The Siberian Husky has become a very popular choice for dog owners over the past couple of decades. People who need a family pet and can meet the dog’s unique requirements will do very well with the Siberian Husky. It’s one of the best dog breeds for family owners, mainly because it needs a lot of attention and care.
However, if you already have a cat, or cats, at home, you might be a bit hesitant with bringing the Siberian Husky home.
But, you don’t have much to worry about because the dog does well with cats and other animals in the house, and is actually quite loving. Meeting the dog’s needs is important, though.
The Initial Meeting
Many will tell you that the dog doesn’t do well with cats. The Siberian Husky has incredibly strong predatory instincts, mainly because of its ancestry, and there is a strong chance that the dog will consider the cat as a prey. Therefore, you are going to have to train the dog properly if you want it to get along well with your cat.
Many people don’t follow proper protocols when introducing their Siberian Husky to their cat, and end up with a serious problem when the dog starts growling and starts showing its sharp teeth. There are several things that you need to do if you are going to introduce the two together.
The Best Scenario
The best scenario in this case is to bring a puppy home. Puppies are impressionable and they will be eager to please. More importantly, puppies are easier to train, and they are incredibly understanding. As a puppy, the dog is going to be full of energy, and it’s going to run all around the house.
Now, if you bring a kitten home, or already have a cat, the two must be introduced slowly to each other. These dogs have an acute sense of smell and will immediately recognize a new scent. As a puppy, it’s going to show curiosity and won’t attack outright. Once the dog understands that you like the cat and it is a part of the household, you won’t have much to worry about.
Proper socialization from an early age can make all the difference. With strict training, you can make sure that the dog starts considering the cat as another member of the family, and it may even start to show protective tendencies toward the cat! For that to happen, however, you are going to have to show considerable patience.
Understanding the Dog’s Personality
Before you decide to bring a Siberian Husky home, it is important to understand the dog’s personality. Are Siberian Huskies good with cats? Yes, but you have to make sure that you tailor the environment to its personality. For instance, you should know that the dog rarely barks at its owners. It’s a pretty quiet dog, as long as its needs are met.
This dog, however, loves to howl. Furthermore, you should know that this dog loves to escape. You are going to have a very hard time trying to contain the dog to any particular part of the house. The dog is constantly going to try and run around. It’s like Harry Houdini in dog form – it can get out of any situation whatsoever.
The problem is that this dog loves to get out and about. They hate being restricted, and if you constantly try to do this, the dog is going to show you a bit of anger. These dogs love to dig, and with their big paws, they are able to dig quite easily. There have been many known instances where the dog has managed to dig under the fence and get out as well!
Playful Creatures
Siberian Huskies are incredibly playful creatures and love to play with their owners. You can take it to a dog park and start throwing around a frisbee, and the dog will immediately perk up. Similarly, these dogs often like to play with cats as well. The problem, however, is that cats aren’t as active as the Siberian Husky.
Your cat will want to spend time relaxing around the house, and they usually like to lounge around the house. The Husky, on the other hand, doesn’t want that. Therefore, a conflict might arise; the dog will want the cat to play around, whereas the cat will just want to lounge quietly and sleep. In these situations, the dog might get a bit angry.
However, if you socialize and train the two together from an early age, you won’t have to worry about them going at each other. Siberian Huskies that are trained properly rarely lash out and they don’t know how to bite either. These are generally friendly animals and they really like to take things easy.
The Dog’s Prey Drive
The Siberian Husky was originally reared by the Chukchi people. During the summer months, the Chukchi would just allow their dogs to roam the plains. During these times, the dog would hunt all kinds of animals, including squirrels, cats, and other rodents. In fact, it was quite rare for the dog to return back to its owners without some sort of a kill in its mouth.
If you have owned a Husky, you would know that this holds true even now. If the dog sees something small running around, it’s immediately going to go after it. This is just something natural, and the dog will be hard to stop. You simply can’t expect to stop the dog’s natural behavior, so you just have to learn to live with it.
There have been instances where the dog has eventually turned back to its natural tendencies, and the consequences have not been kind. There have been cases where the dog has managed to capture the cat, or in some cases, the cat manages to escape by climbing on something high. Keep in mind that the Husky will often cause extensive damage just to get up and catch the creature.
How to Prevent Accidents
The best way to prevent accidents is to make sure that you give the dog formal training, and continue to reinforce it. Socialization is critical, and it’s best if you start it from an early age. This is arguably your best shot to make sure that the Siberian Husky coexists peacefully with its feline companion.
Formal dog training is also important, and if you are not experienced in raising a Husky, it might be a wise idea to hire a professional dog trainer to help you out. This will ensure that the dog is able to fully understand that the cat is just another member of the house.
There are plenty of cases where the Siberian Husky has managed to get along with cats. As long as the dog gets its daily dose of exercise and is cared for, you won’t have much to worry about. Huskies are generally quite obedient and reliable dogs, and they will make for excellent companions!
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