If you’re a cat lover who also wants to add a dog to your family, you may be wondering which breeds are the most cat-friendly. While some dogs may have a natural prey drive that makes them less suitable for living with cats, there are plenty of breeds that can get along well with feline friends. Here are ten dog breeds that are known for being great with cats:
Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apsos can get along well with cats, but as with introducing any new animal to your household, it’s important to do so slowly and carefully. They have a strong prey drive, so it’s important to supervise any interactions between them and your cats, especially in the early stages. It’s also important to make sure your cats have plenty of space to retreat to if they feel uncomfortable or threatened. With proper introduction and training, a Lhasa Apso can coexist peacefully with cats.
Havanese
Havanese dogs are small and fluffy little doggos. They’ve got such a gentle nature, which really makes them ideal for living with cats. A gentle nature goes a long way when living with cats! These dogs are also very intelligent, sociable and friendly.
Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise dogs are also pretty small and fluffy. Their playful personality shines out as main them the absolute perfect companions for cats. They are affectionate and enjoy spending time with their owners, which means they’ll get along well with cats that enjoy cuddling.
King Charles Cavalier Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs are another example of a gentle and friendly doggo that’s well known for being great with children and other pets. They have a sweet temperament around people of all ages, and these cute dogs love to play. We love this breed, as they are easy to train the basics to, and they’ll generally be pretty good with cats. Like all breeds, the earlier you introduce them to one another, the more seamless it will be.
Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu breed is mighty small but they certainly carry themselves! They’re actually pretty well known for being friendly and affectionate. They love plenty of attention and belly rubs for sure! They’ll get along just fine with cats and are also easy to train, which makes them a great choice for families that want a dog that’s good with both cats and children.
Maltese
Maltese dogs are incredibly cute little guys, and they’re small in stature. Like many of the dogs on our list, they are also so gentle in their nature, which makes them ideal for being around cats. You can see the running theme here… They are loyal and loving and enjoy spending time with their owners, which means they’ll get along well specifically with cats that enjoy cuddling.
Golden Retriever
We’ve listed already some of the smaller breed dogs, but there are definitely some larger dog breeds that are also great around cats. The Golden Retrievers have very friendly and outgoing personalities. That could make them perfect fit for a home with other types of pets. Basically, they’ll get along with anyone! They’re one of our best mates, as far as dog breeds go. We reckon your cat would get along with them just fine.
Collie
Collies are a lovely breed. Anybody who owns one will know about their gentle and intelligent nature. As you would expect from this list, they are known for being great with children and other pets. They have even been known to be quite protective over their little kitten buddies. You never know, they might end up being best of mates. Training these guys is easy and their intelligence always helps when forming bonds with other pets.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese Mountain Dogs are certainly one of the much larger breeds. As is often the case with some of the huge dogs, they can be gentle giants. That’s definitely the case here with these mountain dogs. They’re beautiful dogs but they also have a wonderful personality. That shines through when you see just how well they bond with and protect their cat friends.
Newfoundland
Lastly, we look at the Newfoundland dogs. We’ll risk repeating ourselves here, as, you guessed it… they’re a larger breed well known for being great with kids and other animals. We wanted to highlight them as an option because of how beautiful they are as well!
Conclusion
The conclusion we reach from this list is that it is most definitely not exhaustive. There are a ton of dog breeds out there that are able to form amazing and beautiful bonds with other animals, including cats. The key message is early introduction and training. The better trained your dog is, the more well behaved they are, the more likely they will fit right in with the rest of your family (including any pets!).
The early stages of any dog’s puppyhood is the most important in terms of socialising. Make sure your puppy interacts with people of all ages, and of course any other animals like cats.
It’s very important to remember that even if you choose a breed that’s known for being great with cats, it’s still vital that you supervise their interactions and make sure that they are introduced properly. With the right training and socialisation, your cat and dog can become the best of friends.
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