Havanese: A Great Dog for Cat Owners

Finding a dog that gets along with cats can be challenging. Even though dogs and cats have a reputation for being natural born enemies, many dog breeds tolerate cats just fine. It’s often the cat that wants nothing to do with the dog. Enter the Havanese.

It’s not exactly clear why, but most Havaneses get along great with cats. The two may even become the best of friends. Continue reading to find out more…

A Havanese and cat snuggling — A Havanese puppy and kitten snuggling together.

Havaneses and Cats

In the video above, you can see a Burmese cat play-fighting with a spunky Havanese.

For some unknown reason, Havaneses generally get along really well with cats. One possible explanation might be that the two animals are so similar in size. In fact, there’s a chance your cat might even be bigger than your Havanese – most Havanese top out around 16 lb.

This means your cat won’t see the dog as a credible threat, which may explain why cats tend to warmup to Havaneses more so than many other breeds.

For the most part, Havaneses are a playful, gentle breed with little aggression in them; however, if they see a mouse, a lizard, or some other small form of prey, they are likely to go after it – perhaps one more thing for your Havanese and cat to bond over.

Sometimes Havaneses and cats get along so well, some owners have reported their two pets sleeping together and even eating out of the same dish.

Some Variables That May Determine How Well Your Havanese and Cat Get Along

Even though cats and Havaneses typically get along well, there’s no guarantee that they are going to be the best of friends as soon as you put them together. Certain variables can contribute to how well the two animals like each other.

The best chance you have at your Havanese and cat getting along well with each other is if the two animals are introduced while they are still a puppy and a kitten. The younger they are when they meet, the more likely they are to accept each other.

An older cat that has already been acclimated to dogs also stands a good chance at accepting a new Havanese to the household, and vice versa.

The worst case scenario is if you have an older cat that doesn’t like dogs, or isn’t used to being around them, and then you bring a new Havanese into the house. In this case, don’t be surprised if your cat doesn’t like the dog. That being said, it does not mean they can’t peacefully coexist, they just aren’t likely to bond and befriend one another.

Similarly, if you have an old Havanese who is used to being the only child, and then you bring a new cat into the house, your dog stands a good chance of being less than thrilled.

Tips for Introducing Havaneses to Cats

You should know, it’s likely going to take a few weeks for your Havanese and your cat to truly come to terms with each other and eventually become friends. Don’t expect immediate results.

If you notice the two are having some problems in the beginning, it’s usually best to let them sort it out on their own; but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t intervene if the two are fighting.

You should also be willing to accept the fact that the two might not become friends. If more than a few weeks has gone by, and your Havanese and cat aren’t warming up to each other, then it’s likely they will just learn to tolerate one another, and that’s as good as it’s going to get. Just like people, dogs and cats have their own unique personalities regardless of their breed, so nothing is guaranteed.

References:

Dogtime.com. Havanese. Retrieved from https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/havanese#/