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hamliet · 5 months

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Random ask, Hamliet. Can I ask how can your dog and cat not fighting each other? So I had a cat for 3 years, named Gojo (yes, I know it's cringe). And last month my sister who lived with me, got a puppy and want to keep him, she named him Sukuna just to spite me.... And they kept fighting each other. Do you mind if I ask for your advice, please?

HAHAHA I love their names! And it is not cringe! Well, aside from the fact that with their names you were kind of asking for it... (I'm kidding).

So. I think I lucked out to a degree? They have very similar extroverted personalities. That said, I do have some advice for you, so read on!

I've had Alyosha almost four years now, and he's a very friendly puppy who loves humans, dogs, and cats we see on the street. When we visit family who have cats (numerous cats) he would always want to snuggle with them, but only one allowed him. So I knew he liked them before I looked for a cat.

Smokey I got from a shelter, and he was actually being fostered at a home with dogs. He was noted to be good with dogs, but not with other cats, amusingly enough. So I thought it'd be a good fit, and I think it took them all of four days (two of which Smokey spent trying to die on me in the hospital, because he was a very sick kitty; like I got him and the next day had to bring him to the ER) for them to curl up next to each other.

Smokey, dying on me but still wanting to speak to the manager:

Smokey did hiss the first time he saw Yosh, but he kind of immediately took to me and so started taking to Alyosha soon after that. And Alyosha loves him; they frequently cuddle, and Alyosha refuses to eat his treaties unless Smokey is next to him and also receiving treaties.

Their first cuddle four days after I got him and 3 hours after I took Smokey home from the hospital; try to discern where one fluff ends and the other begins:

Awaiting treaties (and Smokey mimicking Yosh):

Also, Smokey is now larger than Alyosha by a fair amount. I accidentally adopted a panther I think -__- wish me luck, he's only eleven months and still growing...

(why is Smokey so large)

They do fight sometimes, though. It's kind of a sibling relationship. But it's never been like, a violent fight--more like annoying each other and then they slap each other a few times and storm off to me like MOM GUESS WHAT HE DID.

And then other times they team up on me. Like when I gave Alyosha a bath and Smokey sat on the counter watching and hissing... at ME. He then jumped onto the edge of the bathtub and touched noses with the dog like... I'm sorry Mom's such a bitch.

So, it depends on the size difference between Sukuna and Gojo. Is Sukuna a large dog? If that's the case, I would try to keep them from fighting. But if he is not, or even if he is a small puppy now, I would watch them when they fight. Are they actually trying to hurt each other? Or are they just being bratty? If the latter, let them fight; if the former, intervene.

I would also try to use their love for you. Namely, with the dog, since he's young. If the dog sees his beloved human loving the cat, then since he's so young he might not be jealous and might transfer that love to the cat. I think that's partially what happened with Smokey when he was a (younger) kitten--oh, she loves dog, she loves me, dog must also love me. I also think it might make sense when giving treats or something to have your sister start with Sukuna and you start with Gojo, just so that they both know that you prioritize them (to prevent jealousy, I always start with Alyosha since he was here first; I call it birth order rights, jk).

Good luck! And if anyone else has advice, please share!

Leaving you with a photo of the two of them from yesterday evening: