Most dogs will react fearful to a cat approaching them, but chase if the cat runs away. Our ‘hotel’ cats were used to dogs staying and would not run… on the contrary.
If you really want a feline companion, it is best to start introducing a kitten to Jules. He sounds like he would not harm a kitten. But it would have to happen under close supervision.
Cats are much more independent minded, mine used to go walkie on a lead until they knew the neighbourhood. Then we would let them get on with their daily rounds. Norwegian Forrest Cats
(like Eddie above) have a territory as depicted in the BBC series, but he was a lover of food and comfort, so he was at the trough 3 times a day and on the sofa at night.
I am pretty sure he wouldn’t harm a cat either but, because of his noisy excitement if one runs from him, he never gets close enough to find out.
And yes, I have mentioned before about a cat chaser foster some years ago who was deterred from chasing by being walked on a lead towards a caged cat (the cat was elderly and used to living with dogs so wasn’t traumatised). He was scolded if he reacted badly and treated if he ignored it. He was soon re-homed and there were no adverse reports long afterwards.
Hence having it drilled into me growing up on the farm in Oz ‘when you see a snake, stop, be still, don’t run’. Unfortunately each time I did see one (usually just before treading on it!) that would come into my brain but my feet and screams came quicker. I always got away (obviously as I’m still here!). It takes a braver girl that I to stop right next to something you know will kill you!
They are in a Kipling story, RTT is a mongoose who saves the household from the cobra couple Nag and Nagaina. The man of the house kills Nag first with a stick and chucks his corpse on the rubbish heap, and Nagaina understandably furious and sad, vows vengeance, she will come in via the sluice and kill the child of the house - but RTT lures her out again by taking her eggs hostage and then there’s a great fight scene and ultimately RTT wins after a terrible struggle, his poor eyes all red and his fur all bristly in the heat dust and effort. I always thought N&N got the rough end of the stick. I hope I’ve got the details right, it’s a very very long time since I read it, at least 55 years!
Argh the gist is ok but the man bashes a krait with a stick then takes a shotgun to Nag in the bathroom - in both cases RTT stars. Nagaina is the real lady Macbeth character though.
for when stuck in bed with flu or bronchitis or whatever.