Bringing a dog into a home with cats can be either a match made in heaven or a recipe for chaos. Some breeds naturally get along with feline friends, treating them as family members from day one. Others view cats as moving toys to chase and harass.
Understanding which dogs fall into which category could save you from a household at war!
1. Gentle Giants: Newfoundlands
Imagine a living teddy bear that treats your cat like its own cub. These massive, sweet-natured dogs have a natural instinct to protect smaller creatures.
Their calm temperament means they rarely see cats as prey, instead often becoming protective napping buddies. Despite their intimidating size, Newfoundlands move with surprising gentleness around smaller animals.
2. Laid-Back Buddies: Basset Hounds
With those droopy eyes and floppy ears, Basset Hounds couldn’t care less about chasing cats. They’re too busy following interesting scents or planning their next nap!
Their low-key energy and easygoing attitude make them perfect cat companions. Most Bassets would rather share the sunny spot on the couch than waste energy pursuing a feline roommate.
3. Feline-Friendly Retrievers: Golden Retrievers
These sunshine-in-fur-form dogs bring their friendly attitude to all relationships, including those with cats. Their patient nature allows cats to warm up at their own pace.
Golden Retrievers are smart enough to read feline body language and respectful enough to back off when needed. Many cat-dog friendships blossom when a well-socialized Golden enters the picture.
4. Surprising Allies: Boxers
Behind that muscular build and energetic bounce lies a gentle soul who can form tight bonds with feline housemates. Boxers might look intimidating, but they’re actually sensitive and careful with smaller creatures.
Early socialization is key, but a well-trained Boxer often becomes a cat’s protector and playmate. Their playful nature matches a cat’s bursts of energy perfectly.
5. Couch Potato Pals: Pugs
Those wrinkly little faces hide big hearts that welcome feline friends with open paws. Pugs share many cat-like qualities – they love lounging, enjoy warm laps, and appreciate good napping spots.
Their small size and non-threatening demeanor rarely trigger a cat’s defensive instincts. Many pug owners report their dogs forming adorable snuggle puddles with the household cats.
6. Calm Companions: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Sweet as sugar and gentle as a breeze, these royal pups treat cats with the same refined manners they show everyone. Their moderate energy levels match well with adult cats’ activity patterns.
Cavaliers rarely display prey drive toward household pets. Instead, they seek friendship and warmth, often becoming a cat’s favorite cuddle partner during cold winter evenings.
7. Gentle Guardians: Collies
Famous for the role of Lassie, Collies carry that same protective instinct into every household. Generations of companionship have softened the strong herding drive.
A well-raised Collie often treats cats as part of the flock to watch over. With sharp intelligence, this breed learns to respect feline boundaries while still forming meaningful connections.
8. Born Hunters: Jack Russell Terriers
Bouncing bundles of energy with prey drive dialed up to eleven! These little firecrackers were bred to chase and catch small animals, and many can’t distinguish between a rat and your beloved cat.
Their lightning-fast reflexes and tenacious nature make them challenging cat companions. Even with training, their instinct to chase anything that moves can make life stressful for feline housemates.
9. Relentless Pursuers: Australian Cattle Dogs
Wired to control moving objects, these working dogs often view cats as unruly livestock that need herding – or worse, as prey. Their intense focus and nipping behavior can terrify even confident cats.
Though incredibly intelligent, their strong herding instincts are difficult to override. Without extensive training and management, these blue or red heelers may turn your cat’s life into a stressful game of constant pursuit.
10. Swift Chasers: Greyhounds
Built for the pursuit, these sleek speedsters have spent generations perfecting their ability to chase small, fast-moving animals. Many Greyhounds have a high prey drive that kicks in automatically when they spot darting movement.
While some retired racers can learn to live peacefully with resident cats, the risk remains. That lightning-fast 45mph sprint can activate in a split second if your cat makes a sudden dash.
11. Natural Hunters: Siberian Huskies
Behind those striking blue eyes lies a predator with strong hunting instincts and independent thinking. Huskies were developed to be self-sufficient in harsh environments, which included hunting for food when necessary.
Their prey drive combines with boundless energy and mischievous intelligence. Many Huskies view cats as fascinating moving targets to chase, catch, and potentially harm, making careful management essential.
12. Terrier Trouble: Rat Terriers
Small but mighty, these determined hunters were bred to take down rats and other quick-moving pests. Quick movements and small size can easily trigger a chase response.
Lightning-fast reflexes paired with a bold personality make peaceful co-living tough. Even well-socialized individuals may still react when something cat-sized scurries past.
13. Dedicated Hunters: Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Originally bred to hunt lions in Africa, these powerful dogs have hunting wired into their DNA. Their impressive tracking abilities and athletic builds made them formidable big game hunters.
While generally calm indoors, their prey drive remains strong. A cat’s quick movements can trigger their hunting instincts instantly. Even with training, many Ridgebacks find it difficult to overcome their natural urge to chase smaller animals.
14. Squirrel Obsessed: Weimaraners
Those striking silver-gray coats hide the heart of an intense hunting machine. Developed as versatile hunting dogs, Weimaraners possess both pointing and retrieving skills coupled with remarkable stamina.
Their high energy and powerful prey drive make them challenging companions for cats. Many “Gray Ghosts” view felines as just another quarry to pursue, with their lightning-quick reflexes and focused determination making peaceful coexistence difficult.