Getting Along Like Cats and Dogs- the pit bull way

Our zoo has been doing well the last few days. It's mostly been more of the same. The weather has been too cold/ drizzly to go for walks on the beach. So we have just been taking it easy with the new kitties. We leave the door to the hallway open more now, while keeping the child gate in place. That way the puppies and kitties can see each other more. I think there may be something slightly off with the kitties though. The puppies will chase them slowly down the hall until they are cornered and have no where to go to avoid eager puppy tongues. We take all of the dogs back toward the kitchen and close the hall door, but within a few minutes, the kitties are right by the door, playing with the puppies through the opening again. I'm convinced that they really just like teasing the puppies. The puppies have been really frustrated with the kittens lately. They don't understand why the kitties don't want to be slobbered all over first thing in the morning. "They are just good morning kisses," protested Mr. M when we wouldn't let him chase Kitty S down to lick her. 

Kitties and puppies looking at each other first thing in the morning through the baby gate.

Pleeeeeaze

This is probably why the kitties are content to just chill behind the gate- soooo many kisses

For the most part, the puppies respect the baby gate (apparently there is a first time for everything), but a couple of days ago, one of them realized that they could pull the gate down. We heard all kinds of commotions coming from the bathroom. Dad started thinking the worst. When I went to check, the commotion had been the cats moving the trash can to hide behind it, and the dogs pushing the cat dishes around with their noses as they ate all of the cat food. Luckily, they don't understand what the litter box is yet! When I came in, Miss S just knew she was going to be in trouble and cuddled up on the cat bed with Kitty P. Kitty P didn't know what to think about having a dog in her bed but didn't even growl! Progress! Today, Kitty P even let Mr. C smell her without growling, hissing or swatting at him. Double progress!

So close, but so far away!

Kitty S decided she wanted to hang out in Dad's office. Miss M kept a close eye on her.

Miss M: "Hey! I was following you! Why are you behind me?"

This morning we made a wonderful discovery. We have several of the grated dividers that came with our puppy crates. They have just been sitting in a spare room. We really didn't want to throw them away because they seemed useful. We discovered that we can use the grated divider in the doorway to the hall instead of closing the door. That way the animals can all see each other and the cats don't have to feel closed off in the hall. We left an opening big enough for the cats to come through if they want to be in the kitchen and so that they could escape if they felt the need. So far it has been a lot calmer since we put up the grate. The puppies seem to get more worked up if they can hear the cats but not see them than they do when they can still see the cats, even if they can't actually get to them.

Miss M and Kitty S on one side with Dad and Kitty P on the other

The kitties required a moment of privacy for grooming purposes. Miss M just waited patiently.

Miss B has been avoiding the kittens for the most part unless we are in the room. I think she knows that if she messes with the cats she'll be in trouble. She is extremely talented at finding ways to get herself and the others in trouble and has apparently decided that she doesn't want anything to do with cat trouble on top of her usual antics. Plus, she's pretty sure that Santa would put her on the naughty list if she roughed up the cats.
We gave her some individual time with the cats the other day, and we were surprised at how well she did. She is normally our barker, but she is surprisingly timid around the kittens. She did a lot of watching from a distance, and a lot of laying down on the ground being submissive. She really wanted them to play with her, but cats are scary!