There are cat people, there are dog people, and then there are those lucky enough to love both. If you’re hoping to share your home with cats and dogs alike, choosing a cat-friendly dog breed can make all the difference.
Cat-friendly breeds typically have a low prey drive, which helps keep them from chasing after their feline housemates. They also tend to have a calm, easygoing temperament and a naturally sociable personality, which means they usually get along well with kids, other pets, and even strangers.
Dogs with low to moderate energy levels tend to be a better fit for cat-owning households too, since they’re less likely to startle cats with sudden bursts of activity. On top of that, most cat-friendly breeds are eager to please and relatively easy to train.
Here are 7 dog breeds known for coexisting peacefully with cats and bringing plenty of love to the mix.
Dog Breeds That Calmly Coexist with Cats and Offer Love
1. Golden Retriever
Known for their playful and sunny disposition, Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Their sociable and easygoing personality ensures their peaceful coexistence with cats.
Golden Retrievers are highly adaptable canines who get along nicely with kids, other pets, and even strangers. Not only do they establish a harmonious relationship with cats, but they also form strong bonds with them. They are also incredibly loyal and affectionate to their humans.
Having boundless energy, Golden Retrievers require plenty of daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation. Their high intelligence and easy trainability make them one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States.
These friendly and outgoing dogs are a perfect fit for first-time dog owners. Goldens enjoy being the center of attention and being petted. They will often nudge you gently so that you keep petting them.
2. Labrador Retriever
One of the friendliest dog breeds on the planet, Labradors can coexist happily with other pets like cats. These gentle and sweet canines are the ultimate social butterflies who get along nicely with everyone, including tiny children, other animals, and even strangers.
These lively and playful dogs carry boundless energy and love engaging in interactive games and activities. PetMD recommends at least an hour of daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation.
Labradors are gentle and kind dogs. Having Labradors in your home means your feline friends can roam freely without being scared or startled. They are immensely smart dogs with an eager-to-please nature, which makes them highly trainable.
With proper training and early socialization, Labradors become great therapy dogs and excel at search-and-rescue work. They also make great service dogs.
3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are small dogs, originally bred as lap warmers. These gentle, affectionate, and people-oriented companions form close attachments with their family and do not like being left alone.
Thanks to their easygoing nature and playful personality, Cavaliers get along nicely with cat breeds. They thrive on companionship and love making new friends. Being a small breed, they need only moderate daily exercise for physical and mental enrichment.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are highly adaptable dogs. They adjust well to a variety of living environments, including apartments and small living spaces. Their relaxed personality means their interactions with cats are not troublesome.
Cavaliers are eager to please and easy-to-train canines. They make wonderful pets for first-time dog owners.
4. Shih Tzu
Loved for their big expressive eyes, sweet expressions, and fluffy coat, Shih Tzus were primarily developed as lap dogs for the Chinese royals. These lively charmers are highly affectionate to their owners and great around children.
Shih Tzus were bred to be calmer companions, so they are not overly energetic. They love making friends with everyone, including cats in your home. According to the American Kennel Club, they enjoy short daily walks and indoor play sessions with their humans.
Shih Tzus are happy-go-lucky dogs who love spending time with their people. The most striking feature of their personality is their luxurious double coat that requires plenty of grooming to stay in top-notch condition.
Professional grooming may also be needed from time to time. These hypoallergenic dogs make excellent pets for allergy-prone households.
5. Basset Hound
Basset Hounds are loyal, patient, and low-key family dogs. These good-natured canines are generally affectionate and friendly with kids and other pets, including cats. Being calm dogs, Bassets can happily spend their day in their bed.
Their laid-back nature makes them the right choice for multi-pet households, especially when they are well trained and properly socialized. They offer a playful companionship to the feline members of your home.
Basset Hounds do not like being alone for extended periods and can develop separation anxiety. While they tend to be mild-mannered, they do have a stubborn streak, which makes training a bit challenging.
Basset Hounds bark a lot. You can reduce this behavior with early socialization, but do not expect them to become quiet dogs.
6. Maltese
Best known for their luxurious, floor-length coat, Maltese are playful and small dogs. Their friendly and sociable personality means they have a peaceful coexistence in cat-friendly homes.
Weighing just 5 to 9 pounds, a typical Maltese is roughly the same size as an average house cat, keeping your feline safe and unthreatened. Additionally, their minimal prey drive ensures they won’t feel the impulse to chase or hunt their furry companion.
Maltese form close bonds with their humans and prefer staying by their side all the time. If you are a fan of small white dogs, Maltese is the perfect breed for you. Hill’s Pet describes them as lively and vigorous little dogs.
Their minimal exercise needs can be easily fulfilled through daily walks and indoor playtime. Despite their small size, Maltese pick up training cues quickly. So, you can teach them how to behave well with the cats of the house.
7. Collie
If you remember Lesslie, you know that these dogs are lovers. Collies’ gentle nature, unwavering loyalty, and herding background make them well suited for cat-friendly homes. Collies thrive on companionship and are fond of children.
They are quite sociable and behave well around their feline friends, seniors, kids, and other dogs. Thanks to these unique behavioral traits, Collies also make excellent therapy dogs. They were meant to be ‘caretakers,’ so your cats are safe with them.
Collies are people-oriented dogs. They are smart and have an eager-to-please nature, which makes them highly trainable. Collies are generally milder than other herding dogs and can resist the urge to herd when they know it won’t be appropriate.
They are high energy when outside or working, but tend to be relaxed at home. At least an hour of daily physical and mental stimulation is required to keep them healthy and content.
Conclusion
Some dogs may not like cats, but others can coexist peacefully with their feline family members. They offer gentle, affectionate, and loving companionship to cats and even protect them when needed.
Cat-friendly dogs are usually very calm, so they do not end up startling or scaring cats. Remember, proper training and socialization can play a very important role in making a dog breed comfortable around cats.
