Cats vs Dog (Maisy)

If you are not familiar with the neighborhood of Vinegar Hill, then you haven't seen the Buddhist Temple on the corners of Front & Gold St.s  The Buddhist Monks who do live inside the Temple are a peaceful bunch, they do wear the typical garb, if not known of their wardrobe, think of the Dalai Lama.  A small tidbit of info, a few weeks back the Temple was turned into a Tiki-style bar set in Bangkok, Thailand of the 1960's for the filming of the yet to be released "Pan Am" TV show.

Ever since Maisy had her first encounter with the feline species, she has the determination to catch one!  Unfortunately, Maisy doesn't know that their hiss is just as bad as their bite.  So, the Buddhist Temple, has a few non paying residents, 2-3 almost all black cats living among the thicket of trees up against the brightly colored yellow walls.  When she goes out, she makes a beeline for the Temple, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the cats.  In recent weeks, Maisy will peek her head through the column staring at one of the cats, who's hissing did not deter her from leaving.  That's where I come in, I would let her poke her head through a column, but once the hissing starts, that's the signal to leave immediately.  A few weeks back, one of the monks shooed the cats away, claiming that they are not wanted there anymore.  For months, it was a peaceful sanctuary for the cats, but with the empty cans of cat food. dirty water bowls and often seen cat food strewn out onto the sidewalk, you know they are no longer welcome.

A house near Evans St. is also home to 3 black cats, I'm guessing the cats from the Temple have a summer home near the Naval Mansion.  These cats are taken care of by the "cat lady" that lives on Evans St.  The exact space on Evans St. is really an eyesore, the trees and underbrush is gotten out of control.  There is a black car, do not know the make or model, but the back windshield is covered in black duct tape.  The 3 black cats will sit atop of the car and chill until they have a desire to leave or when they see Maisy stick her nose through the fence.  Maisy will soon enough get her close encounter with the feline species, and it will come at a price, right to the Veterinarian.

Below is an excerpt I copied from: "Dog Owner's Guide (On line Magazine): Fighting Furry Furries"

Are they enemies?

The idea that dogs hate cats may have been born because dogs chase cats and grew because cartoons depicted ongoing battles between the two species. Or it may have been generated because some dog people strongly dislike cats and some cat people disdain dogs. However, dogs and cats can live peaceably as long as owners understand the behaviors of each.

Both dogs and cats are predators. Cats pounce on anything that moves — mice, butterflies, birds, grasshoppers, and feathery toys waved on the end of a stick. Dogs chase anything that moves, especially if it squeals, hisses, or otherwise mouths off. If the cat triggers the dog’s prey drive, the dog will chase. If a medium-to-large dog catches the cat, it can easily kill it by grabbing and shaking.
Kittens and young cats practice their hunting skills on people feet, curtains, bedspreads, plants, and dog tails. They hide under chairs and tables, dart at the “prey” hissing and spitting and clawing, and hurry away, sometimes with jerky jack-knife movements or agile leaps and bounds, sometimes with breathtaking grace and beauty. Dogs often bristle at such challenges, leading to a merry chase through the house or yard. Households with both species of pets can solve this problem by keeping them separated if necessary.

In some cases, a resident cat will isolate itself when a puppy is added to the family. In other cases, cats and dogs never get used to each other. In still other cases, cat or kitten and dog or puppy play together and build a friendship that finds them curled up together in a crate or bed and drinking out of the same bowl. The type of relationship developed in each household depends on the personality of the animals and the understanding of the owners.