Chihuahua Information Center
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Can a Chihuahua and a Cat Get Along?
Can a Chihuahua and a cat get along?
While some may joke about dogs and cats fighting or others may talk about how they can be the most unlikely but best of friends, this is a very serious issue. With the Chihuahua being the absolute smallest toy breed dog in the world and some cats weighing in at 3 times the weight of a Chi, the question of whether a cat and a Chihuahua can live together under one roof is one not to be taken lightly.
Both dogs and cats have natural animal instinct to protect the territory and they can and do attack animals for several reasons:
If you wish to see if your Chihuahua can get along with a cat or visa versa, the best thing to do is test their interaction. While it most likely will be that the dog does not tolerate the cat, in the case of a Chihuahua care must be taken. Since many cats are quite larger than this breed, even if a dog begins a fight, the cat may end it.
Cats are able to leap down on a Chihuahua from above and this can cause great injury to the dog. In addition, the cat's claws (if not declawed) can cause severe injury.
Whether you have a Chihuahua or a feline, do you best to find a friend who can bring over the type of animal that you wish to use to test the interaction. For example, if you have a cat and wish to add a Chihuahua to your family, try to find a friend, family member, neighbor or co-worker who would be willing to bring their dog over for an experiment. Stress the fact that this will be 100% controlled and no danger will come to either animal.
When you have the 2 animals in the same room, your behavior must be calm and casual. If you tense up, sit and stare to watch what happens with great intensity and are worried and anxious, your Chihuahua can pick up on those feelings. You do not want your actions to silently be telling your dog that something is wrong or that danger is eminent.
Keep the dog on its leash and allow the 2 animals to become aware of each other's existence. If they do not seem aware of each other at all, you should take this as a good sign. This will mean that each animal does not see the other as a threat or potential enemy. After several tests, if this is the result, most likely you can mix a Chihuahua and a cat into the family. At worst, they will ignore each other. At best, after some time in the same household, the Chihuahua and the cat can get along and actually end up becoming best friends.
If the dog is not going to tolerate a cat, there are clear cut warning signals that will happen before a physical confrontation will occur.
While some may joke about dogs and cats fighting or others may talk about how they can be the most unlikely but best of friends, this is a very serious issue. With the Chihuahua being the absolute smallest toy breed dog in the world and some cats weighing in at 3 times the weight of a Chi, the question of whether a cat and a Chihuahua can live together under one roof is one not to be taken lightly.
Both dogs and cats have natural animal instinct to protect the territory and they can and do attack animals for several reasons:
- To establish who is "boss" of the home
- If they feel threatened by another animal
If you wish to see if your Chihuahua can get along with a cat or visa versa, the best thing to do is test their interaction. While it most likely will be that the dog does not tolerate the cat, in the case of a Chihuahua care must be taken. Since many cats are quite larger than this breed, even if a dog begins a fight, the cat may end it.
Cats are able to leap down on a Chihuahua from above and this can cause great injury to the dog. In addition, the cat's claws (if not declawed) can cause severe injury.
Whether you have a Chihuahua or a feline, do you best to find a friend who can bring over the type of animal that you wish to use to test the interaction. For example, if you have a cat and wish to add a Chihuahua to your family, try to find a friend, family member, neighbor or co-worker who would be willing to bring their dog over for an experiment. Stress the fact that this will be 100% controlled and no danger will come to either animal.
When you have the 2 animals in the same room, your behavior must be calm and casual. If you tense up, sit and stare to watch what happens with great intensity and are worried and anxious, your Chihuahua can pick up on those feelings. You do not want your actions to silently be telling your dog that something is wrong or that danger is eminent.
Keep the dog on its leash and allow the 2 animals to become aware of each other's existence. If they do not seem aware of each other at all, you should take this as a good sign. This will mean that each animal does not see the other as a threat or potential enemy. After several tests, if this is the result, most likely you can mix a Chihuahua and a cat into the family. At worst, they will ignore each other. At best, after some time in the same household, the Chihuahua and the cat can get along and actually end up becoming best friends.
If the dog is not going to tolerate a cat, there are clear cut warning signals that will happen before a physical confrontation will occur.
- The dog stares at the cat: This is the signal that you must keep the leash short and be ready to spring into action. When the Chihuahua stares at the cat, he is showing that he is very aware of the feline.
- The dog stares at the cat and is very quiet: Normally, one may assume that barking would indicate a problem. Not in this case! If the dog stares and is very silent, this is a strong signal that he is preparing to fight.
- The dog stares, does not make a noise and lowers his body into a "ready" position: If this occurs, separate the animals immediately. Most likely this dog will never get along with a cat.
- The two should be fed separately. Many territorial problems can arise if not.
- The Chihuahua must not be able to reach the litter box, as the dog will eat the bowel droppings and this can lead to health issues
- Give both pets the same amount of attention; it is certainly true that both dogs and cats have strong emotions and can become destructive if they are feeling neglected.
To Sum it Up
A Chihuahua and a cat can get along if care is taken to test the relationship first and an owner has enough time to pay attention to both pets.
A Chihuahua and a cat can get along if care is taken to test the relationship first and an owner has enough time to pay attention to both pets.
