Dog Breeds That Do Not Get Along With Cats

Adrienne is a certified dog trainer and former veterinarian assistant who partners with some of the best veterinarians worldwide.

About Dog Breeds That Do Not Get Along With Cats

Cats and dogs have a history of being portrayed as natural enemies, yet owners that have raised cats and dogs together can provide plenty of testimonials supporting that cats and dogs can get along and even live in harmony. The secret often is allowing them to grow up together, which means raising puppies and kittens together from a young age.

While this is the best and ideal method, adult cats and dogs introduced later in life can still get along together if given ample time to accept each other and if the owners provide timely redirection to any unwanted behaviors.

Dangers of High Prey Drive

As much effort, however, as one may put into training cats and dogs to get along, in some cases, there is not much that can be done to prevent nature to take its course. Indeed, there are dog breeds that have an inherited impulse to chase, injure and sadly, many dogs kill cats and other small animals regardless of the training methods involved.

This is called ''prey drive'' and many times it is genetically instilled deep into the dog's genetic core leaving small place for changes. High prey drive dog breeds are those that have been used for years by humans to chase and hunt small animals. Examples include many sporting breeds, sighthounds and some of the small terriers.

In these dog breeds, these hunting traits have been accentuated to a point where they get stimulated to chase anything that moves. There are also some dogs that love to chase small animals just because they get a kick out of it, regardless of their intention is to kill or play a game.

Not Rules Written in Stone

Even within a breed, there may be variances. For examples, some dogs may be bred from working lines used for successful hunting. These dogs are selectively bred for considerably stronger prey drives compared to dogs of the same breed bred exclusively for being companions.

While one cannot really generalize on which dog breeds are not suitable for feline households because there are exceptions, especially when the dog and cats are raised together at a young age, there is evidence that some dog breeds have higher prey drives than other breeds, therefore upping the likeliness that it may be challenging to make them get along with your feline friend.

Dog Breeds That May Not Get Along With Cats

Below are listed dog breeds that generally may not do well with cats because of their high prey drive. If these dogs were raised with cats and trained to respect them, they still should not be left unsupervised with cats for safety sake.

Some dogs know they must respect cats in the owner's presence, but once the owner turns around the dog may take advantage of its primal instincts. Also, sometimes dogs may kill cats because of some unusual circumstance such as a cat falling off of a tree or suffering a seizure.

Dog Breeds With High Prey Drive

• Afghan Hound
• Airedale terrier
• Akita Inu
• Alaskan Malamute
• Australian Cattle Dog
• Basenji
• Beagle
• Border Collie
• Bullmastiff
• Doberman Pinscher
• Greyhound
• Jack Russell Terrier
• Jindo
• Norwegian Elkhound
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Samoyed
• Shiba Inu
• Siberian Husky
• Weimaraner
• Whippet
• Yorkshire Terrier

Dog Breeds That May Get Along With Cats

The below dog breeds are breeds that are generally more likely to be tolerant of cats. Yet, no generalization can be done, as each dog has its own personality.

Raising these dogs with cats from a young age and stopping dogs from engaging in cat-chasing behaviors early on, may up the chances for success. However, as much as these dogs may seem to get along with cats, supervision is always recommended.

• Australian Shephard
• Boxer
• Cavalier King Charles
• Dachshund
• Dalmatian
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• Maltese
• Papillon
• Pekingese
• Pomeranian
• Poodle
• Pug
• Shih Tzu

The above lists of dogs that get along with cats and dogs that do not get along with cats, therefore, are not a black and white declaration, rather, they just simply list breeds of dogs that are more likely to chase and view cats as prey and dogs that are more ready to accept cats as a friend.

It is ultimately, the cat owner's responsibility to do good research on the dog's breed and temperament before adopting a dog and allowing him/her to co-habitat with cats. If the dog is trying to chase the family cat, there are ways to stop dogs from chasing cats, but not always it's possible to reduce this form of chasing entirely. Caution is always needed.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2009 Adrienne Farricelli

Comments

Kathleen Boagey on September 06, 2020:

My 2 little cute pugs absolutely hate cats I have no idea why, they go crazy if they see one, I personally like cats and all animals but I couldn't get one

Laura on July 26, 2020:

Idk i have always had a cat and dog pitts jack russell right know i have a chow and border collie and they like cats more than each other sleep with them and all

Sarah on July 21, 2020:

I completely disagree with this I have border collies and huskies and they love my cats

Sub 2 lol on July 07, 2020:

I am happy Golden retrievers may get along with cats I

Sharon on July 03, 2020:

I had 2 Dobermans, yorkie, shar pei, now I have a American akita and a biewer and I have 2 cats...I always had cats, and my dog's always got along just fine and they respected our cats...the problem is not the dogs, it's always the owner's! Teach your dog how to behave and there won't be any problems. If you aren't capable of training your dog, then don't get one.

Rosemary Samora on June 23, 2020:

My chihuahua and cat were raised together.

They play and wrestle my chihuahua has a bad temper and gets mad when my cat scratches or bites.

I gave a new puppy a part Rodisean ridgeback and hound dog cat and dog get along she's 13 weeks old. My chihuahua won't accept puppy.

Chihuahua and cat are 2yrs old

Robin on June 22, 2020:

I have a German Shepherd service dog who has a real thing for squirrels. I'm disabled pretty bad but I'm able to ride my trike with him. I wouldn't be able to go without him and we have to be careful about the weather. I was really afraid that there was a good chance that when we were riding along right in the middle of squirrel weather and I live in a pecan tree neighborhood, that he might actually just dump me, I can feel him stiffen up on leash, but that's it. I've even had them run across in front of us and he is perfect. He has his own cat, I let him choose it Through shelter giveaway and the cat rules.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on June 19, 2020:

Hi Patricia, great to hear your dobies got along with your Himalayan cats! It makes a whole lot of difference raising cats and dogs together from an early age. It matters a lot also how you raise them. My neighbor used to keep her dobies outside most of the time and they used to kill any cats that came into their properties.

Patricia A Duval on June 18, 2020:

I raised Dobermans and I raised Himalayas cats and my Dobermans got along with my cat's the same goes for my pitbulls. I never had a problem with any of my dogs.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on June 15, 2020:

Hi Hen, I agree, but you can only do so much with certain dogs. Yes, you can do training and desensitization but will that totally cancel out the instincts? If it was that easy, there would never be sad stories of dogs killing cats. That's a Disney-like view. Also, consider that, unless you are a dog behavior professional, the average dog owner won't know how to manage high-prey dogs with cats. And that's when I get the comment of a sad cat owners whose dog killed their cats the moment they didn't look and only wished they knew. Even rescues won't home certain dogs with cats because they feel it would be unsafe. Of course there are exceptions which is why I have repeated ad nauseum that this is not a black and white list but we need to consider the individual dogs. And just because your basenji/husky mix is doing well with your cats, do you feel safe enough to take the responsibility of telling others here reading your post that you can train any dog to get 100 percent along with cats no matter how strong their instincts? This is a big liability and we need to tread with caution as a cat's life is very precious. Nobody can bring a cat back to life once something bad happens. There are also countless of stories of dogs and cats who have lived together well and then some accident happened and this can happen even with the more cat-friendly breeds, let alone the less friendly ones.

Hen on June 15, 2020:

My cattle dog basenji mix and Siberian husky would disagree. It's all about training and desensitization. You don't just drop a new animal in front of another and expect everything to be fine. Yes those breeds have high prey drive but that doesn't mean they can't be around small animals.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on June 13, 2020:

Hi Diane, it's very nice to hear your doberman and bullmastiff/shorthair pointer mix get along with cats and have such a loving relationship! Both my Rottweilers loved cats and they even split the cats when they were fighting!

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on June 13, 2020:

Fastskinnydogs, no blanket labels were made if you carefully read the article. And it would be a disservice as well making blanket statements that sighthounds get along with cats when if you Google "sighthound killed cat" there are oodles of posts saying the contrary. Then I would have many enraged cat owners here blaming me for writing a silly article just like you. The best approach is being safe than sorry and pointing out certain predispositions (and you admit as well that some sight hounds don't pass the cat test) while also considering the individuality of each dog.. Please note that I made several disclaimers at the beginning and end that no generalizations can be made on the listed dog breeds and note the repeated use of the word "generally." Also, please consider that cat testing a dog can provide a reassuring insight, but accidents can always happen even in households where dogs and cats have gotten along for years and cats were strictly kept indoors.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on June 13, 2020:

Hi Shiloh, glad to hear your husky gets along well with your cat! Please read the notes that this list is not black and white and that there are exceptions.

Dianne Wortham on June 09, 2020:

We have a doberman and bullmastiff/shorthair pointer mix. They love their cats. Our do doberman and gray tabby are in love, they clean each other, even ears. They kiss, cat sleeps on top of him and massages dog. Bullmastiff mix is even more friendly. They are super proyective of our 2 cats

Fastskinnydogs on June 03, 2020:

This is a silly article and does a disservice to potential dog owners. I volunteer with several greyhound/sighthound rescue groups and have fostered and owned sighthound for 20 years. I’ve also owned cats for even longer. The vast majority of sighthounds can live peacefully indoors with cats. Because sighthound were originally bred and used as hunting dogs, being outdoors with cats can be a different story, but house cats shouldn’t be let outdoors to start with. Most sighthound rescue groups “cat test” their dogs prior to adoption to identify which dogs shouldn’t be adopted out to households with cats. It is wrong to give breeds blanket labels about being cat safe or unsafe. Dogs are individuals just like humans.

Shiloh Cyphers on June 01, 2020:

Hello this is not true.

I have a Husky that loves my cat.

They get along just fine.

The are the best of friends.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on September 14, 2019:

Hi Hubble, with more than 360 dog breeds worldwide, it is difficult to make a comprehensive list that covers all of them. Not to mention the fact, that many dog breeds are somewhere in between and there can be so many individual variances.

However, what you have witnesses if not unusual. Many dogs react this way when outdoors as if cats transform from friends to foe. This is why I tell many dog owners to never make generalized blank statements that their dogs are friendly to cats, until they see how they react to cats outdoors.

Glad to hear that your cat stands up for herself! Caution though as cats often aim for the eyes and this can lead to injuries, not to mention, emotional side effects.

Hubble on September 14, 2019:

We have an older cat...11 and got a 8 month old Irish Terrier who lived in a household with a smaller dog and 2 cats. The Irish Terrier is not on your list and though not very common in the US, has a high prey drive. We have watched over our old cat and dog interactions for 2 years now and the single time they were both out in the yard together, it was a game changer!. When the dog saw the cat, something changed in her demeanor and she sank low to the ground and then rushed the cat several times with our shouting effecting her not at all! You could see the PREY drive be triggered so clearly we were amazed! . The cat seems ever watchful of the dog and dog receives a whack with claws when she is overly familiar. The dog seems to want more friendship but the cat does not. They have a truce of sorts but don't appear to be good buddies.

Nathanthecatdog on May 15, 2019:

Anyone know about the Border Collie Rottweilers mix with cats?

Colin Aka 719 on February 16, 2019:

my question is i am getting a german shepherd friday that's one years old but hyper and have two cats one 4 the other 8 years old both no claws how could i train the shepherd to not harm the cats because that's going to worry me because my other dog is a lab shepherd and got along well but i am not sure about the full on german shepherd and i can't lose another cat i already lost 2 cats within 2 years due to cancer and old age (a link on how to train it would help a lot)

RidgebackOwner on January 11, 2019:

I have a full purebred Rhodesian Ridgeback and she gets along famously with my two cats. In fact, she's practically adopted the kitten and mothers her like she was her own. They play together and sleep together often. A giant 95lbs rhodesian ridgeback and a tiny little kitten (now almost 1 year old).

Ausitn on November 18, 2018:

i have a beagle cocker spaniel mix, male, around 10 years old who has never lived with a cat before. i just adopted two kittens age 6 weeks and brought them home, when i tried to introduce my dog to the siblings, while having my roommate hold his collar as i held a kitten to let him sniff. instead of simply sniffing at them he immediately tried to lunge at them with mouth open as if to bite or grab it, barking and generally strangling himself with his collar. how can i best deal with this situation to make sure my kittens are introduced to him safely and so that he understands he is not to harm them?

Hziggy on September 10, 2018:

My male and female bassets get along with all of our cats (4). They will chase them playfully, but have NEVER shown any sign of aggression towards them. However, any gopher, or rabbit that has come into our yard, sadly didnt make it out alive.

Chloe on September 08, 2018:

I want to get a Doberman and a great pyrenes dog, but I might get a kitten at the same time. What should I do? Will they be okay together?

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on August 18, 2018:

Audrey, when you foster a kitten, usually the shelter will come and do a home visit and ask questions about your resident dog. They can help determine whether things may work out or not and will have a plan in place to protect kitty. Protecting kitty is top priority here. Make sure you have good control of your dog to prevent mishaps, expecially during introductions. Go gradual in the introduction, starting with your dog sniffing a blanket kitty was on and then moving to letting him sniff the crate facing the other way so not to startle kitty , moving then to having him see kitty from behind a safe baby gate etc. Always on leash, first practice recalls while on leash to make sure you have complete control of your dog before off leash. Make sure kitty also has an escape route if needed.

Audrey on June 29, 2018:

I have one dog that we think is a border collie and pointer mix. I have been considering fostering a kitten for a while from a local shelter. If so, the kitten would be at my home for three weeks to a month. My dog is 4 yrs old and a pretty good sized dog, but not terribly large. I have noticed that she is very protective of our home and the people who live at it. I'm anxious to see how my dog reacts if I do end up deciding to foster a kitten. Do you have any thoughts? I really would like to know. Thank you!

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on June 01, 2018:

Adam no need to be sorry. Actually, if you read the article you might have read that there are exceptions to the rule and that dogs are prone to getting along with cats specially when the dog and cats are raised together from a young age.

Adam on May 25, 2018:

My 90 pound yr old male non neutered doberman and my intact female dobie live with love even share beds with 2 chihuahuas and 3 cats. We allow free run of house with all animals even while at work. Zero issues so i dont believe this list sorry

Kimberly on May 16, 2018:

HOW TO TEACH A boxer pup

and Ragdoll cat to be friends

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on April 05, 2018:

Harry Smith, thanks for sharing your experience with this beautiful breed. If I recall well, in the summers of Siberia, when they were not working, they were turned loose to hunt for themselves. Their prey drive was therefore allowed to persist fo by the natives.

Harry Smith on April 03, 2018:

Great article on dog breeds that do and don’t get along with cats. I have been showing Siberians for over 20 years and have 13. They have a very high prey drive including cats. Especially when they live in a “pack” environment withe several other Huskies. If they get hold of a cat, rabbit, bird, raccoon even a very young new born colt, they will be torn to shreds in seconds. Siberians are natural predators survivors, very social, and love being around people. But they also retain the hunting and prey instincts of the Wolf... always assume if they can catch it and kill , they will and most often will eat it. In this regard ther really is no “taming” a Siberian Husky. They are are hard wired to prey on other animals. They are also one of the most beautiful, and noble breed of dogs IMO. Much like our National Bird the Bald Eagle.... beautiful, majestic, intelligent... but also bold, strong, and predatory....

jj on March 11, 2018:

goldens love cats

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on December 09, 2017:

Generally speaking, the good-natured personality of corgis makes them potentially candidates to get along well with cats, but of course, no rules are set in stone when it comes to dogs.

person here 2day on November 17, 2017:

What about corgis?

kelli medberry on November 08, 2017:

i am not sure which to go on with this..mine is a rhodesian ridgeback boxer mix...it says the rhodesian ridgeback is likely to have the high prey dive...but the boxer is more tolerant with cats...its a 50/50 there

Miss Cellany on July 31, 2017:

I've rescued and handreared 2 week old kittens when I had my border collie and he showed no interest in them as prey (rather he hid from them and refused to go anywhere near them). This was a dog that had never lived with cats before.

Many BCs like to chase running targets but their intentions aren't usually to catch and kill the target - rather they usually just like to nip and make it run again so they can keep chasing. Most do not have killer instincts as they were bred to herd and NOT harm livestock.

The main issue with BCs and cats as I see it is the dog can become obsessed with stalking and eyeing the cats. This has to be stopped as soon as it starts or it can develop into an OCD.

If you train your BC to never chase the cat (even when it's running) and teach him not to herd or stalk the cat you should be fine.

Many people keep border collies and cats together without issues - you just need to train the dog in the beginning so that he knows the cats are off-limits for herding!

amsterd on January 20, 2017:

omy amstaff x hates cats she will pulll me if she see one i try to teach her to run next to the bike on the leash i had to give it up because of cats in street she will crazy bark at them from the 2nd floor balcony that the cat will run away sadly one already ddied last week

Caroline on March 17, 2016:

I really appreciate your lists and information here. I am amazed at how people argue with you and your lists, :( especially as you have repeatedly tried to express that your list isn't a black and white statement. Our family has two older cats whom we love and then we recently had a stray dog show up at our home. I thought he was a pit bull mix but our vet said probably basenji and Akita mix. Anyways our kids loved him and he seemed very sweet. Still I was really nervous what he might do to our indoor cats who slip out sometimes, especially with three young children running in and out. We finally decided to take the seemingly sweet doggie to the no-kill shelter where he could find a better home. It's been days since we took him and I'm still so sad that we couldn't keep him. But after reading this list and some posts by other readers, I feel better as it confirms that something bad really could've happened to our kitties (and even far worse, our 2 yo little girl). We had no idea of the dog's past and it just isn't worth the risk. The right person will adopt him one day soon hopefully, and we will find a better dog fit for our family. We're considering an Australian Shepherd puppy so thank you again for your help. God bless!

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on May 07, 2015:

That's why I wrote all over this hub that no generalizations can be made!

Michelle on May 07, 2015:

It's funny how my poodle was the one to kill our 4 kittens and my jack Russell loved them...

--- on June 09, 2014:

thank you for all of this information.it rly helped.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on February 04, 2014:

Also, if this behavior is totally out of character, it's not a bad idea to see the vet in case there's some medical condition that may have lowered his bite threshold.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on February 03, 2014:

I really cannot see realistic solutions than keeping them separated. You can try to train your dog to leave the cats alone, but that doesn't mean you can let your guard down and allow this to happen again because you simply cannot monitor every interaction indoors and out and accidents as seen can happen very quickly. Keep your dog on the leash in the morning when he has to pee.

bengalmum on February 03, 2014:

hi, desperate advice please. my tarrier who has just turned a year has always been ok wuth my 7 cats. chased them but thats about it. we think henis jack crossed with maybe a cairn or something similar. just let him out for his morning wee and he picked up my white oriental cross and shook her like a ragdoll. I was horrified and ran to her rescue. she appears to be deaf so is vulnerable and he has started to tease my more vulnerable cats? what do I do please, its really scared me!

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on June 30, 2013:

Thanks for sharing Hooo. I imagine you must have had some negative experience.

Hoooo on June 30, 2013:

Otterhounds are also terrible with cats

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on May 12, 2013:

Not sure why you think it's ridiculous since the golden retriever is listed under the most tolerant dogs?

Tsinghua Zheng on May 12, 2013:

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this is ridiculous. I have a golden retriever who gets along very well with my himalayan.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on March 29, 2013:

Well, crating is a great management tool to prevent rehearsal of the unwanted behavior, but it doesn't teach him to stop chasing altogether. You may be interested in reading these hubs;

https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Dog-Behavior-How-to-St...

https://pethelpful.com/dogs/How-to-strop-a-Dog-Fro...

Doris on March 29, 2013:

i have a shih tzu i have a problem with him going crasy every time he see's my catsi have brought him back in the house & crate him every time.i am hopeing that will work in the futcher

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on January 27, 2013:

Some dogs are that way, Luckily he has never hurt them. It's a good idea to provide escape routes for cats such as tall cat trees or rooms inaccessible to dogs.

Wendy Schack on January 26, 2013:

Our basset/husky is not a fan of cats. She chases our cat constantly but, thank goodness, has never hurt him. She preys on small animals outside. Not a good mix with cats.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on October 02, 2012:

When dogs gather together, they can easily go into "prey drive". Most of the dogs in my area are kept free to wander and they attack the occasional raccoon or kitty. As sad as it is; it's just instinct. We would not think it is cruel when people go hunting, but yet, that's the same thing dogs do. If your dogs hunt raccoons, possums and armadillos they see no difference in cats. This prey drive is only directed to prey, this is different from attacking people or children. Hope this clarifies. This is difficult to stop unless you supervise all the time and train the leave it command.

Maggie Crawford on October 02, 2012:

Have an Aussie Blue Heeler/and Beagle/Dacshund mix...they live in a large fenced yard with deck/dog houses..rescue dogs....I feed feral cats

all the time and get them fixed when I can catch them..the dogs have killed raccoons, possums, and 2 armadillos who invaded their yard. But, when an 8 week old kitten came through the fence, they pounced it and shook and killed it instantly..is this normal for the breeds...they are not mean to humans/children at all/but, protective of us, especially the Blue Heeler...we love cats and are distressed about the kitten and other kittens in the woods I feed...

kw richards on May 04, 2012:

Ive owned so many dogs I had a rat terrier named skipper for 17 years I loved that little dog he died last year broke my heart.

Melinda on April 30, 2012:

I have a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and they do not get along with cats, even on their website it is recommended not to have a cat in the house with them.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on April 22, 2012:

awww! what a lovely couple! thanks for sharing your story and picture!

Liberty Phoenix on April 22, 2012:

And here's a picture! http://www.dailycute.net/view/Other/7650

Liberty Phoenix on April 22, 2012:

I had a one year old Rhodesian Ridgeback, and an four year old samoyed, when I brought my eight week old kitten home,Tony, Tony was a little scared by my samoyed because she came rushing in, to see me and didn't pay him any attention, when I brought my rhodesian ridgeback in, she was very interested with tony and kept an eye on him but didn't go near him, then within the week all of them where getting along find, Miska my samoyed liked sleeping and didn't want to play and stayed to herself, But Jess my ridgeback loved Tony, and Tony loved Jess, Tony and Jess use to play all day and everyday, Tony use to play with jessies tail and jess would play back, of course jess was being gentle and never hurt tony..but tony being what he is use to jump out of nowhere and playfully attack jess,and til this day, five years later they are still bestfriends!

Ariana on March 03, 2012:

It's a good thing that boxers are good with cats because I have a boxer puppy, and i'm planning ti get a kitty.

Caz on February 22, 2012:

Newfoundlands do very well with cats. Out of all dog breeds they have a very gentle temperament and are great with small animals and children. You do, however, have to want a giant, dribbly bear around the house! Our newfie loves our three cats.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on February 09, 2012:

That's cute! I have two cats and one of them loves my Rottweilers, she licks their face every morning and gives them ''shiatzu massages''

batchick on February 09, 2012:

I have a rat terrier/min pin mix I got from a shelter and he's great with my cat. She rolls over on her back and waits for him to "attack" and they wrestle and chase each other. She's a rather dog-like cat though and is the only one of the two that plays fetch. She's 3 years old and once she adjusted to the puppy's play style they work, and if he gets too rough she swats him on the nose and he backs off. :-)

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on February 06, 2012:

I find it odd that all of a sudden your dog has gotten this interest in chasing the cats.. any recent changes? all you can do is manage the situation for now, this program below may help but you need to make safety your top priority:

https://pethelpful.com/dogs/How-to-Stop-a-Dog-From...

tracy on February 06, 2012:

we brought a yorkie that will be 2 in may she has all of a sudden started to attack my cats and im not sure what to do as now the cats cant come in the front room she got into my bedroom today and if it wasn't for my husband i dread to think what she would have done to the cat im now not sure if i should keep her

Sam on February 02, 2012:

We have a Jack Russell and she is an absolute terror to our poor cat! She's such a loveable cuddly little girl, but she does take great pleasure in jumping on and play fighting with the cat who has no desire to play.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on February 01, 2012:

Generally, yorkies being terriers have strong chasing instincts, it is best to introduce cats when young. Some may be intolerant of small children too. No black and white rules can be made though.

rachel on February 01, 2012:

woww! i want a yorkie, do they get along with cats??

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on January 19, 2012:

It is difficult to say the outcome, generally things are more likely to go well when they grow up with cats together. Being from a rescue, it is hard to tell if she was ever in households with cats. Did you try asking the rescue? Chasing of course is not a good sign and we do not know what her real intent is (and better not try to find out). My Rotts have grown with cats and chickens but occasionally they will chase our cats during play but it all ends there. I really would play it safe and do not let them interact as of yet now, in the meanwhile I would focus on training the malamute ''leave its''. The leave it can then be incorporated to the cat, with her on the leash for safety sake. And you can see if she will listen, some dogs have too much prey drive to listen, if this is the case you will have to work under the threshold and build from there, but accept the fact you may have to keep the two separated if there is no progress. Here are two helpful hubs:

https://pethelpful.com/dogs/The-Importance-of-Trai...

These rules can apply to any dog:

https://pethelpful.com/dogs/How-to-Train-Your-Scen...

Best wishes!

Miranda on January 19, 2012:

We just recently rescued a three or four year old Alaskan Malamute. This dog is very calm, never makes a noise, loves to chew on her bone...she isn't very interested in the balls or other toys we have bought her but loves to carry around my daughters dolls and stuffed animals. She is very calm around the kids....she seems to ignore us a lot but seems to be very well trained and heels and does tricks and understands what we want from her, but like I said, she seems to ignore us when we call her (also a new name to get used to I am sure). My cat has been in hiding since she got here. She has seen her a couple times and runs after her as if to chase her. She has been camped out by my bed for two days because the cat is hiding underneath it. Now I am worried she is going to eat my cat! She is wonderful otherwise....how can I prevent this from happening?

rhian on January 06, 2012:

Hi there I have a malumute (sorry for spelling lol) we had our cat for a year or so before we rescued our malumute from the pound he was 3 and I took great care when introducing them my dog max went up to the cat (niko) who swipped him on the nose and that was all it took for niko to show max who was boss and they have been best of friends ever since they play and share food fine unless the cat doesn't want max there then he growls at max which I find amusing as I'm sure it should be the other way around lol although I will make sure niko is high up when my parents dogs come around they are a jack Russel and a jack Russel cross beagle they like to chase him I don't think they would hurt him but I wouldn't take the risk as I've saved my cat from being chased by them once when they first came over and I didn't realise he was in x hope this helps xx

Cari on January 02, 2012:

i have a scottish terrier (8yrs) and a calico cat (1 yrs) and they hate each other....any tips?

Zazzles on December 31, 2011:

My Whippet and cat get along fine. Here's an adorable video of them that proves it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNJl6w53STk

makemineamac from vancouver bc on December 27, 2011:

We're a cat family that recently adopted a very small shelter dog, part terrier part shih tzu. I really don't know if that what she is, but she is certainly a terrier mix of some type.

Didn't even realize prey drive existed until after we got the dog and I found this article. Our dog will not leave the cat alone.

The dog is 8 pounds, and the cat, a very strong tabby, is 19 pounds at least. It's just that every time the dog sees the cat it's like it's the first time. Every single time it's like this, and she refuses to leave him alone. And she doesn't stop when she starts rushing him if we command her to stop. (part of the training she has already had)

Now, the cat could easily take care of the dog, but he has chosen not to for whatever reason. He is however, getting more and more fed up, and can bite very hard. But we don't want either of them to get hurt.

We have already had training for our dog for separation anxiety, and she starts obedience training in January. So we will do anything and everything to try and work through this.

We love them both, we want them to learn to get along, just wondered if anyone had any hints that may help. We really should have researched a lot more before we made such a decision, but we're in it for the long haul now.

Any suggestions appreciated..

pdarwall on December 22, 2011:

When we bought our cat at 10 weeks old, 3 years ago, we already had a 5 year old Jack Russell dog, with a naturally high prey drive, and a 4 year old Flatcoat retriever bitch, who is soppy but inquisitive. The kitten had been raised in a house with dogs and was totally unfazed when he met ours. The Jack Russell definitely wanted to have a go, in what I would call a semi playful way which could have turned nasty. The retriever wanted to make friends and play.

I introduced the Jack Russell under complete control, holding him so that he could not attack the cat - he calmed down extremely quickly. Within 24 hours there was no problem at all and the three animals were completely relaxed in each other's company. The kitten started to suckle the retriever (no milk of course) and the retriever was completely cool about this, though we discouraged it by gently detaching the kitten, so that it stopped after a week or so. Several years later and they all run in the garden together and the cat sometimes follows us down the lane for a walk. Hate each other? Happily, in this household they seem to be pretty fond of one another. We have never had a single dog vs. cat incident and there are regular and hilarious mock fights between the cat and the retriever. The Jack Russell is more aloof and only plays with the other dog!

Lonz on December 19, 2011:

It's pretty funny how some dog behave with cats, I have a 12 year old mastiff x ridgeback and a 1 year old mastiff x ridgeback (both most likely have many other breeds in them). The older one never liked cats when we were out walking, always getting very panicky when we passed one, and it was always difficult to settle her down, but two years ago I got a little kitten. To my surprise it only took about a week for the dog to be okay with the cat, from then on they were very well behaved... Then comes the puppy! She is meant to be the same breed as the older dog except she cannot help herself when it comes to the cat she has to chase it! Even when we manage to get her under control, you can see it in her body language how bad she wants the cat! The funny thing is the puppy has had the cat around its whole life, so far... Except she behaves like she has never seen a kitten before! But the old girl who has only had the cat in her life for two years get along with the cat like they are old mates from way back! It puts a bit of a twist on the whole dogs are okay with cats if they grow up with them theory! Aswell as the breed theory!

DeAnna on December 17, 2011:

I have a dalmatian/boxer mix and she hates cats. Go figure. Haha.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on December 07, 2011:

Helen, did you actually take your time to read that my list is not a black and white statement and therefore no generalizations can be made? I have a hard time understanding why you are acting like I did a disservice to the breeds you own, only because you were lucky things worked out. I wrote this article more than three years ago. I developed this hub from my experience as a certified dog trainer and years of reading about dog behavior. I cannot recall exactly what books I used to look for breeds with high prey drives and that are likely to attack small animals. I have a library with more than 300 dog books. If you are looking for a source that confirms my statements about both breeds you own and googling people with dead cats is not enough for you recognize that this tendency is in the breed standard which you should be familiar with:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/siberian_husky/

More sources:

Michele Welton

Source:

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/siberianh...

Siberian Husky: Strong instincts to chase and grab anything that runs, i.e. cats

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/alaskanma...

Alaskan Malamute:Aggression toward other animals

Hope this helps you understand why I am not going to list them as cat friendly.

helen on December 07, 2011:

Again, I want to know what research or evidence-based study supports your argument .... just point me in that direction.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on December 07, 2011:

Again, I made it clear in my article that these are not black and white statements and that each dog is different. I listed dogs with high prey drive that MAY be more likely to not get along with cats. You likely taught and trained well your dogs to know the cats are part of the family. But in NO way would I make a statement that they are safe with cats. Doing so would be irresponsible and, as a dog trainer, I have come to know sad stories of cats killed by both breeds. Just google ''siberian husky killed my cat! and you will see.

helen on December 07, 2011:

I beg to differ! You have listed Malamute and Siberian as hey prey driven AND while they ARE high prey driven both breeds get along perfectly well with cats - I have had both huskies and cats for almost 30 years now and have not had any issues. And I'm not just talking about one husky and one cat. I currently have three huskies - a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a one year old and I have three cats - 2 less than 2 years old and one that is 8 years old. And I've always had both dogs and cats together. In fact, my huskies are protective of my cats. What evidence is your article based on exactly? Opinion or research by a professional body?

nick on November 27, 2011:

ohhhh the malmute el eat the cat, I just saved the last one left. And it was from the female, the male was the one that consumed the 2 other cats

CairnOwner on November 26, 2011:

Leave it to luck, we have a Cairn. We had a Shihtzu, the cats and the Tzu loved one another. We lost our Tzu and got a cairn. Cairns are hunters bread to look for prey in "cairns" or rocky outcroppings. Don't do it. Our cats now have one part of the house, and the dog the other. I wish we would have known.

Dcollins on November 26, 2011:

The neighbors Lab has killed 4 kittens so far and attacked another this morning. Becomes and actually snatches them off my porch. I've had to buy a gate.

Luna on November 26, 2011:

Aw, Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are my favorite dogs, and I love cats. Looks like I'll have to choose now.

melissa on November 17, 2011:

I have an 12 year old Australian Cattle Dog named Jim and he LOVES my 6 month old Manx kitten Binky. I was surprised that he liked her that much, but she didn't like him very much because she ATTACKED him! i thought he would hurt her because he had blood all over his face, but he put her in his mouth and sat and waited for me to come and get her. when i got her out of his mouth, i checked her and she didn't look hurt, but Jim did. i thought she wouldn't mind him because she was born in a house with a HHUUGGEE Pitbull(the pitbull is very nice). but she did and now they are both okay and happy to be living with each other.

Adrienne Farricelli (author) on November 10, 2011:

I am sorry but I cannot predict how your Yorkie may get along with a cat. Each dog and each cat is different and there are too many variables. Yorkshire terriers have been bred to catch rats, they may therefore like to chase cats. The best thing would be trying to have a cat on ''trial'' with your yorkie leashed and the cat in the crate to see how your yorkie reacts. Afterward, with your yorkie still leashed you can get the cat out of the crate and observe your yorkie's reaction. Make safety top priority.

Sara McLemore on November 10, 2011:

i have a 4 year old 13 pound yorkie. (hes not fat but a very big yorkie!!!) i was thinking of getting a cat but i dont know if he would kill the cat or just sniff it and maybe bark and thats it. how do i know if i can have one with my dog? PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Anna Donaldson on November 05, 2011:

I have a beautiful 4 year old Bernese Mountain Dog. She has little or no prey drive. She is wonderful with cats and other dogs of all sizes. and people of all sizes. she barks at my cats through the window, but I can tell her bark is a play bark. Years ago, I had an Alaskan Malamute that was wonderful with our cats. She exhibited her prey drive towards pigeons and other birds.

nan on October 28, 2011:

Well bitbull and lab mix do not like cats cause they constantly chase cats and does anyone know of a no kill shelter in Louisiana?

Jenka on October 23, 2011:

This article is very interesting and perfectly true. My brother had a pitbull whom loved all his wife's cats and looked after all their kittens and defended them from the other dogs he had. My husband had a friend whom had a greyhound with her pet rabbits and cats and never harmed them. On the other side of the coin - my neighbour told me that her golden retriever had gone after several cats and some being fatally injured. One of the vets that I took my cats too told me of some cocker spaniels that had attack a cat with fatal results. I think you have to use common sense and weight up your dog or dogs personality and the cat/s too.

Rane on October 19, 2011:

I just adopted a yorkie mix puppy from a shelter about a week ago. The puppy is around 4 months old. I have a 10-year-old cat, also from a shelter, who is very skittish. I wasn't aware that yorkies could be a danger to cats. So far, the puppy has never been loose around the cat. She is either in her crate or on a leash when the cat is around. She barked at my cat when I first brought her home, but hasn't done it since. There have been quite a few times when my cat ran out of the room upon seeing the puppy. So far, the puppy has not tried to chase him. Right now, the puppy is only allowed loose in one room of the house, and she is never unsupervised, nor is the cat in the room when she is loose. My plan is to slowly introduce her to the rest of the house using a pet gate. What else can I do to try to prevent incident between the two?

Daria on October 17, 2011:

I have a English cocker spaniel and they are apparently the BEST dogs with cats but my puppy still chases after my cat

Chrissy on October 06, 2011:

I have had 3 rhodesian ridgebacks, all have been dominate. My first one, Livingston, was in a family of 5 kids, a bird(which it feared), fish in a pond and a cat "nemesis" named Tess . Tess was a 9 near old Calico I had forever. Tess and Livingston would fight during the day at all times and everywhere they encountered each other, it would be a chase with hisses and barks. I was very worried....when I was around fights were constant.....but when I wasn't looking, they slept together own the same bed. Ha. It Maas. Then that I discovered that sometimes your pets do what you expect! Learn

Learn to expect wonderful harmony.

r2d3 on October 04, 2011:

What about Shetland Sheepdog (sheltie)?

We have been reading up on dogs for almost a year but after I found our lovable cat 6mo ago everything has changed in what to look for. He will be 9mo by the time we get a dog, does anyone know if that is considered "growing up" with a puppy? I'd love it if they could get along.

paulineleo52 on September 26, 2011:

I have four cats and a dog it was tough at first but my mean cat gave the dog a few beating along the way and in the winter you can catch them sleeping in front of the wood stove to stay warm.

Mary on September 24, 2011:

My 8 year old miniature schnauzer seems to get along with girl animals but not males

Li on September 11, 2011:

We recently rescued a year old Rhodesian Ridgeback/Samoyed cross and she's great with cats. She asolutely loves our little kitty Luna... sadly our year old cat is a little less tolerant of the dog. We just got the dog and Luna is not sure why this big tan thing is in the house cuddling up to HER masters haha. I think it's all in how you raise and train the dog. Dog's with high prey drive's just need to be taught not to view the cat as prey but as a companion and member of the family. When we introduced our dog Brandi to Luna we made sure it was in a very controlled setting and gave both animals treats and praises to make the experience a positive one and Luna is slowly but surely coming around. I know eventually they'll be best furry gal pals.

Saying some dogs are this or some dogs are that is generalizing an individual animal on the basis of the over arching concept of breed. Like Pitbulls for example, people have this misconception that they are inheritedly vicious dogs but they aren't, most are sweet gentle dogs that carry the negative connotation of a select few. Any undesirable behaviors really boil down to the owners and how they treat their dogs. Dogs, cats, children - they are all products of their environment, the great thing about dogs is with love, attention and training you can perfect their doggy manners and ensure a harmonious family unit with human, canine and feline alike.

Irene on September 11, 2011:

My Bichon and Traditional Siamese absolutely adore each other. They walk around the house together, hunt in the garden for mice together and even share their food! I am blessed to have such loving animals.