exceptions, are indifferent at the best of times. They don't lack displays of affection, but it is almost always to their advantage. If I left the room, I would be lucky if the cat even noticed. How incredibly different it is living with a dog. Roxie cries if she can't see me (even if she can hear me). Every morning, she greets me with nearly hysterical happiness. When the kids visit, she is excited by their presence. She has figured out she can watch them when they leave by looking out the window and then she cries. Cats rarely show their emotions; dogs wear their hearts on their sleeves. I think I like that. I like knowing that I am more than a food distribution worker and toilet cleaner. I think the bottom line is a question of intelligence. Cats have a wider display of intelligence, while dogs are intelligent in their way, but are mostly goofballs. I have met very few feline goofballs.

My cats frequently did the "happy poop dance." This would be a race around the house for no particular reason other than to celebrate the evacuation of their bowels (apparently). This didn't happen every time they visited the litter box, but was amusing when it happened. Roxie, on the other hand, has a good case of zoomies every day. At some point, and for no reason, she will race around the apartment while making a happy sound that resembles a growl but is certainly a sound of joy. She gets so carried away, she will face plant into furniture when it gets in the way. She doesn't care, she just keeps going. Those of us who know cats know that when they do land awkwardly or misstep, they are wholly embarrassed and will often give a look that says, "You did NOT see that." For Roxie, the look is, "wheeeeeee" regardless of obstacles.

Dogs are far less particular about people. Cats are not as tolerant of humans as dogs are. Cats rarely seek out the company of humans, unless, of course, it is because the human needs to perform a task that is in the cat's best interest. Dogs love everybody - at least most of the dogs I've met, and most certainly Roxie. She exhibits an incredible excitement when meeting new people. She doesn't know a stranger and loves people. She is never aloof or standoffish. She is ready to lick anyone within an inch of their lives.

It is still early days and I am sure there will be some mannerisms I don't find adorable, but, for now, I adore this puppy. I could do without her need to chew everything (rugs, table legs, doors). Even after spraying with something that is supposed to keep them from chewing, she is still having a good old gnaw from time to time (less now that she has a piece of antler to chew on). Potty training is still to happen because at 1.3kg, she is too light for flea and tick treatment, so I don't want to take her outside until she has that protection. Fortunately, she is very clever and has never missed her pads when peeing. Pooping - well, we are getting better about using the pads exclusively. She already knows the word "treat" and understands "pad!" and understands "No!," even if she doesn't always adhere to the intended meaning of my uttering the word. 

I miss the low maintenance of a cat, but I appreciate that Roxie is going to give me reasons to do more than I have been doing. We will take walks (once she has the flea and tick treatment) and she will get me moving more in order to play fetch. Roxie has been a huge shot in the arm for me. I feel far less lonely and friends have observed that I seem happier and more enthusiastic about life. Do I still miss my wonderful husband? Of course I do. But when I feel sad, I can see that little face looking at me with so much love. Makes grief far more bearable. And I have rediscovered my sense of humour since Roxie came to live with me. 

I still love cats, but I am so pleased that I took the plunge to add a puppy to my life. She gets me up every morning at a good time and keeps me going! It's lovely to have a four-legged friend again.