My stepson, Nick, and his fiancée, Chandra, arrived late yesterday for a week-long visit. They brought along their French bulldog, Cindy. As I was helping bring their stuff in from the car, I witnessed a meeting between Frankie and Cindy. Cindy was on our catio, and Frankie was in the laundry room. The door was open, and they were both face-to-face, seemingly smelling each other.
I thought to myself, Oh, that meeting went better than I envisioned it. Just then, all hell broke loose. Frankie started whacking Cindy relentlessly. He chased her onto the catio and under the table, where he continued his assault. I tried to get Frankie while Rose and Chandra tried to get Cindy. We were delayed because it was difficult getting them from under the table. When we finally did pick them up, we had to remove Frankie’s claw from Cindy’s back. During the scuffle, Frankie got me. too.
We kept them separated for a while, with Frankie outside while Cindy was inside, and then with Cindy outside while Frankie was inside. One time, Frankie was on the Catio while Cindy was in the yard.
I did bring Frankie in on a leash at one point, hoping to introduce them in a more controlled environment. That went okay, but certainly no friendship developed.
Later, Frankie was outside when our neighbor’s dog went crazy, trying to bust through the fence to get at Frankie. I decided he needed to come in at that point.
Once inside, Frankie and Floki met to plan their next move.
I don’t remember exactly what happened next, but a few minutes later another one-sided fight occurred, this time under the dining room table, and again, my hand got in the way.
Later, we sat in the living room for a while with Cindy on Chandra’s lap with a pillow over her for protection while Frankie lay in a chair giving her the evil eye.
I don’t know how we are going to last a week.
Bad Cat Chris 
First of all – stock up on bandaids! I’m sure you sort of knew an intruder in Frankie’s territory (especially a DOG) might be upsetting……but you never know how these things will be for sure. Obviously your protection cat thinks the dog needs to go. Should be an interesting week – as long as you have patience (and bandaids).
Hugs, Pam
I volunteered for a little while at the SPCA picking up wildlife that was injured and bought heavy duty gloves for the job. Coincidentally I was looking through my stuff for a tool this morning and saw those gloves.
Good timing on the gloves – keep them handy! LOL
I hope I won’t need them.
Be sure 911 is easily accessible on everyone’s cell phones and emergency kits in all rooms in the house. Enjoy the family visit/s.
Thanks. 😊
That didn’t go well. Some dogs and cats just don’t mix. You’ll probably have to keep them separated somehow with limited supervised contact.
I think Frankie and all dogs don’t mix. Or maybe it’s Frankie and non-human guests in particular.
Oh dear, that really didn’t go well. I doubt it’s going to improve any time soon either, at least not without complete separation of the two. Hopefully there will be a halfway ground somewhere? Meet at your stepson’s house might be a better/safer option for you.
ERin
Unfortunately he lives 12 hours from here.
Whoa! This should be a … fun week. Good luck.
I’m really looking forward to it.
I’m hoping they can be kept separated, it sounds like the only strategy. Hard on everyone but it works.
It is hard. We are trying but there are times of overlap which are still difficult.
Ouch in the scratches.
I need gloves.
You sure are in for an interesting week.
No doubt. 😊
Oh, Dear…Frankie feels his territory is under seige! THose are nasty ouchies. Hope they don’t become infected.
I read somewhere about outting a dog in a crate and letting the cat investigate and then reversing the occupancy for a while…
Too bad it all went so badly. Maybe by the end of the week there might be tolerance…hopefully or a truce!
I hope so. We don’t have a crate so that wasn’t an option.
Frankie was just protecting his territory. He’s not used to friendly dogs. (My son has a couple of French Bulldogs. They seem to be a rather timid breed.)
Maybe if the dog was a little more aggressive Frankie might have been a little less aggressive. I don’t know.
well, the visit is probably over and I am probably too late, but for future visits I would do extremely brief introductions….you can’t assume everything will be ok because it just might not be. Cindy is on Frankie’s turf. His reaction is totally normal. More than likely they would have to be completely separated when not being closely supervised.
Yes. It never got better but thankfully it is over.