Dog and cat have had an interesting relationship. When she came home with me, Poppy was the same height and weight as Oliver. She behaved as puppies do, assuming the play position while Oliver sat back and observed the audacious pup through narrowed eyes. If Poppy became too rambunctious, he'd wallop her with a velvet paw, claws sheathed. Poppy would back off for a few seconds and try again only to receive the same response from Oliver. Eventually she'd get bored or frustrated with the uninterested and decidedly aloof creature and run off to take up the game with Jimmy. You could almost hear Oliver snicker as he sauntered, unscathed, into another room.
At six months, Poppy weighs about thirty two pounds and is nearly eighteen inches at the shoulder. As she's grown in size, she has yet to grow in her understanding about the difference between herself and Oliver. Needless to say while pup and cat are no longer equals, she still tries to engage him in play. Oliver has a great deal of tolerance for her pouncing on, pinning him to the grass, carpet or couch, but only for a brief time. He really doesn't appreciate being trapped by a creature three times his size. Amazingly, I've never seen him use his claws to defend himself against her playful overtures. He simply yowls loudly enough to startle Pops and high tails it to the top of his cat tree, safely out of reach.
