Are you headed to a shelter or rescue to search for a new puppy–who will get along with your cat? Choosing a cat-friendly dog adds an extra layer to the selection process–but one that you definitely want to take the time to work through to keep all the four-legged members of your household happy, safe and healthy.
We’ve got tips on how to select a cat-friendly puppy and some of the most cat-friendly dog breeds, as you’re wondering which dogs get along with cats.
Our Personal Experience
When we lost our dear Irie to cancer, we knew we needed to find another cat-friendly dog. Irie was a longtime buddy of our cats, each and every one of them. Irie, along with Tiki, was always respectful of the cats and liked nothing better than to share her couch with her buddies.
When we went to the shelter to adopt a puppy to help keep our dog Tiki company, we knew that, together with getting along with Tiki, the new puppy had to be cat-friendly.
Very young puppies, like a young child, generally have no preconceived notions as to whom they like and don’t like. They don’t have a history to fall back on to determine if they like cats or not.
But, due to where we live, we knew we wanted an older puppy, one who would not be as vulnerable to hawks in our fenced yard on supervised potty breaks. So went went in search of a cat-friendly older puppy.
How to Find a Cat-Friendly Puppy
Check with rescues that have puppies with foster families.
Rescues that place puppies with foster families will be able to tell you more about the temperament of the puppy around cats.
Some puppies may be residing with cats so the fosters will be able to share the dog’s behavior around their cat(s). Petfinder has a special filter for searching for dogs who are good with cats. You’ll also see a “cat friendly” indication on many Petfinder listings, if the shelter or rescue has had the dog around cats. (Many foster homes have both dogs and cats but not always!)
Ask about temperament testing.
Has the shelter or rescue done any temperament testing of the puppy to see how he reacts around cats?
Observe how the puppy reacts to a squeaker toy.
A squeaker toy can help you judge the level of excitement the puppy reaches–a good indication of how he’ll be with other animals.
While it’s perfectly natural for the puppy to be excited by the sound of the squeaker and enjoy playing with the toy, how does the dog react when the squeaky toy is taken away? Does he busy himself with other activities? Or is he obsessed by getting the squeaker back?
An obsessive tendency might indicate that he will be too excitable around cats and possibly have a prey drive too strong to live with cats without constant supervision.
Ask if the shelter can help you walk the puppy near a cat.
We were so lucky at the Hill Country SPCA where we adopted Barli; the shelter is home to two lobby cats who are as chill as chill can be.
I walked Barli on leash a distance from the cat and he did not react; when I let him and Tiki get closer to the cat, the interaction was just what I wanted to see. The cat glanced up at the dogs and went back to sleep; the dogs sniffed and then went on their merry way.
Look for relaxed body language; be wary of a hard stare from the puppy or stiffened body posture.
A hard stare or stiffening of the body as a puppy watches the cat are signs you do NOT want to see. Look for relaxed eyes and a relaxed body from the puppy. Curiosity is OK but you don’t want to see any kind of prey drive.
Which Dog Breeds Are Good with Cats?
OK, first things first. Repeat after me:
All dogs, like all cats and all people, are individuals. Every dog has his own energy level and, regardless of breed, you’ll want to look for a dog who is relaxed around cats. Any dog breed may have individuals that get along with cats and individuals that don’t get along with cats.
So your first step is to look at that energy level and find one that will work with your cat and your lifestyle.
That said, some dog breeds typically get along better with cats and other small animals. Mixed breed dogs like ours may have characteristics of one breed or another. Again, whether purebred or mixed breed you’ll want to work through the steps above to judge for yourself if the puppy appears to be cat friendly.
Some breeds which often get along with cats include:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Bichon Frise
- Collie
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Pug
- Poodle
- Papillon
- Basset Hound
- Beagle
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
In our own home, Barli is a Border Collie mix, and Tiki is an Australian Shepherd mix–and both absolutely love the cats. Irie was a German Shorthaired Pointer, Coonhound and Labrador Retriever mix.
Regardless of the dog you select, you’ll want to introduce your dog and cat carefully and safely, making a good first impression that creates a good basis for a lifetime together.
- Cat Adoption: FAQ You Might Have - June 28, 2024
- Protecting Birds with Birdsbesafe Cat Collars - April 24, 2024
- Are Eclipses Dangerous to Cats? - March 4, 2024