So proud of my boys!

[Tabby1963]

When I got my two tabby boys they were seven months old and had never been outside or had vet visits/inoculations etc.

Once I started taking them out for walks to our local woods (right by house) they loved playing together and exploring. We very rarely encountered dogs and if we did they would either climb a tree or run back home.

On Sunday out for a walk and just off the path was a fallen tree. Jumps climbed it and Osc sat next to me and watched. Then a man appeared on the path with three dogs; a couple of terriers and a Scottie. The dogs saw Osc and ran towards him. I expected him to run up a tree but no! He ran to meet them hissing and spitting, all fluffed out. They stopped immediately and backed away. He was amazing ! the man was also impressed

We carried on our walk and as we were preparing to leave to woods we met another dog walker, this time with two medium sized dogs. This time Jumps was with Osc and yet again when the dogs ran towards them they both ran up and met them hissing and spitting. Wow! Never ever seen them so aggressive. The dogs turned tail and ran back to their owner.

I wondered if they thought they were defending me? Or maybe at age seven now they are older, more mature and more confident.

Meant to add that they did get all their shots and chip before being allowed out.

Gosh I wouldn't be taking them to the woods where they can encounter dogs. They got away with it this time but it's only a matter of time before they come across a very fierce cat-killing dog. I don't think it's a risk worth taking personally.

Having had to prise a cat out of the jaws of a dog (and it took me and around 8 other people quite a long time) it's something I'd never want to see again. Even then the cat only survived as the dog had it by the leg rather than the throat, and then the cat nearly lost it's leg as a result.

I take it you don't have a garden?

I see your point, cat, however in all the years I've been taking them for walks in the wood (6+) they have seen dogs twice (and run up tree/ran home), this Sunday was highly unusual to see dogs on two occasions. Certainly I'll be more aware of dog walkers in future and move cats away from sight of any dogs (plenty of bushy places off path to move to). We do have a garden but it takes a minute to walk around.

I think that's probably a good idea. Big flubbly dogs such as retrievers (and collies) will generally cede position to a cat but I wouldn't like to see a cat go up against eg certain types of terrier. (The sort that were bred for ratting for example.) Those dogs could well go for the cats instead and it would be unfortunate if the cats had been lulled into a false sense of security.

TCN

Was that dog you were talking about a staff/cross or bull terrier by any chance? They tend to go for the legs and then lock their jaws. I had a collie whose leg was nearly broken in two by one such incident.

Cozie - yes it was a staffie.