Full of gracious compliments, polite requests, and questions about issues that arise in a new home

By Strider the Dog

Dear Strider,  

Love your compassion and breadth of knowledge!

— Cat Anonymous  

Dear Cat,

Dude, you flatter me! But I can take it. Thanks, and back at you with love for courteous Ashland cats, anonymous and otherwise.

Hi Strider,

We are a dog and cat household. Nyx, the cat, is of course the queen, but she wonders why her faithful lackey is getting all the press.  Quito, the dog, is the guardian of us all, thankfully, but he doesn’t have the curiosity Nyx has, and he follows her around, wondering what she’s discovering (is she a newshound?).  Can you give Ask Strider a feline companion?

Cheers,

— Bea

Dear Bea,

It sounds to me like you have a terrifically diverse household, with many talents working together to bring harmony. Given your cat’s interests, Nyx may want to check out a column with a more intense focus on all things feline: “Catty Corner,” by Midge Raymond. It’s a fascinating read. Even for me, a dog. I mean, I didn’t know litter boxes existed, let alone there were so many kinds.

I don’t have any plans right now to bring on a cat to help with advice. I’m not saying I’m not open to it, but now’s not the right time. Mainly because I have my paws full with my new intern, Woody the Puppy. While Woody is unusually intelligent (why else would he become my intern?), and has quickly mastered his relationship with trees, our creek, the car, rawhide chews, and his food bowl, he has yet to approach the challenge of working with cats. Just working is enough for the moment.

I’m starting Woody out slow, as you’ll see with the letter below. I don’t think he did too bad a job. Not for a beginner anyway. See what you think.

Meanwhile, congratulations on the Nyx/Quito partnership! It sounds both loving and effective, and really what more do we want? I know that’s what I want for Woody the Puppy. And everyone, come to think of it.

Just saying.

Dear Woody,

We just moved into a new home, and we love it. It’s got lots of places to run around, and we can chase each other, and hide from our humans, and all the things. 

The only problem is that there’s a neighborhood cat who seems to think this is his home. He hangs out by the front door, the back door, and even on the roof, as if he expects the humans we own to let him in. (They haven’t.) We have tried meowing at him, staring him down, and even pouncing at the window — but he isn’t bothered by any of these tactics and continues to come by. 

We have learned that he does have his own home nearby, but unlike us, he’s allowed to go outside and visit other cats’ homes. As indoor cats, we understand that he’ll make the most of his freedom (who wouldn’t?). Still, how do we make our new home our own with this dude hanging around? 

Love,

— Ashland Cats

Hey Cats,

Oh wow. Woody’s first letter! Strider’s watching. Warned Woody not to chew. Oh. Almost forgot. Fraying there. Hang on.

OK, back. Yeah, get this. New home here too, kind of amazing. Scary. Yummy. Lots of new things, not sure right and wrong.  Cats sound more on it. Congrats.

Just keep doing what’s doing. All works out! New stuff happens. To chew or not to chew? Peeing gets settled. Food dish in right place. Sleeping place too. Friends galore. Shadow didn’t like Woody. Now Shadow does. Who wouldn’t? Maybe cats like the cat. Maybe new friend. Or maybe cat gets bored with cats barking at cat.

Do cats bark? Got a lot to learn, telling you.

Thanks for playing!

Listen, we love cats, but this is an all-species advice column. Humans, want to weigh in with observations or problems that a dog and/or a puppy intern can solve? Send your thoughts to Strider the Dog and/or Woody the Puppy. Just email [email protected]. Prepare to be Bow Wowed.