GRACIE - THE CAT LOVER

[Barbara Mettler]

Gracie loves Tinker, the cat.  Tinker does not love Gracie.  Therein lies the dilemma.

We introduced Gracie into our household about a year ago.  Gracie was instantly curious about Tinker, and Tinker wanted nothing to do with this foreign, noisy, big-nosed intruder.

Tinker did not help her cause. She has a nasty habit of exercising her claws on our furniture.  Before Gracie joined our household, we had been employing several ineffective -but not requiring we move off the couch - techniques to stop Tinker's destructive behavior - water squirts, making a scary pssssss sound, hollering "Tinker" in her direction.  Gracie figured out that any of these meant "get the cat" and she was game for that.  The cat got tumbled a few times before she finally realized that Gracie, the Enforcer, would be on her like ugly on an ape in 2.5 seconds.  Tinker learned to run for the safety of high windowsills or low tables.

Now a year later, a truce has been formed.  Tinker will tolerate big sloppy dog kisses for a little while, and will allow Gracie to join her on the loveseat as long as no part of Gracie is touching her.  Gracie has learned "the power of the paw" which Tinker employs as a threat when needed.   Gracie, being highly excitable, often oversteps her boundaries - and Tinker lets her have it.  Hard to figure why Tinker doesn't feel the love!

[Karen and Ruston]

Cute! Love the photos. One of the cats here doesn't care for Ruston at all. The other cat loves Ruston and they actually play together a lot.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

What a great story and the pictures are sooo cute, especially the one of them sitting on the couch!