The world is often too easily divided in “cat people” and “dog people,” those that are fiercely loyal to their canine or feline furbabies – each group unable to comprehend the other. But what about those of us who love both types of these house pets equally? Those that are hankering for a happy houseful of both (and probably more) types of pets? We at CATOVERDOSE know there are a lot of you out there. 🙂
Well if you live in a doggy-ruled household, and are considering bringing a cat into the fold, then you’ve come to the right place! The most important question is: what breed of cat should you pick? We at CATOVERDOSE have done the research and have dutifully crafted this list to help you make your selection. Check out below the list of 11 cat breeds that are most likely to become friendly with their doggy-siblings!
If, on the other hand, you live in a houseful of cats, and are looking to a dog to your menage, there is a list for that over at the DOGPWND.com: 13 dog breeds that get along with cats
Cat breeds that get along with dogs
1. Abyssinian
The Abyssinian cat, thought to originate from Ethiopia, is a short-haired, medium-sized breed with a distinctive tabby coat that looks flecked. This breed is popular among cat owners due to their playfulness, warmth and intelligence. A fun-loving cat that enjoys being in the company of people, the Abyssinian gets quite attached to its owners, and is frequently likened to a dog in this aspect of its personality. Similarly, the Abyssinian gets along well with other pets in their household, probably stemming from the fact that they enjoy attention received from all members of the household, human and animal alike, and enjoy having as many playmates as possible.
2. American Shorthair
The American Shorthair (ASH) is one of the most popular pedigreed cat breeds in the US (full list here). A working breed of cat, the ASH originated from Europe and was brought on board ships bound for the US in order to protect the cargo from mice. This breed is described as relaxed and playful, getting along easily with its human owners and its pet-siblings.
3. Birman
The Birman is a long-haired domestic cat breed named after Burma, which is thought to be its country of origin. The breed is big-boned and can become quite large once it reaches its full adult size. The Birman is quiet and keeps to itself, usually getting attached to just its owner. However, this is not an aggressive breed, and it can peacefully co-exist with other pets in the house. Be careful, however, to give it adequate attention, as this breed does have jealous tendencies.
4. Bengal
The Bengal is a domestic cat breed that can have many different, exotic-looking types of coat, achieved by selective cross-breeding, and often resembling the coats of wilder cats such as leopards or ocelots. An intelligent and athletic breed that enjoys good health, the Bengal cat is also “vocal” and playful, often needing plenty of attention from its owner. The Bengal cat also reportedly does not shed very much fur, making it a hypoallergenic breed.
5. Bombay
By Plaskowski – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
The Bombay, sometimes called the Black Burmese, is a short-haired cat breed with a full, silky black coat and yellow or green eyes. The Bombay cat is intelligent, extroverted and likes receiving a lot of attention from all members of its household, including small children and other pets. They are, however, somewhat noisier than other cats and cannot tolerate being left alone for extended periods.
6. Japanese Bobtail
By Desaix83, d’après le travail d’Heikki Siltala – http://catza.net/en193321/view/breed/JBL/093288/, CC BY 3.0, Link
The Japanese Bobtail is a domestic cat, named for its short stump-like tail that looks more like a rabbit’s tail than the usual cat’s tail. The breed is very smart, playful and full of energy; also a warm & loving breed, the Japanese Bobtail makes a great addition to a large household with small children and other (canine and non-canine) pets. Instead of meowing loudly, it makes soft, endearing, high-pitched calls.
7. Maine Coon
The Maine Coon is a large-sized, domestic cat originating from the state of Maine in the United States, where it is the state cat. This breed is friendly and mild-mannered, which is how it has gained itself the nickname of “gentle giant”. The Maine Coon is also quite smart, loyal, and remains relaxed around small children, other cats and dogs. It does, however, meow rather loudly and frequently.
8. Ragdoll
The Ragdoll is a long-haired, blue-eyed cat breed of American origin. It is known to be very affectionate, calm and obedient, and therefore makes a good addition to a house with other pets. Ragdoll cats love being around other people and are comfortable being touched or played with, also making them great lap cats. They are also an intelligent breed, and are relatively easy to train at simple tasks.
9. Siberian
The Siberian, full name Siberian Forest Cat, is a medium-sized hunting cat breed native to Russia. This breed gets quite attached to its human(s), often following it around the house, waiting to be lavished with attention and affection.They are likewise friendly with strangers. The Siberian is also athletic, content to entertain himself around the house while awaiting more attention from you. This is a hypoallergenic cat breed.
10. Tonkinese
By Edenvane – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
The Tonkinese is the short-haired product of a cross between the Burmese and the Siamese cat breeds; they come in a variety of colors. This breed is playful, intelligent and friendly with humans and animals alike. They are curious about their surroundings and are happy to perform simple tricks, such as fetching toys and presenting them to their humans. In this respect, they are quite similar to dogs, making them an unsurprisingly good match to their canine siblings.
11. Turkish Angora
The Turkish Angora is one of the oldest known cat breeds still in existence today, known for its long, silky white coats and strikingly colored eyes (sometimes of differing colors). They are sometimes referred to as the Ankara, in reference to their place of origin (Ankara, Turkey). This breed is playful and energetic; they are affectionate with all members of their household (including children and other pets), but often pick one as their “human” and bond more strongly with this selected one. They are also quite intelligent, often sensing and seeming to help their humans in solving simple problems.
Please keep in mind that while certain cat breeds will have predictable temperaments due to selective breeding practices, individual cats will have unique temperaments that are a product of their surroundings as much as it is of their breeding. Therefore, there is no way to ensure that any one cat will get along with any other pet. The best way to improve the chances that your cat will get along with your other pets is to do one (or multiple) supervised visit(s) between the cat and each of the other individual pets in your household, greased by lots of petting, toys and treats of course. 🙂
Other reading materials
- 10 most popular pedigreed cat breeds in the US – Cat Fancier’s Association
- dogpwnd.com – resource for doggy health & lifestyle articles