Cats and Dogs -- Friend or Foe?
We originally started fostering kittens because of Phoebe's fear of cats. She overcame her anxiety rather quickly and has turned into a kitten nanny. BB, on the other hand, didn't want to have anything to do with kittens. Being deaf and having the canine version of autism, BB needs extra time to get used to anything new and unusual. She gets startled easily and is extremely sensitive to being touched. By the time the kittens are ready to be adopted, BB is comfortable enough to be in close proximity. But with a new set of kittens, we always have to start the training from the beginning.
As all the other kittens left for their new homes, GB stayed with us for good. Having GB as a permanent member of the family gave BB and GB a chance to understand each other in depth. GB was the first kitten to sleep in our bedroom. I don't let my foster kittens sleep with us so that BB can rest peacefully. GB respected her space from the beginning.
BB still acts like she doesn't want to have anything to do with her new brother, but I've caught her being a little more playful towards him. It's so cute when BB realizes I have been watching. She acts almost embarrassed and redirects to a nearby toy. I don't ever expect BB to treat GB the way Phoebe does. All I want is for them to live peacefully as a family and keep making small progress. Training isn't about perfection; to me, it's about making progress.
