Just had a herbal tea with honey – for anyone out there who likes the smell of herbal tea but is constantly disappointed by the lack of flavour – a teaspoon of honey works wonders – you only have to wake up in an Alpine hut to know this – it’s the way they like it in the Alps, herbal tea and honey. The sweetness brings out the flavour – try it!
One of the guys I work with was sporting a particularly nasty scratch on his nose and cheek today – I didn’t mention it but did notice it – he’s the rugged type anyway and the scars sort of suited the whole look so left him with it – in case there wasn’t some heroic story to go with it. I’d be shattered if he’d said ‘Oh I was knitting a cardi for winter and my needles slipped’ or “I was shaking out my sequined bed throw and caught it on my nose’ or ‘I was out with the guys and slipped on the gutter because my heels were too high’..so I left it.
By the afternoon we were having a chat and he brought it up – you know the old ‘ bet you’re wondering how I got these scars on my face?’ line. 
So yes, yes I was wondering (please please please don’t disappoint!). Well, turns out it was his cat and he had some matching scars on his chest..it was obviously a doosie whatever went down – that poor kitty was not happy! So, it turns out he and his missus have moved in together – she has a dog and a cat and he has a cat – so we have a 1 dog and 2 cat family. The 2 cats get on great but his cat – not so happy with her dog – so what does he do??? Tries to introduce the cat to the dog by taking the cat to the dog!!
Ok so picture this you are small and furry and fast with claws, your natural arch enemy since time eternal is (generally) larger, furrier and fast with big teeth..your natural arch enemy likes to chase you and your best chance of survival is to run and claw your way to the top of the highest thing within reach. So, your loving, caring and trusted owner picks you up from your nice warm sanctuary in the bedroom (aaah a hug nice, puuuurrrr) and carries you downstairs – something you’re not overly comfortable with because the dog is down there (heart rate increases slightly and body starts to tense). At this stage your caring one’s heart rate has increased and he is hugging you tighter (why what’s happening what’s going on, this isn’t feeling like a hug anymore!!). The trusted one moves into the room with the dog and over to the dog and then (what the fuck!) he pushes you away from the sanctuary of his body and towards the jaws of your arch enemy (what the fuck!! is he seriously feeding me to the dog – after all these years of gracing him with my presence and this is how it’s going to end – well not on my fucking shift!!!) Up , up, up ,up, claw, scratch, claw, scratch..(get me outta here! fuck all of you!)
So, if you are ever thinking of trying to introduce your cat to you dog may I suggest the following! You don’t need them to be best buddies it can happen but as with humans you can’t make it happen. Tolerance is a good level to try to achieve – but it has to be on their terms NOT yours. They (the beasties) both need to feel safe and have some means of escape if it all becomes to much. It has to be when they are ready not when you need it to happen and NEVER leave them alone together to sort it out – unless you want a permanently traumatised animal FOREVER! A cat in a carry cage can be brought into a room where there is peace and tranquility and a ‘calm’ dog..the cat feels safe in it’s cage, can be contained and won’t cause any harm to anyone (including itself). This process can be repeated over a sequence of nights until the cat visibly relaxes and can see that no-one means it any harm. Eventually, the cage door can be left open – but the cat still needs a means of escape or a safe haven. Again repeat until cat eventually realises that no one cares about it’s presence and in fact if it can EVER trust again it will benefit from staying because it will get the pats and rubs and good stuff from hanging out with the family despite the dog!