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Well, we\u2019re about to make your day, as the truth is they don\u2019t! It\u2019s a huge myth that dogs HATE cats, what often happens is through a lack of socialization, exposure, a negative experience, curiosity, guarding, or a strong predatory drive it can just look like they do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s take a look at possible reasons that dogs and cats don\u2019t get along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog didn\u2019t meet cats in their puppy socialization<\/a> period, they can develop a fear response to them as cats will be a \u2018new thing\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read all about socialization in our article on puppy socialization<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies and dogs are naturally curious and like to investigate new animals. This curiosity isn\u2019t always welcomed, and cats can feel threatened and lash out at dogs when they are too in their face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The curiosity that dogs show for cats, can cause problems if the cat is not confident and runs away, this triggers the dog’s chase instinct. Often the dog doesn\u2019t want to harm the cat, but their instincts tell them to run after something that is moving. Dogs find this rewarding, so the cycle of cat runs then dog chases begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In certain breeds, the hunting instinct that chasing small furry animals is activated when they see cats and their eye-stalk predatory drive comes out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If every time your dog sees the cat you act in a defensive way or behave negatively towards your dog because you\u2019re worried your dog might hurt the cat, they are going to build strong associations that cats = a bad time for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs look to us to understand how to behave, and are very perceptive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some dogs can be territorial, so the neighborhood cat walking on \u2018their\u2019 property is likely to make them want to chase them away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cats and dogs can live together in perfect harmony. They can even be great friends. If the dog is socialized to cats from a young age, if you bring a puppy home to resident cats, and introductions are done well there isn\u2019t usually a problem getting along with a cat.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you bring a kitten home, you can usually teach the resident dog that cats are really OK too. Some breeds of dog are more likely to have a problem with cats, but there\u2019s no evidence to suggest they inherently hate them! These breeds are typically the type that are bred to hunt and control vermin, and they can see cats as another small furry to try and hunt!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Breeds who may have a problem with cats include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other breeds like Golden Retrievers and Labradors actually get on with cats really well, and are naturally very gentle towards them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a new puppy you\u2019re bringing home to meet your cat, or you\u2019re introducing a cat into your home with an existing dog, it\u2019s important you have a plan put together to make sure it all goes smoothly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re bringing a new kitten home to introduce them to your dog, or you\u2019re bringing a new puppy home and there is a resident cat, it\u2019s important that the cat has somewhere away from the dog that is safe. We recommend using a spare room for a kitten, so that you can have a litter tray, bed and set up there, or if you have an adult cat then a room that\u2019s baby gated off that they come and go, as well as installing cat trees, or cat shelves so that they can be up high away from the new puppy or dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both cats and dogs have an amazing sense of smell, and they also have their own smell and scent<\/a> which is individual to them. Do scent swaps by swapping bedding, wiping a cloth or blanket on the cat and then allowing your dog to sniff it, it will help to familiarise your dog with the cat and who they are. You can also do the same by wiping your puppy or dog over and letting the cat smell their scent, so that it becomes more familiar to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make introductions gradual, be sure that the cat feels safe, because if they go to run, the dog is likely to chase. Having your puppy or dog on lead <\/a>when you do this, will prevent the chase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using a cat tree for your cat and a mat or bed for your dog, teach them both to station and stay on these areas while you feed them treats. Doing this will reward calm from both of them and teach them that being around one another predicts nice things. Teaching your dog a basic leave it cue, means they can learn to come away from the cat if they start getting a bit too keen to interact. It needn\u2019t be done gruffly and can all be done with positive reinforcement training<\/a> using rewards and treats<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using rewards and treat<\/a>s, you can teach your dog that when cats are around, nice things happen because they get rewarded for staying calm. This will help to start desensitizing your dog to cats, and works if they\u2019re overly excited, or also if they\u2019re scared<\/a> of cats.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Set your dog up for success using management<\/a> like playpens<\/a>, baby gates, leashes <\/a>and safe places for your cat to go, so that you resist the urge to tell them off. If you keep telling your dog off because they\u2019re too interested in the cat then you\u2019re not going to make them feel happy when the cat is around, as they\u2019ll associate the cat with you being cross.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n While certain dogs may exhibit aggressive or over-the-top and rude behavior towards cats, this is not a universal trait shared by all dogs. By careful training and socialization, many dogs can learn to coexist peacefully with cats, and the cat is more often the boss in the relationship!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a new puppy, you\u2019ll definitely need to download the Zigzag puppy training app <\/a>and get started on their training journey. We have lessons to help you with socialization, potty training, home alone and separation training, as well as all the important life skills puppies need like walking nicely on a leash, and coming back when you call them. There\u2019s also a team of professional dog trainers<\/a> on hand to help, so if you\u2019re struggling with puppy biting, or you\u2019re just not sure how to help your puppy get through a rough phase, they\u2019re there for support 24\/7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"cat](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/cat-1.png\")
Why do dogs hate cats? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lack of early socialization <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Curiosity <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Chase instinct when the cat flees <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Seeing cats as prey <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Although we have bred out a lot of traits due to domestication<\/a> for some breeds, the retention of the eye stalk motor pattern is important for them to do their job.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNegative experience around cats <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Being territorial or guarding <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"cat](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/cat-2.png\")
Can cats and dogs get along with each other? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read more in our guide to introducing a puppy to a cat.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDo certain breeds hate cats more than others? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"cat](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/cat-3.png\")
How to get my dog to like cats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are also ways of getting your dog to become less aroused and excited by cats in your neighborhood, with some simple basic obedience cues<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGive the cat a safe place to be<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For a puppy, then a playpen<\/a> is an ideal place to allow your cat freedom and your puppy to be contained.<\/p>\n\n\n\nScent swaps <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gradual introductions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stationing and rewarding calm <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Read more in our article on how to calm a puppy down.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nLeave it <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Create positive associations <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Teaching your dog a basic level of obedience<\/a> so that they can listen to you when you\u2019re out and about and not pull on the lead <\/a>when they see a cat will also be useful!<\/p>\n\n\n\nAvoid punishments <\/h3>\n\n\n\n