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[Neonivek]

So we have a cat and while she was gone the dog happily ate his all his food.

Now that the cat is back (my Sister's cat. She had to leave it here because of a school trip) the dog only seems to eat half its food.

Now everyone around here things that the dog dislikes the cat so much that he won't eat.

While I think that the dog has it in his head for some reason that it is his job to ensure that the cat eats. (Indeed the cat will eat some of the dog food if she can)

The odd thing is that to my knowledge... Our dog should in fact be eating MORE with the cat around since dogs who feel competition eat more while ones who don't can become picky.

[userpay]

Hmm yes this does seem rather odd, have ye talked to your vet about it? The best I can think of is the dog has a fatherly attachment to the feline, have they been together when they were young?

[Twiggie]

maybe the cat is dominant over the dog, and so the dog lets it have more food?

[eerr]

The dog is leaving its food for the cat.
This is pack-oriented behavoir, and will never, ever, be recipricated by the cat.

[Kagus]

This might be the problem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzwi9eF3QOw


I have no idea why there's German commentary on this one...   I don't remember that being there.

But in all honesty, I haven't heard of anything like this before.  I would indeed check with a vet or dog trainer or something to see if they've got an opinion on it.

And it might very well be pack behaviour.  The dog, for whatever reason, seems to think the cat is an alpha.

[Angellus]

Cat's are always Alfa

But seriously, if he still eats and does not get thin or anything, he should be fine and just share with the cat.
Should you feel unsure, get in touch with your vet.

[Vester]

Yeah, dogs tend to be subservient to cats.

[Akigagak]

And mostly out of sheer confidence.

[Onlyhestands]

The dog is leaving its food for the cat.
This is pack-oriented behavoir, and will never, ever, be recipricated by the cat.

I don't know about that. I used to have a cat and a dog that grew up together and were really good friends. The dog was sickly and frail when she got old. The cat got upset when he saw this and decided to bring her food. The dog would lay about outside and the cat would walk up to her and leave her mice and birds that he had caught(thankfully she didn't eat any of it). He did this very deliberately, there was no question that he was giving her food. It was both really sweet and really sad.

[eerr]

The dog is leaving its food for the cat.
This is pack-oriented behavoir, and will never, ever, be recipricated by the cat.

I don't know about that. I used to have a cat and a dog that grew up together and were really good friends. The dog was sickly and frail when she got old. The cat got upset when he saw this and decided to bring her food. The dog would lay about outside and the cat would walk up to her and leave her mice and birds that he had caught(thankfully she didn't eat any of it). He did this very deliberately, there was no question that he was giving her food. It was both really sweet and really sad.

I stand corrected.

[Apple Master]

Yo dog needs to get some balls.

srsly.
My dog's smaller than our cats and it still scares 'em off.

[Akigagak]

That's because small dogs are bastards, like the bosses son in Of Mice And Men.

[userpay]

That's because small dogs are bastards, like the bosses son in Of Mice And Men.

I'm going to have to agree with this, small dogs are freaking irritating, stupid, and downright cowardly most of the time. If theres one barking at you usually just feinting in their direction scares them to hell.

edit: oh did I forget to mention their way to easy to punt.

[Cthulhu]

Boston Terriers are small, and they're awesome.

[PTTG??]

I have a dog of one of the largest breeds in the world, the Pyrenees Mountain Bear, I believe it's called, crossed with a golden retriever. He is totally subservient to basically everything, including the chickens.

There are only two foods he will not let anyone else have; stale bread, and ice cream.

He is something of an odd beast.