Maybe you’re already the proud pet parent of a precious little furball, but you’re longing for more furry love. Or maybe you want to get a guard dog for your house or apartment, but you’re unsure if the canine will fit in with your finicky feline.
Both those situations beg the question: is there some ultimate dog breed that will suit life with a cat?
Cats and dogs are natural enemies. They have different nutritional needs and behaviors, and you can’t train them to obey using the same strategies.
However, this doesn’t mean cats and dogs can’t get along. On the contrary, you can see plenty of pictures and videos of canines and felines acting friendly and affectionately towards each other regardless of their predatory instincts and usual natural intolerances.
Interestingly, some dog breeds are more likely to become friends with cats than others.
Here’s our list of the best dog breeds for cats to get along with.
Labrador
Labradors, also called Labrador Retrievers, are the friendliest and most obedient of all canines.
They are the perfect companions for families with children, disabled people, playful and laid-back pet parents, and feline pets.
A Labrador will almost immediately take up with your kitty. It can be just as gentle, curious, and playful as any cat breed, and best of all, it will not only tolerate the presence of a cat but also enjoy the kitty’s company. The younger the Lab, the easier it will start getting along with the cat. It makes sense – a puppy is less alarming to a small cat than a giant full-grown lab is.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is similar to the Labrador regarding physical appearance and behavior.
If you’re used to grooming your cat regularly, you won’t have a problem taking care of one of these large, long-haired canines.
The Golden Retriever is one of the most tolerant, friendly dogs. It will play and cuddle with your cat and won’t mind you sharing your time with your feline friend. As with Labradors, cats may fear full-grown Golden Retrievers, so it’s best to adopt a puppy.
Beagle
The Beagle is a small-sized dog bred mainly for hunting down small prey. Nevertheless, it’s among the top best dog breeds for cats.
Beagles make the perfect pet companion for feline creatures. They are extremely intelligent and easy to train but gentle and even-tempered. This breed requires far less maintenance than a cat does.
The amiable and excitable Beagle will get along just fine with your lively and curious kitty, as it has the instinct to chase anything that comes into contact with it playfully.
Pug
Pugs don’t match every pet owner’s taste but are suitable canines for cats.
Pugs can either be calm and lazy or playful and childish. Nonetheless, they remain friendly and receptive canines. Unfortunately, as cute as pugs can be, they’ll get jealous of the cat if they get too attached to their owner.
Another problem with pugs is unpleasant gassiness, which your cat probably won’t like. But in terms of behavior, the pug is a great friend for humans and cats alike.
Basset hound
Basset hounds were initially bred for hunting, but they are among the laziest dog breeds nowadays.
These dogs are pretty laid-back and even-tempered. They seem never to get annoyed by anything, including irritating toddlers and extra-curious cats.
The Basset pup will be an ideal companion if you own an independent, less sociable kitty.
Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel is one of the best dog breeds for cats for two main reasons – it’s affectionate and highly playful at the same time.
These pups are a pain in the neck when it comes to grooming. However, if you can cope with a Persian cat’s grooming, you can take care of a cocker spaniel.
The spaniel is a highly loving dog – it will snuggle with every member of your family and will treat any feline creature the same way. On the other hand, it also has the energy to jump around and play with the most curious and perky cats.
Inappropriate dog breeds for cats
While it may seem that everything will be fine if you introduce your cat to a young, playful, and tolerant puppy, the breed plays a significant role in the cat-dog relationship. As mentioned above, cats and dogs are natural enemies. While some dogs, regardless of breed, won’t have a problem befriending a kitten, several canine breeds are pretty lethal to felines.
Guard dogs (schnauzers, terriers, cane corsos, and dobermans, to name a few) have one main goal – to protect the home and the owner at any cost.
This also means attacking any possible menace, including a harmless young kitten.
Sleigh dogs like Siberian Huskies and Malamutes are ill-tempered and won’t get along with a cat like a Labrador puppy would.
