Samoyeds were bred, in part, as hunters. And as such, they have a natural prey-drive that’s still prevalent in their personalities today. This means they’re prone to chasing small animals like cats. So, can Samoyeds and cats live in the same household? Well, it’s complicated.
If you’re thinking about getting a Samoyed when you already own a cat or vice versa, you’re right to be cautious. But, with enough training, supervision, and a proper introduction, Samoyeds and cats can learn to live together peacefully. And if you’re lucky, they may even come to love one another too.
However, if you don’t practice caution when introducing your pets, chaos can quickly ensue. And it won’t be long until your Samoyed is chasing your cat around like it’s dinner.
So if you want your pets to co-exist without trying to harm one another, then you’ll need to follow these guidelines.
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The younger the better
Despite the aforementioned prey-drive, Samoyeds are extremely gentle animals. They get along especially well with other dogs and their human companions.
If you introduce a cat to your Samoyed when it’s still a puppy, they will have a greater chance at a successful relationship. As the puppy will think the cat is just a normal part of life in your home.
Of course, if you plan to adopt from a shelter, it’s not always possible to get a young dog. In this case, be sure to ask if your Samoyed is coming from a home that previously had cats in it. This is a good indication of whether or not they will be comfortable with your cat as well.
Being a pup or having past experience living with cats is definitely helpful, but don’t worry, it’s not completely necessary. With a proper introduction, you can still get your pets to live together harmoniously.
How to introduce Samoyeds and cats
Whether you’re introducing a new dog to your resident cat or a new cat to your Samoyed, the introduction process is vital. If your pets start off on the wrong paw, it can be difficult to turn the relationship around later on.
Luckily, there are a few easy steps for you to follow so you can ensure a successful and safe introduction.
Step 1: Choose the right location
You might think the best location for an introduction is at the shelter or breeding facility your new pet is coming from. And we see the logic there.
But, taking your dog or cat to these facilities is ill-advised. There are likely many other animals at the facility, which makes for a stressful and potentially unhealthy environment for any pet to be thrown into.
Additionally, if you have a pet who doesn’t like traveling, just getting to the facility will be a stress-filled process. And as a result, your pet’s interaction will not give you an accurate picture of what their life together will be like.
You want your pets to be as comfortable and stress-free as possible for their first introduction. That is why the ideal location is in your home.
This is likely where your pets will spend the rest of their lives, and it’s best to get them settled into that environment as soon as possible.
Step 2: Keep Samoyeds and cats separated in the home
Listen, we’ve all seen the cute viral videos of dogs and cats cuddling with one another. And we understand you want this same level of love from your pets right away.
Who wouldn’t want that? But it’s important to keep a degree of separation between your pets for at least the first week. And perhaps even longer.
On the first day, keep your resident pet secured in a separate room and let the new pet roam around the house. After the first day, you can alternate which animal stays in the room and which one doesn’t.
This gives your pets a chance to get familiar with each other’s scent but prevents them from lashing out physically at one another.
You might notice your Samoyed digging or barking excessively at the door of the cat room. Additionally, you might notice your cats eating and bathroom routines are disrupted by this separation process. That’s normal. Once these behaviors cease, and everyone seems calm, you can move on to the next step.
Step 3: Use a leash
The next step is to start with leashed interactions. Keep your Samoyed secure on a leash and allow the animals to be in the same room together. You should continue to have these meetings until your Samoyed is able to remain calm around your cat. And your cat is no longer hissing, hiding, or scratching.
If the leashed interactions continue to seem aggressive, you may need to revert back to step 1.
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Step 4: Try an unleashed interaction between Samoyeds and cats
When your Samoyed and your cat both appear comfortable and calm, you can remove the leash from the equation. For some dog breeds, you can allow the freedom of an unsupervised interaction. But with Samoyeds, it’s always best for you to stay in the room when they’re interacting with a small animal such as a cat.
Samoyeds are naturally drawn to humans, and when left alone they can become bored and destructive. This behavior doesn’t lend itself well to a friendly cat-dog relationship.
As much as possible, Samoyeds should not be left alone, whether you own a cat or not. When you do need to go out, it will be best to keep the animals separated within the home.
That said, every pet is a little different, and you may find that your animals are entirely capable of being left alone together. Just proceed with caution.
Training tips
During the process of introducing Samoyeds and cats, there are a few key warning signs to look out for. Things like aggressive staring, lunging, hissing, and rigid stance are all indicators that your pets may be ready to attack one another.
Luckily, there are some training tips and tricks to counteract these behaviors before they get out of hand.
Use lots of treats
If you have your cat in one room and your Samoyed in another, the dog may become obsessed with the door. It’s not uncommon for them to stare, bark, or paw at the door to the cat’s room. This will cause immense stress for your kitty. And we don’t want that.
In this scenario, you need to offer the dog a distraction. Try to get your Samoyed’s attention off of the door by calling their name, or gently guiding them away. Once away from the door, offer your Samoyed a treat.
You can repeat this process until the dog is no longer hyper-focused on the door.
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Obedience training
Samoyeds are generally easy to train. And teaching them some basic obedience commands will help you gain control in hostile dog-cat situations.
A Samoyed who has a rigid posture and can’t take their eyes off of your cat is likely to lunge at the cat. In this case, knowing some basic obedience commands can really help.
“Sit” and “stay” should be among the first commands you teach your Samoyed so that you can try to defuse potentially aggressive interactions.
If these behaviors continue, you may need to seek assistance from a professional trainer.
How long will it take for Samoyeds and cats to get along?
All in all, getting your pets comfortable with one another should take between 2 and 4 weeks. In very rare cases, pets have an instant connection, but these cases are few and far between.
In conclusion…
It’s important to keep in mind that just because your cat and dog can learn to live together without stress, doesn’t mean they will necessarily like each other. As long as they learn to tolerate and respect boundaries, you’ve done a good job.
If you live with dogs and cats under one roof, how do you keep them from fighting all the time?