January 27, 2006

Pet of the Month

Three-year-old Mia, a female black tuxedo tabby cat, was adopted by the Alvarez family through the Humane Society. The Alvarez family wanted a play pal for their bulldog, Miles, and the pair has since become inseparable.

Fast Friends: Mia and Miles

By Diego Abeloos
Editor

They’re cute, they’re the best of friends and they’re different species.

It’s a canine and feline tag-team duo for Ariel and Juliya Alvarez, owners of Miles, a four-year-old male bulldog, and Mia, a three-year-old female black tuxedo tabby cat.

Miles, or as he’s known to his owners, Miles the Monster, was the first pet of the house, when the Alvarez family purchased him from a breeder in Michigan as a puppy.

“I’ve always wanted a bulldog,” said Ariel Alvarez. “I just wanted something wrinkly. I just love the breed.”

And while the Alvarez family has all the wrinkles they could possibly want in Miles, they all got a few extra surprises.

Because bulldogs are known for their heavy and laborious breathing, Miles is infamous for his incessant snoring while sleeping. Nearly three years ago, the Alvarez family grew concerned about Miles’ breathing issues, and on the advice of their veterinarian, had surgery performed on Miles to help clear his palate. The hope, in part, was that Miles would cease with his bear-like snoring.

Guess again.

“We thought the snoring would stop, but it just didn’t,” said Alvarez, adding that Miles snores louder than the average human. “You just have to get used to it.”

Aside from his snoring, Alvarez said Miles is a friendly, happy-as-can-be bulldog. As Alvarez puts it, Miles is “a bit of a character.”

On one occasion, the Alvarez family decided to walk Miles a couple of blocks away from their home in Evergreen to go and visit their cousin. Alvarez said the walk wore Miles out so much, he refused to walk back home, opting for a car ride back instead.

Although Miles is quite a character, his little tricks don’t come close to his best pal Mia.

Mia, who was adopted from the Humane Society so that Miles would have a play pal, is notorious for one particularly unsettling ability – opening all the cabinet doors in the house.

On one occasion, Mia opened all the cabinet doors in the master bathroom while the Alvarez clan was out. Upon returning, the first thought that crossed Alvarez’s mind was that someone broke into the house. It was just Mia, doing what she does best.

Alvarez said Mia’s little habit can occur at any time, day or night as well.

Miles the Monster is a four-year-old male bulldog in the Alvarez family home. Miles is notorious for his loud snoring and loves playing around with his feline friend, Mia.

“At night, I’d hear thumping noises and it used to freak me out,” he said, thinking it was a burglar. “It was just Mia, opening everything up.”

As for Mia and Miles together, it was best friends from the start. Alvarez said Miles was extra gentle with Mia when she was first adopted, snuggling next to his feline pal for a nap whenever the occasion called for it.

Now that they’re fast friends, some roughhouse play from Miles will crop up once in a while, said Alvarez. However, don’t be fooled into thinking Miles is the boss of the house, he added. Mia is clearly the queen.

“She’s definitely in control of him,” said Alvarez. “He’s not scared of her, but if he plays too rough with her, she does know how to take control of him.”

Yes, it’s true. Felines and canines can get along in the same house. Miles and Mia are living proof that even different species can be the very best of friends.

“It’s just one of those things,” Alvarez said of the unlikely friendship. “When one of them is not there, the other one is always looking for their buddy.