My 65 Pound Cat

I've never lived with a Husky or part Husky before we adopted Tsar. I didn't realize that I was going to have to negotiate everything with this dog. I didn't expect a dog that acted more like a cat than a dog.



This is a dog that sets his own rules and is so stubborn that eveyone eventually learns to live by his rules, too. He certainly marches to a different drummer than the rest of our pack.


The rest of the pack gets up around 5:30 or 6 AM. Not Tsar, he likes to sleep in till about 10. Fortunately he has a remarkable bladder.


The rest of the pack likes to have us throw balls for them to chase. Not Tsar. He'll find his own ways of amusing himself and they usually don't include anyone else.


The others come running when I call them. Not Tsar, he decides when he's ready to come inside and would prefer to sit quietly on the hill watching the trees.


He likes his comfort, curling up on the couch with a blanket or sneaking into our bed when we're not looking. He plays with toys by himself, tossing them in the air, then pouncing on them. He hunts for mice and moles , kills them by pouncing on them, then plays with his kill, just like a cat. He brings us his kill and it never has a mark on it.


He's a fussy eater. His current favorite food is bagel with cream cheese, no jelly please. I 've fought with him for years about eating.


This is dinner time. He's waiting while I prepare his dinner. He likes to eat alone after all the other dogs have eaten and gone outside. He needs quiet in order to concentrate on his food. When he does eat, he picks up each piece of kibble separately and chews it about eighteen times while he either gazes out the window or watches television.


I put his bowl on the mat. It must be on the mat, never on the floor. He looks at it suspiciously. Am I trying to trick him? Is it safe to eat this?


No, thank you. I don't want it.


You can put that mess in the refrigerator, I want to go outside now.
He usually eats three or four days a week, yet his weight seldom changes.


He'd rather eat grass and bugs than that dog food. It isn't just dog food, we've tried offering him all sorts of tasty treats and he refuses them all. He'll eat when he's ready and not before then. Does he sound like a cat?


Just in case I don't have enough four legged creatures around here, this neighborhood cat has taken up residence on the porch. He sleeps on the furniture, but usually runs away when we walk onto the porch. Monday he decided he was too comfortable to bother running away and just gave me this evil look when I sat down. I had Samba with me, but he insulted her by rolling onto his back for a more comfortable nap.


Just what I needed, more attitude.

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