Grumpy Pants Eggs and the Happy Cavalier

My parents went on vacation this week and left me with their dog. While mom swam with dolphins, I juggled morning coffee with two needy, and diametrically opposed, animals.

The moment Lily entered our home, Eggs, our tabby cat, got terribly grumpy. She growled and hissed at the King Charles Cavalier and repeatedly sauntered close enough to bop the sweet puppy on the nose or backside.

For the first forty-eight hours, Lily took the abuse in stride and moped around in slight despair. No longer safe in her haven, the sweet puppy recognized that a feline claimed ownership to her home away from homes. When bossy Eggs took it a step further and went after Lily's food bowl, I took action.

As a punishment, I put her in timeout in our bathroom only to open the door later and find a roll of toilet paper ripped to shreds. I scolded the former stray, left her in timeout a little longer, and then watched her go straight for Lily's food bowl again once she was set free.

Hoping for a compromise, I pulled out Lily's toy treat ball and let her push it around my kitchen late in the afternoon of our third night together. Tasty morsels fell out little by little, giving her plenty of time to lap them up sans kitty. As she played, I settled on my bed nearby and focused on the work at hand.

The peace didn't last long.

A ferocious bark interrupted the calm and Eggs, the grumpy cat, bolted into my room and jumped on my bed. From her perch high on a pillow, she watched as Lily ran around the house sniffing and barking something fierce. When Lily completed her third lap around every corner, closet, and room, I grabbed her collar and pointed to where the cat sat high and mighty.

Without hesitation, the formerly passive cavalier lurched at the feline, sending Eggs under the bed, out of reach. I still don't know what Eggs did to provoke Lily's wrath, but there's no doubt she did something.

In the ensuing hours, every time the cat reappeared and caught Lily's eye, Lily chased Eggs with vigor till she flew back under the bed.

Having watched Lily tolerate the grumpy cat for over two days, I applauded her spunk. So when Eggs growled at her the following morning and Lily roared in response, I didn't mind that Eggs spent most of the day cowering under the bed. Between the toilet paper, food fights, and constant angst, I was thankful for the separation.

But our bed got a little crowded last night.

Since Lily is used to sleeping in my folks bed, I let her curl up beside me at night. Don acquiesced to the ritual long ago, as long as I make sure she doesn't sleep in the middle of the bed near him. After several prolonged visits and persistent repositioning, Lily accepts her place and sleeps at feet or on the outside of my side of the bed.

As to Eggs, she doesn't sleep with us most nights but rather tiptoes around on occasion and sniffs our cheeks to make sure we're alive. When the mood hits, she even curls up at my feet and stays for a few hours. But with Lily around she's been hunkering under the bed.

So I don't know if the cat was headed to our bathroom for a potty break or if the quiet convinced her the puppy was asleep last night. It doesn't matter. After scolding Lily once for barking in the wee hours and falling back asleep, we woke to utter mayhem.

Strident hissing proceeded fervent barking, making it clear they'd found each other in the night. Eggs bolted under the bed again while Lily went on a revved up manhunt till I shut the bedroom door and left her free to roam the rest of the house.

She didn't like it but I needed sleep.

Don tells me I'm expecting a lot to think the two creatures could ever get along. But deep down I have hope along with photographic evidence that it's possible:

Lily's typically a happy dog, ready to please. And despite her desperate need to bat paws and bite, Eggs has charmed us over time.  Oh if they could just understand and get along, our world would be a better place... especially for the next four days.

While drawing an analogy in closing seems somewhat trite, I still can't help but think that with all the differences in the world it's a wonder God calls us to love.

But maybe that's why.

Without love, our differences simply collide. The dogs bark, the cats hiss, and sleepless nights leave us grumpy. I know. As the parent of two warring children this week, I've found the intense bickering a little draining.

But the experience propels me to love someone different from me a little more, simply knowing our Father above and all heaven would truly rejoice.




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