The kitties are doing very well. They even follow us into the living room now when they know the puppies are in their crates. Kitty P has decided that she likes sleeping on laps or beside Mom on the couch. We have progressed to the point of not needing the middle grate to keep the puppies out of the hallway. They are still very excited that the cats are here. Mr. M really doesn't understand why Kitty S doesn't like him taking her leg in his mouth like he does with Miss M. Isn't that the way you are supposed to play with little puppies? He doesn't bite down. He just takes her leg gently in his mouth- like Mr. C always played with him when he was little. So why doesn't the cat like it?
Miss M doesn't understand why Kitty P won't play with her when she squats down with her butt in the air and barks lightly. When she does that with the big puppies, they always play with her. She is beginning to wonder if the cats speak puppy. Maybe it's just a language barrier.
Much of the time though, as soon as there is food or something interesting involved, the puppies completely ignore the kitties and go about their business, which is huge progress!
Mr. C is so relaxed around the kitties now that if one of them is laying in the hall or just in some random spot on the floor, he will walk over, smell her and then lay down beside her and just chill. The puppies all really like the kitties, and the cats are starting to warm up to them too- though they would never admit that to their kitty friends.