Hello, Kitty

Today

My niece, who openly regards herself as "mother" to her spaniels has rather fallen in love with some cats she's caring for. She wondered if she could ensure that her dogs wouldn't eat the kittens if she got any.

"The only dogs," I informed her, knowledgeably "that eat cats are Jack Russells and Lurchers."

In My Day

Caspian the dog had been taught early on to treat cats with the greatest of respect and caution. In 1993 the old cats died and we acquired Amadeus and Arietty.

I spoke sternly to Cas. "We're getting some kittens; you harm them and it's back to the RSPCA where you came from!" He laid his head on my lap and gave me that "don't you love me any more?" gaze that dogs do so well.

He was used to cats ignoring him and slapping him; what he didn't expect was a cat who adored him. Amadeus was a smart little black-and-white who had been reared in a farm cottage where dogs ran in and out all the time.

As soon as he saw Cas he ran over to him. Cas braced for impact. Instead Amadeus got onto his hind legs and wrapped his paws around Cas's nose, pulling it down to his level so that he could kiss him. Caspian was dumbfounded and just let him do this. On one occasion, Cas gave a huge yawn and Amadeus put his head inside the dog's mouth to have a look around. Cas simply stood there with his jaw uncomfortably locked open until the kitten withdrew his head.

Later, he allowed the kitten to eat his food (Amadeus would dart between his paws as he stood over his food bowl and just tuck in) and to use him as a sofa. Many a morning we would find Cas hunched up in the corner of his kennel while the cat sprawled luxuriously in the bed.

Once or twice he growled slightly when the kitten's playing with his tail threatened to become actually painful. I think that was more a call to us to remove the kitty, rather than a threat to Amadeus, because he never once hurt or attacked the kittens.

And I think Spaniels are in general a good tempered breed; so why don't you go for it, Sarah?