Welcome to my animal farm

Never say never. I guess, when it comes to the typesof pets I havehad, never is not a word I know.

Dogs have been a constant in my life since my father died over 15 years ago. I have had five canine companions, at the most, at a time.

Today, there are Gorby, Nik, Tasha, Yuri, and Cola. Pong is my Sulcata Tortoise who has been with us for almost 10 years now. Pong has his own little space in our garden. He is a vegetarian and loves kangkong leaves. The doggies are used to him so they very much leave him alone when they go out to the garden.

In the past, I had two Peruvian Guinea Pigs. We called them Pepe and Pilar. They lived together until Pilar got pregnant. Not being a great Peruvian Guinea Pig mom, I kept Pepe and Pilar together even when Pilar was pregnant. Bad decision. Pepe got killed by Pilar and Pilar almost ate her babies because I did not separate them when they were born.

Well, Pilar eventually died — although I took her to the vet to try to keep her alive. Didn’t work.

I went into an exotic stage for pets, too. I searched high and low for those animals which were rare and perhaps even endangered. At the time, I felt that if I could help save one, I was doing my animal life preservation deed.

I got a ferret. I named her Farah ferret. I was told that if I held her every day, she would be tamed. I did hold her every day, but the taming never came. I had to eventually use gloves when I held her because she would bite. She did not live very long.

Yes, I did have a few birds. That was until I accepted the fact that nothing should be caged. There went the birds. Fish in an aquarium are not my thing so I never did get into the fish habit. They are too cold for me.

I thought about getting a tiger once. I even went as far as visiting a place where they sold tigers. But, I did not like that the tiger was de-clawed and de-fanged. It was for my own protection I was told. But, what about the tiger? I wondered. Never got the tiger.

I checked out a few iguanas, too. But iguanas, like fish and snakes, are really too cold for me. Plus, I think I am the type who likes my pets a little fluffy.

Enter Pepsi

Now, a cat is a different thing altogether.

My five doggie companions are not too fond of cats — although, there are quite a few cats that our driver feeds from time to time.

I shared about how Pepsi came into our lives. I rescued her from crossing the big street that leads to Ultra in Pasig, where I live.

Pepsi now has her own bed, we buy her cat food and she even has a barkada; the cat next door, who is also a rescued cat.

I really never thought that I would even own a cat — or that a cat would ever own my heart. But it is funny how I ask about her and her whereabouts when I get home at night. I am many times paranoid that she may run into the street and get run over. In the morning before I leave the house, my doggies and I go outside and each of us peer at and look for Pepsi — each of us for different reasons, I guess.

But I must say that two of my doggies are less angered by the presence of Pepsi in our front yard — Gorby the Toy Poodle and Yuri the Schnoodle.

Pepsi can sit beside our helper E and Yuri sits on her lap and Yuri leaves Pepsi very much alone. Gorby lets Pepsi have her way when she enters his area. He doesn’t chase her unless she bothers him. Otherwise they just let each other be.

I have often wondered if I could bring Pepsi into the house without causing damage to Pepsi or to the house. One day I will try. For now, let me share with you 10 lessons I have learned from dogs, cats, and living in peace.

Dogs and cats together?

10

It’s true that some cats and dogs will not make good housemates. However, I have been told that under the right conditions, many cats and dogs can live together.

9

The majority of cats can happily coexist with a dog if they are given time to get to know each other.

8

If a puppy and kitten are raised together, they generally will learn right away to tolerate each other, and some cats and dogs grow to be real friends.

7

When you first introduce a cat and dog, make sure the cat is at the dog’s eye level. Hold them tightly so they can’t break free, just in case they decide they don’t like each other.

6

If one of the animals seems either aggressive or frightened, take the cat away.

5

Don’t force them to be friends. Let them get used to each other one day at a time.

4

Never leave a cat and dog alone together.

3

A cat may not like all the doggies, but it will be able to tolerate them. However, I have discovered that there may be one or two that it will definitely not be able to live with. Much like people, right?

I have discovered this because no matter how we try to show Tasha, our Toy Poodle that Pepsi is our cat, she is always very aggressive towards Pepsi. And Pepsi shows the same aggressiveness towards her.

2

Allow the cat and dog to sniff and inspect each other to their hearts’ content — but keep a sharp eye out for any signs of aggression on either animal. 

1

I believe that some cats and dogs will just tolerate each other. But, I am hopeful that one day, one of my doggies will become a true friend to Pepsi.

Wishful thinking?

I hope not.