The Woof and Meow Wrap Up: Photos, Prizes and more...

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Did you see your Meow in there? The pictures in the collage above are some of the many that were sent in. You can hover your cursor over each one and it will pop out so you can see the whole thing. Your Meow's name will appear at the top of the photo collage. Ya gotta love Photobucket! Thanks to all of you who sent pictures in, even those that weren't quite clear enough to show here. I love them all!


What a great time we have had during the last 8 weeks with this Woof and Meow series. Never have I seen such enthusiasm and excitement from my readers. Thank you all!

Before I announce the winner of the prizes that I know you're dying to hear about, I'd like to share a little of Patches' journey to loving her new, sweet-smelling World's Best Cat Litter and, of course, her Litter-Robot. Despite Patches' interminable shyness with the camera, I did manage to catch a few images of the path to her private boodwa (does anyone know how to spell that word?!!) Enjoy!

The transition from the old-fashioned blue litter box, that you see in the background of many of these photos, was not terribly difficult for Patches. She simply needed a little motivation to go inside. The catnip helped her explore, and serving meals inside helped her bond. Then I removed her own litter box and the decision was a logical one for her. She used it immediately upon my disappearance! Soon we received notice of her first solid deposit, as you can see from the last photo in the show. Success! Congratulations Patches! You're a Litter-Robot success story and spokes-model. Great job.

Would I buy one of these Litter-Robots for Patches? Absolutely! Does it save me time? Totally! Is it sweeter smelling and cleaner? Completely! Should we announce the winners now.....YES!

The first 3 names to come from the box will receive a sturdy, World's Finest Cat Litter Tote Bag, with an 7 lb. bag of litter, a trial bottle of NoDor Litter odor spray from Hartz, a sample of Rachel Ray's Nutrish brand dog food for Woof, and a surprise or two for you and Meow. These winners, listed for privacy by first names only, are as follows. Each will be notified.

1. Debbie 
2. Beth 
3. Angela 

The grand prize, a Litter-Robot, will be delivered to this lucky winner:

Darcey

Congratulations, Darcey! Now comes the fun. First, you'll need to visit the Litter-Robot website to decide which color you'd like to choose. Then you can email me your address for your package, along with your color choice. It's quite a big box, so consider that when you decide where to ship it. Congratulations again!

For those of you who are drooling, you can order one right here and have it at your door in a week or so. What are ya waiting for?

Did you miss any of the earlier posts in this series?:

• Woof and Meow: Can they Coexist Happily?
• Woof and Meow, Part I: Stop the Treasure Hunt
• Woof and Meow, Part II: How to Win our Prize Packages....and a Sneak Peek at What's to Come
• Woof and Meow, Part III: Strategies for Stopping the Treasure Hunt and Keeping the Peace
• Woof and Meow, Part IV: A Little Training in Respect
• Woof and Meow, Part V: Exploring New Options with the Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter
• Woof and Meow, Part VI: Considerations Regarding a Second Pet's Adoption
• Woof and Meow, Part VII: Socializing Your Dog to a New Cat or Kitten
• Woof and Meow, Part VIII: Socializing Your Cat to a New Dog or Puppy

Be sure to check out the commentary at
5 Minutes for Fido. Tanner and Oliver are in  mourning, not to mention exhausted from all this work. And worse yet, there's no more litter box raids! Poor boys!


And Patches, well, she's ready to retire. Enough of this blogging stuff. She just wants to be left alone. 

Full disclosure: The Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter described in this series have been donated to All Things Dog Blog for an independent review. I have not been paid to provide my opinion of these products, and the opinion provided is my own.

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Woof and Meow, Part VIII: Socializing your Cat to a New Dog

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

(c) N.M., reader copyright on file

Roxy Loves
her Kitty

We’re on the downhill stretch now. This process is much easier than the latter. When your cat already owns the home, you’ve got half the game licked. Woof will understand immediately upon his arrival at the door that this is Meow’s house.


But first you must make an important investment in Woof’s education. Take him on a very long walk, arriving at your home with a tired Woof, ready to meet him new pack-family with subdued energy. As you approach the door, be sure to impress on him one additional act of leadership. You should always enter the house before your dog. Leaders go first.They understand this by instinct.


Woof should be taken to a small area of your home where you spend a great deal of your time, often the kitchen and family room area, and preferably not carpeted, if Woof needs house training. 


His crate or bed should be located here, and this area should be easy to secure him in, when you must leave Meow and Woof alone. This will remain Woof’s only area to explore until he demonstrates his respect for you, Meow, and all belongings of the house. In other words, he grows up and behaves like a nice dog. When Woof learns good, reliable bathroom manners, he’ll be given the privilege of exploring other areas of the house, one by one, only by your invitation. This is one way you demonstrate your leadership; you expect it.


Woof will know Meow is present from her scent in the home. He will become curious and desirous of exploring. Do not give in. After a couple of days of long walks, and when calm behavior is evident, bring Meow to sniff Woof from behind. Once again, Woof should be leashed and held by a helper. Woof will get only the scent he can gather from this distance. That’s enough for him to understand his status.


Don’t take any guff about sleeping areas, unless you decide for yourself that Woof should sleep elsewhere. As a well-behaved adult, you may choose to have Woof sleep near your bed or perhaps by a doorway. Moving his crate or bed at that time will be fine, but not until then.


Woof and Meow will be experiencing each other from a distance for quite a while before she will jump the gate or sneak in to get a better look at the new boarder. Observe quietly and determine if Woof needs to be leashed or if the two are ready to get acquainted. They’ll need to do this on their own terms, but with manners. Separate them without scolding if either is upset by the meeting. 


Using a gate will allow Meow to visit Woof whenever she desires, with a quick escape route out, as well. This is the best way to separate the two until they learn to accommodate one another. Often this bond will form without you knowing it is happening, and suddenly you’ll find the two playing or lounging together.


When Xena, my Retriever mix, adopted Patches, our 12 year old Heinz 57 cat, the two were both young. They bonded almost instantly and played tag and hide-n-seek for hours. They hunted lizards on the porch and napped together often. Unfortunately those days were before that of digital cameras in every home, and who knows where the photos are. I guess, for now, they’ll have to remain in the recesses of my memory—two diverse species—living the destiny of being best friends.


I hope you have enjoyed this Woof and Meow series, and mostly that you have learned a little something about helping your own Woof and Meow become happier housemates. I'll put the links to these posts on our Best of All Things Dog Blog page, which you can reach by clicking the link just under our header. These posts have brought brisk traffic here, and I suspect there are many of you who have both cats and dogs in your home.  


Check out the gang’s comments at 5 Minutes for Fido, where Tanner shares the somewhat different experience that he and Oliver had in learning to live with Patches. 


Next week is the big drawing. I'll be giving away World's Best Cat Litter, miscellaneous kitty goodies, and the grand prize--a Litter-Robot to one lucky reader. I have about 100 entries so far, and there's room for more. Check out Woof and Meow, Part II, to learn how you can get in on this drawing.


Next week's post will not only announce the winners of the drawing, but also will include a photo slideshow of Patches journey--from using the new World's Best Cat Litter to learning to love her more private Litter-Robot. Join us next week for the big announcement.

Full disclosure: The Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter described in this series have been donated to All Things Dog Blog for an independent review. I have not been paid to provide my opinion of these products, and the opinion provided is my own.

© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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Woof and Meow, Part VII: Socializing Your Dog to a New Cat or Kitten

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© D.R., reader copyright on file

Great Dane, Murphy, and his 

kitten, Fergie Snuggle Sweetly

So you've decided to bring a cat into your dog's domain. You're brave; but it can be done with patience and a few sneaky tactics:

1. Just before you bring Meow home, take Woof on a very long walk to tire him out and lessen his reaction to meeting his new pack member.
2. To meet Meow, bring Woof outside to an area he doesn't call home--a neighbor's yard or nearby lot will do just fine.
3. Leash and hold Woof securely, and ask him to Sit or Down near your car, where Meow will be waiting inside in her carrier.
4. Allow the two to experience each other from a distance of 10-15 feet initially. Believe me, they'll be able to detect one another. Curiosity is healthy, but do not allow Woof to move forward until he demonstrates a calm attitude and acceptance of Meow. Honestly, this probably won't happen for a while.
5. Gradually, if successful, move Woof closer to Meow for a better scent. Stop when Woof's body language begins to become heightened: scruff ruffled, ears and chest forward, tail straight up and not wagging, eyes trained on the carrier, barking, growling, or attempting to move toward Meow. Don't try to manage this maneuver by yourself. you'll need a helper--one to hold the dog's leash and control him, and another to handle the kitty's carrier and position it behind Woof for her first good whiff. Finally, do not remove Meow from her carrier, no matter how smoothly this process seems to go. They both need more time.
6. For best results, stop the exercise at the first sign of heightened arousal of Woof.
7. However, if Woof is interested yet well-behaved, you'll want to make a judgment call. At some point, Meow needs to be brought out of the car, in her carrier, to get a scent of Woof from behind, and fairly close. It is important that Meow get the opportunity to sniff FIRST. This will give her the upper hand, something that is much needed in this scenario. After all, she is going to be entering Woof's domain. Her sniffing first will send a message to Woof that you have given her a higher status than him--a very important message.
8. After getting Woof's scent, Meow should be carried, still in her carrier, into the house ahead of Woof. Place her carrier in an area that will be safe for her, and designated for her food and litter area. Give Woof a favorite toy or chewy bone and secure him in another area while you spend some time with Meow settling her into her new digs. Remain calm while she sniffs and gets acquainted. Show her where her water dish and food bowl are, touching a wet finger to her nose, after dipping it in the bowl. Set her gently in her litter box, so she'll remember where it is. Offer her a cozy bedding of towels in the carrier and leave it open for her. She may prefer a more closed in space during her adjustment period. Dont' give much affection if Meow is nervous--which is expected--as this will only serve to encourage her anxiety. Save this for when she becomes curious and wants to see her new home.
9. Allow Meow to first get used to her new home from the privacy of her personal suite. She'll get smells wafting from throughout the house and will learn a great deal about who lives there and what goes on in the space outside her own area. Then she'll get curious and this will be your cue to let her explore, with supervision.
10. Before letting Meow check out the house, have a helper on hand to leash and hold Woof. Keep Woof well away from Meow while she explores her new home. Close doors to areas she is not allowed to enter, and continue this practice indefinitely. While Meow wanders the house, allow Woof to follow at a distance of at least 10 feet. It is healthy for him to see that she is allowed to explore at will, and he will understand that you expect him to respect her space--no approaches. This, again, is a message that the cat has an elevated status in the house, another cue that he must respect her and her belongings.
11. For a while, when Meow and Woof are in the same areas, you may want to leash and work with Woof to learn calm behavior around Meow, using treats and praise to help him understand when he behaves the way you desire. She, too, will be learning that sudden movements will energize Woof. This is a mutual process of learning how to behave around the other.

Eventually, Meow will have her opportunity to snag a piece of Woof's nose. This may sound cruel, but it will likely be the only chance she'll get to come that close, unless the two are both young and bond easily. Woof will learn quickly that her claws are treacherous. This will give her an edge, no matter how large he is. He will have learned an important lesson about his own behavior around her.

In time, Woof will understand what is required of him to live with Meow as a housemate. When he behaves admirably, be sure to continue with praise, affection and treats, although you'll need to wean him of these to maintain his 'figure'. The praise and affection will speed the process of their socialization and one day they will surprise you. You'll arrive hom to find them napping together like best friends on a sleepover. Well, with one exception. Meow's back will be to Woof. It's a cat thing.

We hope to see you next week for the reverse of today's post--how to acclimate a new dog or puppy to Meow's territory. Join us for some tips. 


The big drawing is getting near for the World's Best Cat Litter, Tote bags, cat goodies, and a Litter-Robot. Have you entered? Check out Part II for instructions if you'd like to get a chance at the prizes, to be announced on Saturday, November 27. Good luck!

Full disclosure: The Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter described in this series have been donated to All Things Dog Blog for an independent review. I have not been paid to provide my opinion of these products, and the opinion provided is my own.

© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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Woof and Meow, Part VI: Considerations Regarding a Second Pet's Adoption

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Mellow and Vic 
Relax Together

Kittens and puppies that are raised together can almost always become good companions. Even a larger dog can learn to play gently and remain calm in the presence of a kitty housemate.


Sometimes, though, adding an adult cat to a household with dogs, or vice versa, can present a host of complications for the owners and the pets. If you are considering this, I suggest you think through some possible issues first:

1. Is the dog a breed or mix with a high prey drive? (certain hunting breeds and terriers may need extra evaluation) Please reconsider for the cat's sake.
2. Does the cat have an unusually active play style or intense need for attention? Either of these could provoke problems with Fido. You'll have more influence over Woof than Meow, so give this great consideration. A highly-active dog can be separated from the cat, but not so much the other way around.
3. Does your home allow for some private space for Meow to have peace and quiet? Most cats crave a great deal of alone time. They tend to seek out sunny spots to lie in and often choose high locations. An upstairs with windows could allow you to gate the top of the steps, giving kitty her space, and Fido some boundaries.
4. Do you have time to work with your dog in socializing him to behave calmly around the new kitty, teaching him to respect her space, food, bedding and litter area? Keep in mind that although I may have given you the impression that all these problems can be solved with barriers, things do happen. Training, as described in Part IV of this series, will be a good preventive. You'll always need a backup plan for two species to co-habitate.
5. Can you give Meow a higher status than Woof, to allow her a better chance at integrating into the family? While Meow may have sharp claws, a large or agile dog will need to see her as higher on the totem pole than he is, to assure he learns to respect her.

You're probably asking yourself, "How is this last item possible?" The answer depends on which pet already lives in the home. Join me next week and the following, when we'll tackle this topic from both directions. Then, on Thanksgiving weekend, we'll make the big drawing. We'll be giving away World's Best Cat Litter, tote bags, miscellaneous cat goodies, and the grand prize--a Litter Robot. Don't miss it!

Have you missed any of the earlier posts in this series? Here are the links:

Woof and Meow: Can they Coexist Happily?

Woof and Meow, Part I: Stop the Treasure Hunt

Woof and Meow, Part II: How to Win our Prize Packages....and a Sneak Peek at What's to Come
Woof and Meow, Part III: Strategies for Stopping the Treasure Hunt and Keeping the Peace
Woof and Meow, Part IV: A Little Training in Respect
Woof and Meow, Part V: Exploring New Options with the Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter

Have you entered the drawing for our prizes? You can enter at any or all of these sites, as often as you like:

All Things Dog Blog on Facebook  and  All Things Dog Blog on Twitter

World's Best Cat Litter on Facebook  and World's Best Cat Litter on Twitter

Litter-Robot on Facebook   and   Litter-Robot on Twitter

One last place you can enter is my dogs' blog: 5 Minutes for Fido

Full disclosure: The Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter described in this series have been donated to All Things Dog Blog for an independent review. I have not been paid to provide my opinion of these products, and the opinion provided is my own.

Visit Adopt a Dog Park

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© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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Woof and Meow, Part V: Exploring New Options with The Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

We're just about ready to rename this great new litter box, although I don't think the folks at Litter-Robot would be too happy with us for that. At our home, it seems to have become the 'litter-valet'. No matter what you call it, it still does all of this:

1. It serves up the litter in a nice, level format after running its automatic cleaning cycle.
2. It automatically cleans the box 7 minutes after Meow has left it. It senses her weight is no longer there, and then waits 7 minutes before cycling, to give her time to leave the area.
3. It stores the scooped clumps and 'treasures' in a scent-proof hold deep inside.
4. And it's small entrance has helped keep Woof's interest at bay. That's great because the contents are not quite as accessible to Woof as they are with an old-fashioned litter box.

But the best part is that this cool gadget doesn't jam like those other self-cleaning litter boxes that raked out the 'treasures.' The globe spins around and the goodies drop through large, jam-proof openings, leaving you with no sticky messes to clean up. Awesome! Have I got you drooling for a Litter-Robot yet?

Here's a few more things you may want to know. While the new units may seem a bit pricey at first look, it'll save you loads of time and mess. Litter-Robot also sells reconditioned ones for a considerable discount. Check this out on their website for more information. While you're there, sign up for a $10 discount coupon, and be sure to read up on the 3-payment-plan. Isn't it nice to know you have options?

And there's more. The latest version has a cool 'bubble window', so Meow won't get claustrophobic. Is that cool or what?!!! Here's a picture of the window version so you and Meow can check it out.

Speaking of options, I almost forgot to mention colors. Even Meow is all about aesthetics. You can choose from Eco gray (made of recycled plastics), black or beige, whatever best suits your decor, or perhaps looks best with Meow's fur or eyes.

Some of you may have pondered a concern about whether your Meow will take to this new, different-looking potty. No worries on that end. Litter-Robot gives a generous 90-day return policy, in case your Meow simply cannot bring herself to change venues. On top of that, they offer loads of help. There's a page on their website with tips for the transition, another with answers to all your questions (FAQs), and a booklet that explains everything in detail.


Another worry you may have had is the shipping cost....am I right?  Again, no worries. Litter-Robot pays for the freight to you; it's all included in the price.

You may be wondering if you need special collection bags or litter for the Litter-Robot, and the answer is a resounding NO to both. The Litter-Robot works with any household plastic garbage bags (kitchen sized bags are the best size) and you can use any 'clumping' type of litter in it. We're using the sustainable, corn-based World's Best Cat Litter for our review and are quite pleased with the performance. I also like the lack of dust that used to be a mess with the clay stuff. Since we are working on reducing our carbon footprint, this new cat litter is a big boost to our numbers. Patches may not know it, but she just made our family a little bit more green. 


And did I mention that the World's Best corn-based litter has a sweet, appealing smell when you open the bag? That was most unexpected and extremely pleasant. The added advantage is that corn litter is compostable, unlike it's main competition, the old-fashioned clay stuff. Just make sure you run it through the clean cycle before adding it to your compost pile.

Now that we've mastered the Litter-Robot transition, let's move on to some additional, helpful Woof and Meow topics. Join me next Saturday for a few things to think about before you adopt another pet. It's always good to be prepared, and that's what this post will be about--those topics you may not have considered. After that I'll be moving on to helping Woof and Meow adapt to one another when one of them is a new member to your household. Hope to see you here.

Have you missed any of the earlier posts in this series? Here are the links:

Woof and Meow: Can they Coexist Happily?

Woof and Meow, Part I: Stop the Treasure Hunt

Woof and Meow, Part II: How to Win our Prize Packages....and a Sneak Peek at What's to Come

Woof and Meow, Part III: Strategies to Stop the Treasure Hunt and Keep the Peace

Woof and Meow, Part IV: Training for a Little Respect

Also, be sure to stop in at 5 Minutes for Fido, to see what my dogs have to say about all this, where you're sure to get a good laugh.

Have you entered the drawing for our prizes?  What prizes? I'll be giving away bags of Worlds' Best Cat Litter, tote bags, and miscellaneous other kitty goodies, as well as a grand prize of a Litter-Robot to one very lucky Meow. You can enter at any or all of these sites, as often as you like:

All Things Dog Blog on Facebook  and  All Things Dog Blog on Twitter

World's Best Cat Litter on Facebook  and World's Best Cat Litter on Twitter

Litter-Robot on Facebook   and   Litter-Robot on Twitter

One last place you can enter is my dogs' blog: 5 Minutes for Fido

Full disclosure: The Litter-Robot and World's Best Cat Litter described in this series have been donated to All Things Dog Blog for an independent review. I have not been paid to provide my opinion of these products, and the opinion provided is my own.

Visit Adopt a Dog Park

Help protect our precious dog parks

© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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