Seagazer Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Cookie caught a squirrel yesterday in the park, I wasn't close enough to her to get it off of her but it wriggled and managed to escape up a tree. I was so annoyed with her that even though we'd only done one lap I took her straight home. I know in a lot of ways its only natural but as I said to my OH when we get another kitten I'm going to worry that she'll want to chase it now. She was brought up with Dave as a kitten so they were fine together. My OH's reaction was not to be upset with Cookie but at the fact that I was talking about another kitten . Honestly I think sometimes that after 27 years together he should know me by now I'm not sure if they are a particularly dopey lot of squirrels in the park as a friend that I walk round with said that her elderly dog managed to catch one the other day too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 I doubt there will be a problem with a kitten as she will know that it is part of her family. Plenty of dogs love their cats but still chase other peoples! My old dog used to be awful if we ever visited a London park as all of the squirrels were tame and cocky and the London dog's ignored them wheras my country bumpkin was used to chasing them at high speed at home. Our first visit was not pretty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 It was awful as she just completely ignored me calling her to leave. She was so fast as well, it must have wriggled really hard as she dropped it a couple of times. She's actually been naughty today as well, YS has a lovely 4 inch scratch going down from his eyebrow down his cheek. We think she's turned rogue!!! Only joking. I think she's having an off weekend. More training will be happening in the Seagazer household. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Well from an ecology point of view (and assuming its grey)...... Well Done Cookie - They are vermin, responsible for the destruction of our native red squirrel. I doubt Cookie will go for your kitten - they know the difference, and it will only take one ditten swipe of the claws to get the message! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 I think that she was doing what comes naturally. Sometimes even the best behaved dog can't resist a squirrel when it catches them by suprise. My dog was bombproof with sheep until we were walking on holiday and one literally jumped out of a hedge in front of us and she did what came naturally and went to chase it away. It took us a few months to teach her to leave them alone again. She has caught and killed a couple of squirrels but tends to chase them and slow down a little if she gets too close - she enjoys the chase far more that the kill. She does the same with hares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 Ooh I don't know what I'd have done if she'd actually killed one I'm no particular fan of squirrels having been bitten through the thumbnail by one a few years ago resulting in a jab from the nurses at the hospital once they'd finished laughing at me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Our cat has brought us a squirrel before now They are vermin, I wish I'd got in there as soon as Tom had killed it, squirrel meat is meant to be quite nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 We have squirrels who take the nuts from the trees, and then did the lawn up in hundreds of places and hide them Cookie is welcome to come and catch them Karen x Blimey posted twice and wrong spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 We have squirrels who take the nuts from the trees, and then did the lawn up in hundreds of places and hide them Cookie is welcome to come and catch them Karen x Blimey posted twice and wrong spelling Shall I send her up then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
