The good thing about being a " househusband" is that you are on hand to watch the kids interact and show their personality traits. Just like humans, animals will develop particular friendships with each other and will often seek each other out for a play, a greeting and a moment of affection.
Over the past few months, I have noticed that Albert and Winnie have developed such a relationship. Whereas the other dogs cannot quite understand that a face to face rub is "cat speak" for hello, Winnie latched on to its meaning immediately and now will stand impassively as Albert gleefully rubs her chops time and time again, his tail tickling the Bulldog's chin like a hairy windscreen wiper.
On the bed, the two will sleep quietly together, and after Albert has been away for the day, ripping the guts out of some unsuspecting rabbit, it is Winnie who will lumber over to him when he returns to carefully stare into his face to make sure it is him (This is a trait of Bulldogs by the way) She then will slowly examine him all over taking several long sniffs of cat arsehole as she does so.
Strangely this odd little ritual doesn't faze Albert whatsoever, in fact he seems to relish the attention.
Attention the terriers refuse to dish out.
I think it is Winnie's lack of irritability that has cemented their odd little friendship, that and the fact that it was Albert that did all of the running. Whatever the reason, their antics never fail to amuse me.
Ray has a friend too. Of our two cats, Juno is the one that loves her big dog, runs to greet him when he returns from his walk, winds in between his long legs, stands on her hind legs to rub her face on his snout, and likes to lick his soft ears. Ray will stand passively with a perplexed look on his face. She also loves to tease him by zooming past him right under his nose then sitting off to one side to watch as he flails around trying to find her. (sad but hilarious)
ReplyDeleteI love the interaction, especially since his interaction with our last two cats was distinctly more adversarial - they were old, he was young and bred to hunt. I can't even imagine what it took to overcome that instinct to become friends with a cat.
Inter-species relationships are so touching - I should know.
ReplyDeleteI get misty just seeing our two brother-cats, playing together and snuggling up with each other. Seeing animals spread the love is even better.
ReplyDeletewish humans would take lessons from the animals...
ReplyDeletelol I am not sure I could cope with sniffing bums! lol
Deletesorry I am such a child today!
minus the bum sniffing, then...too gross!
DeleteI love to see a good relationship between dogs and cats. Our Kane wants nothing to do with our four cats no matter how much they may try.
ReplyDeleteit was always such a sweet sight to pop down to the barn at night and see dear old Duff covered in a blanket of barn cats .. all warm and toasty for the night.
ReplyDeleteIn our case it's the cat Sissy who sniffs our dog Sam and then curls up next to him in the bed at night....all the while we fight for leg room!
ReplyDeleteNice that they're buddies!
ReplyDeleteI only have Minette the kitten. She would probably beat any dogs a**. She was found lying in the snow next to a dead cat so I think her beginnings made her tough. Although she is known to run to Mama when she hears a big noise. I love it that your babies are buddies.
ReplyDeleteWe all need buddies. besitos. C
It's our 'baby', Geraldo, who has developed a relationship with Connolly, the kidling's cat. They tussle and then give one another baths... the other dogs either ignore Connolly or, in Lily's case, tries to hump him.
ReplyDeleteLily is a straaaange pooch, lol.
Animal friendships are interesting John. My son and his wife had one cat, a three legged one called Sinbad. When his life long companion died he became very lonely and was pining away. The vet advised a new cat - not a kitten but one around a year old, from a cat rescue Texas duly arrived and for a while they were buddies. Now Sinbad is furiously jealous of Texas's every move and they really don't know what to do.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to have kids.
ReplyDeleteWe could all learn from these two.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo. Their friendship brings to mind the film, "Her Majesty Mrs. Brown." Though Winnie looks more like Queen Victoria than Judi Dench did. LOL
ReplyDeletemy Bulldog has also a special feelings to Edmund the cat.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo but I love the photo bombing Scotty George jumping in.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning Watson goes over and touches noses with thhamish. Then gives he a small sniff around thehamiah's eyes and ears. It is very sweet.
cheers, parsnip
I don't think my cat knows she is a cat or the dogs don't know the difference. They take turns playing with each other. Kind of weird.
ReplyDeleteI find Thomas is always happy to get in bed with me; his hairy windscreen wiper in my face can be a little too much though if I'm not in the mood for it.xx
ReplyDeleteAlbert looks like Night Fury from How to Train your Dragon.
ReplyDeleteDogs (and cats) know how to do love! But there appears to be a sheep on the bed with Winnie and Arthur...I hope it's my eyes...
ReplyDeleteThat's very sweet. I wish our cats would get along half as well.
ReplyDeleteAre they in love?
ReplyDeleteWinnie, keep your paws off! Albert is MINE. Still, in all fairness, I thank you for looking after him in my absence. Has John Le Gray made his last will and testament yet?
ReplyDeleteU
Our two male cats have lived with each other for over 10 years. Still, when they pass in the hall, they eye each other up as though they were going into a duel. They both despise Charlie the poodle, who is totally in love with Minnie our little female cat. They are all scared of the rabbits, and terrified of the ferrets. Sheesh, it's like living in a zoo.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine David Attenborough's whispered voiceover as he narrates a new wildlife series from your corner cottage. He might even remark upon the endangered Common Gray and its strange feeding and toilet habits.
ReplyDeleteThose relationships are always a joy to watch. And no stranger than many I have observed in our own species.
ReplyDeleteMy shyest cat, OnceSlim, has taken a sudden interest in my youngest dog. It is a very interesting relationship and provides no end of entertainment. I think it is much more interesting than reality television.
ReplyDeleteWinnie & Albert's relationship has come a long way from the early days when Winnie cornered Albert in the loo & Winnie was ready to attack Albert. It's nice that they have formed a peaceful relationship. Maybe the phrase "strange bedfellows" might suit this relationship.
ReplyDeleteMilhous the guardian angel cat used to stand on his tip toes so he could rub his head against Faulkner the genius smooth collie's chin. They napped together on the bed. Those days are gone. New times are here.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
My mum has 4 dogs. 3 bitches, the dog loves all the bitches but the girls don't like each other much. He kisses them in the morning, I say a kiss, more of a whiskery rub, like when you meet an old aunt!
ReplyDelete"I love comments and will now try very hard to reply to all of them x"
ReplyDeleteI still don't believe you.
Even I can be busy some nights thomas
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