Many of my readers (well, two) have asked about Willy Whatever the Adventure Dog’s entry into my world at home and its existing animal kingdom. Having lost two cats while I was away, there was only one cat and one dog to introduce Willy to and hope for the best. The dog I left behind, Mika, was in the capable care of my boyfriend and they thrived (in fact, I believe that he met my return with the required-amount of enthusiasm, but some regret since I’d be taking Mika back). My cat, Repete, had a rougher time of it, having been left at my house with intermittent care, but no real companionship.

Now that I’ve provided the lay of the land, it is worth mentioning at this point that Mika is an alpha dog…and so is Willy—two little Napoleons—making for an interesting first night. Willy spent his time chasing the cat and getting into teeth-gnashing fights with Mika over food. They didn’t really fight, but they would end up in a growling, barking, teeth-baring ball of fur. I would step in and separate them and they would grudgingly go to their corners—the same one—me. Just think, before I left for my adventure, Mika and I had been inseparable for the past seven years. Then I leave and get a stray dog and travel together for three months, joined at the hip. It presented some problems.

To add to the general chaos, Willy is only a year old and tried to engage Mika and Repete in anyway possible, and they were having none of it. He is still trying and there is some accommodation on the part of Mika with small bouts of chasing each other.

After about five more brawls between the dogs and a few well-placed swipes by the cat, there seems to be a general détente; and just in time for Christmas. Willy and Mika sleep together on my bed, as does the cat sometimes. We’ve enjoyed some great hikes together and, as long as food isn’t in the mix, everyone is generally getting along. The cat is acting out periodically by sharpening his claws on every piece of furniture and knocking things off shelves (always at about 2 a.m.) but, I’m not sure if it’s because of the addition of Willy or the loss of his beloved twin brother, Petie. I’m cutting him some slack…for now.

All in all, I think it’s going to work. They are not the best of friends I had hoped for, but I think they will all grow old companionably and may even start to enjoy one another. It’s, once again, a peaceable kingdom.