can a dog live with a cat?

Can a dog live with a cat? Do cats and dogs get along?



Hi
That's a difficult question, because there's really no 'one-size-fits-all' answer!

Yes some dogs can live quite happily with cats, and some dogs and cats get along fine.

However, it can depend on the breed characteristics of the dog, and also how early in his/her life they're introduced to cats.

If a puppy is brought up with cats, and shown how to treat them, it will generally be quite okay with them. But, some dog breeds may have too strong a prey-drive to live comfortably with cats, no matter how early they're introduced.

Herding dogs can be very hard on a cat, and large and giant breed dogs can sometimes hurt a cat when they're just playing (because they're so big). Dogs such as Greyhounds, (and other sight hounds) are never a good fit with cats as they are hardwired to chase small, moving animals.

Also, bear in mind, that cats are very fast, light and equipped with sharp claws. They can generally outrun and outwit a dog without too much problem, so even if your pup and cat never learn to be the best of friends, they can probably live in the same house and tolerate each other, if your nerves can take it!