I think that your new resolve to let the pets sort things out is admirable, and a big, huge step in the right direction. If you can get your mom on board too, then you could both go off into another room to make coffee or fold laundry or occupy yourself in a similar way if a scuffle breaks out. (If there is a special show or movie on TV that you really want to see with no interruptions you might lock the cats out of the room while things are calm before the program begins so that no arguments occur between the pets while you are watching.) To the best of my memory none of my cats ever drew blood when smacking my puppies in the past. When I wrote in a previous post that they got their noses "shredded" regularly I was using imagery and exaggeration to make the point that these conflicts are normal and commonplace. One of my cats did claw the nose of a neighbor's German shepherd once who came up onto the front porch where my cat was sleeping and, judging from the yelps of the retreating dog, probably drew blood. Cats can distinguish between a strange dog who doesn't belong and a dog who is a member of the household, and the latter is treated with more tolerance and restraint even when the cat is meting out discipline to its doggie housemate. No dog or cat in my experience has ever had its eye clawed by a cat. All animals have a protective reflex to close their eye lids if an object approaches. The Siamese cat I had when I was a kid was quite a fighter and used to really get into it with strange cats in the neighborhood. I am talking actual real cat fights here, not a tussle between housemate kitties. He came home frequently with bite and claw wounds, some *near* his eyes, but his pretty blue eyes lasted him a lifetime unmarred. If one of your cats should inflict a wound on one of their housemates I'd recommend that you treat it with peroxide for a few days to prevent an infection, as you would with any puncture wound. But I really doubt that any of your pets will have skin broken on their noses, and having an eye clawed out is only slightly more likely than being hit with falling debris from a satellite. Unneutered dogs can be a bit more feisty, but since you plan on neutering Punkin this year anyways, it sounds like you have this covered. I've always fed my pets separately to avoid fights. I would keep on feeding your kitties separately from your dogs just as you are doing now. This is a good policy. Everyone deserves to be able to eat in peace. Food is a key thing that tends to provoke conflicts, and your pets are already in conflict over their own space and place in the household. Your pets need to sort out the issues of their place in the heirarchy, but there is no point in giving them something else to argue over. If prescribed medication helps you and your mom to overcome your anxieties then it is a good idea to take the medication according to the doctor's directions. If you have time amidst your school work to fit in a walk with your mom and the dogs everyday, I also think this would have immeasurable relaxing effects. Punkin might be aggravating the cat simply because he has excess energy to burn with no outlet for it. A tired dog is always a good dog. Anyways good luck with your college studies and try not to worry over the critters!

I have a question or two. Since my dog and I walked at least two miles a day, his nails never seemed an issue. Never clipped the nails, the sidewalk kept them down. I notice a number of my neighbors who do not regularly walk their dogs have rather long nails. The dogs I mean, not the people. My question is, do long nails perhaps lead to a increased change of the nail tearing? I have a dog nail clipper, and some of that septic (wrong spelling I'm sure), that can stop the dog bleeding. But as I mentioned, never cut any dog nails. One electronic fence dog scratched me slightly seven times when I entered his area to play with him. (If a dog is named Chewy, don't be surprised at anything. This one jumps sideways, which I never saw before). Kept telling myself not to pet him anymore, but my dog had just passed, and I felt sorry for this one. I did prepare some strips of old tee shirt for a dog paw emergency. Some of these dogs must need two adults to do this type of work. One strip of cloth for the set of paws not being worked on, and a two or three foot piece for the head. I gather one loops around the mouth with a single knot on top of the mouth, then goes under the head for the second single knot, and ties a double knot behind the head. Some of the store-bought muzzles just don't stay on when the dog is in agony and shaking the head violently.

Justgaotabme, FYI and I quote below from the above article. It's too late for your cats, but maybe someone else will educate themselves before making the decision to declaw AKA elective surgery to cut off their toes. Why are you so offended? You did what you thought was right for your cats. My statement was not addressed to you specifically. "the last bone of your cat's claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat."

Confess mostly scanning above replies. You do not need leather. I have a 30 year Ethan Allen sofa and have always had 2 fuzzy pups. Never an issue with the fuzz due to the smoothness of the fabric: 100% cotton or with some poly. It had no sheen, or special finish, but hairs just didn't stick at all. I say ‘had’ as I became very tired of the dated print and had reupholstered in a “ performance” fabric. Nothing stains this stuff, but isnt as soft as I’d like, and does collect hair somewhat , though not a magnet. If you wouldn't mind a print, that’s key to not showing soil. I never had mine cleaned and It looked spotless. I chose the ( Kravet) tough fabric because I wanted an off white color that cleaned easily, and boy, does it ever! Wish I’d wanted another print ! I also now use a stiff wire lint brush (Amazon) which works well. You are a good mom, and dog mom!