Question:
Our cat Scooter-Pie has been gone for about three years, but she and our black Lab/golden mix dog, Red, now 14, used to play/fight together. She'd come at him and take a swipe for no reason, just enough to signal playtime. He'd lunge and grab her head in his mouth, never harming her, and she'd hook her claws into his muzzle and he'd let her go. They'd circle around before plunging back at each other, all the while with what looked like smiles on their faces! Sometimes he'd get a paw over her and "knock" her to the ground -- she'd fall first. Then they'd roll around and tussle again. It was like a dance and went on for five minutes or so. Outside, he'd chase her across the yard, never really trying to catch her, until she scooted up a tree.It was all such a game to them. They did it about once a week. On her last night with us (kidney failure; we had to put her down), she slept between Red's paws up against his belly. She did that a lot, actually. We miss her, and I'm sure Red does, too.
A.B., Monroe, CT Jul 30, 2006
Answer:
Thank you for your vivid description of your cat and dog playing together. I'm sure Red misses Scooter-Pie.Play is the best medicine, since it brings on a state of euphoria due to the release of feel-good neurochemicals, some of which also boost the immune system. This is why I encourage people to have more than one dog or cat in the home. Solitary dogs and cats need to be played with regularly and receive a daily massage, as per my "Healing Touch" (Newmarket, 2004) books for dogs and cats.
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