Picture this: you walk into the living room to find your new dog and your beloved cat locked in what looks like an intense staring contest. Your heart drops as you realize this isn’t playful curiosity. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, certain dog breeds simply struggle to coexist peacefully with our feline friends. This doesn’t make them bad dogs, but understanding these challenges can save everyone stress and heartache.
Whether you’re a devoted dog lover considering adding a feline to your pack or a cat parent thinking about welcoming a canine companion, knowing which breeds might struggle with this transition is crucial. These eight breeds, while wonderful in their own right, come with instincts and temperaments that can make cat cohabitation particularly challenging.
Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell Terrier is a small breed with plenty of energy for chasing cats across long distances. It’s very determined and stubborn and can hound a cat it has trapped for several hours. These feisty little warriors were originally bred to hunt foxes and other small game, so their instinct to chase anything that moves runs incredibly deep.
What makes this particularly challenging is their incredible persistence. Once a Jack Russell locks onto a target, they rarely give up easily. These feisty canines were bred to hunt small game and they have a very strong tendency to chase small animals. There’s no doubt that Jack Russells make for lively companions, but your cat would likely be happier with a more laid-back dog breed.
Siberian Husky
Huskies are notoriously energetic, intelligent and headstrong. Not only will a husky be prone to chase your cat, but it will be difficult (though, not impossible) to train him out of it. These beautiful Arctic dogs were bred to run for miles in harsh conditions, and their prey drive often extends to anything small and furry.
Siberian Huskies are finicky, hilarious, vocal, working dogs who need to be kept active to keep them from destroying your home out of boredom. They come with a very active prey drive and will go after small animals, like cats. Their pack mentality means they might accept a cat raised with them from puppyhood, but introducing an adult husky to cats can be particularly challenging.
Weimaraner
It’s extremely fast and has an instinct to hunt small animals. It will also likely chase your cat, though proper socialization when it’s young can minimize this risk. These elegant silver dogs are built for speed and endurance, making them formidable when their hunting instincts kick in.
The Weimaraner is athletic, affectionate and beautiful. Its friendly disposition makes it an attractive breed choice for families, as the Weimaraner loves nothing more than spending time with its family. Traditionally a hunting dog, the Weimaraner often has an innate urge to chase small animals. Their strong bond with their human family doesn’t necessarily extend to other species in the home.
Greyhound
Greyhounds are bred for speed and love chasing small animals. Greyhounds are fast and have a high prey drive. These gentle giants might seem calm and lazy at home, but their sighthound heritage means they’re wired to chase anything that moves quickly.
They aren’t vicious or aggressive but can be difficult to walk if you’re in a place with lots of squirrels and rabbits or neighborhood cats. After all, that’s why the greyhounds run so fast in the races; there is a fake rabbit or squirrel that they chase. Their incredible speed means that once they decide to chase, very few cats can outrun them.
Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog is a medium-sized muscular dog that is extremely fast and has endless energy. This breed will often try to herd your other pets, which can be quite disruptive to them, causing increased tension. These working dogs have an overwhelming need to control and organize their environment.
An Australian cattle dog may chase your cat in an attempt to keep it with the pack. While these dogs aren’t typically aggressive toward small animals, your cat may not feel comfortable being pursued by a large creature with pointy teeth. Their herding instinct can be stressful for cats who prefer to move freely without being constantly managed.
Beagle
Because beagles were traditionally bred to hunt small game, they may be among the worst dogs for cats. While historically this breed was used to hunt animals like rabbits, the prey instinct typically carries over to other small animals as well. If you have a cat in your home, the chances are high that a beagle would find great joy in chasing it.
What makes Beagles particularly challenging is their determination and stamina. A former hunting dog, the Beagle is a small yet determined breed that may not be as fast as the Greyhound or the Weimaraner, but it can fit in much smaller places, and your cat will have a difficult time finding a hiding place. Their compact size means they can follow cats into spaces where larger dogs cannot.
Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature schnauzers are known for their high energy and intelligence. They are constantly searching for an outlet for their seemingly boundless energy, and chasing cats may appeal to them. These spirited little dogs were originally bred to catch rats and other vermin on German farms.
A miniature schnauzers isn’t likely to be aggressive toward you feline friend, but it may give him a bit of a scare. However, this breed was originally bred to hunt, and overcoming its instincts to chase prey will be an uphill battle for both of you. Their terrier heritage means they have strong opinions about small, moving creatures in their territory.
Shih Tzu
They get easily jealous if you pet another animal in front of them. And this jealousy can turn into aggression really quickly. So, it will be better not to divide your attention with a cat or any other animal except your Shih Tzu. Unlike the other breeds on this list, the Shih Tzu’s issue isn’t prey drive but possessiveness.
A toy breed, the Shih Tzu can get jealous easily. Although the Shih Tzu may seem like they will get along , the issue comes from their need for affection. These pampered palace dogs were bred to be the center of attention, and they don’t appreciate sharing their human’s love with anyone else, especially another pet who might receive cuddles and treats.
Conclusion
Understanding these breed tendencies doesn’t mean these dogs are destined for failure . Remember, while these breeds are not expected to make good companions for cats, there are exceptions to every rule. Every dog is different and different circumstances may yield different results. If you adopt one of these breeds as a puppy and work diligently with a trainer to desensitize it to your cat, you may never experience issues.
Early socialization, proper training, and understanding your individual dog’s personality are key factors in any successful multi-pet household. Sometimes love conquers instinct, but it’s always better to know what you’re working with from the start. What do you think about it? Tell us in the comments.
Andrew Alpin from India is the Brand Manager of Doggo digest. Andrew is an experienced content specialist and social media manager with a passion for writing. His forte includes health and wellness, Travel, Animals, and Nature. A nature nomad, Andrew is obsessed with mountains and loves high-altitude trekking. He has been on several Himalayan treks in India including the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
