Do Huskies Get Along with Cats?

Do you already have a husky or a cat, and want to add the other to your family? You might wonder, do huskies get along with cats?

While some huskies can get along with cats, their high prey drives are a risk. They may chase cats, especially those who are flighty or unknown to them. Introductions should be made slowly and on a leash.

In this article, we’ll discuss whether huskies and cats can get along and some tips to make keeping these pets together more successful.

Huskies have Strong Prey Drives

Most huskies have pretty high prey drives, which may make them unsafe around cats. While many people keep both safely, it’s a risk to leave your Husky and cat together unsupervised.

A husky’s size is another thing to consider, as they can hurt cats even when trying to play. It’s not impossible to keep these two together, but it’s a big responsibility.

Lastly, please keep in mind that just because a husky gets along with one cat, or even several, doesn’t mean they’ll get along with all cats. A dog raised with indoor cats may chase cats outdoors, or they may see strange cats as prey even while seeing known cats as friends.

Tips for Adopting a Husky and Cat

• Learn dog and cat body language well. Most people don’t know their pets’ body language well enough, and this can lead to problems. For instance, incidents where the family insists their dog snapped and hurt the cat out of nowhere! There are almost always warning signs that were missed.
• Adopt an adult husky who’s been around cats previously. Puppies haven’t yet grown into their prey drives, making them less predictable. Adopting a husky from a foster carer who also has cats is your best bet!
• Adopt a cat who’s been raised around dogs. Though this isn’t as crucial, adopting a cat experienced with dogs makes for a more confident cat who’s less likely to run from the dog, triggering that prey drive.
• Consider fostering before committing to an adoption.

Tips for Introducing a Husky and Cat

• Introduce the animals slowly, starting with scent swapping while they stay in different parts of the house. Putting two animals together immediately is always risky. Gradual and supervised introductions are vital!
• Keep your husky on a leash until you trust them around the cat. This way, no chasing can happen and the animals can be easily separated should something go wrong.
• Consider separating them when unattended. Even when your dog and cat are used to one another, it may be best to separate them when you’re not home to reduce risk.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Katho Menden/Shutterstock.com