Do labrador retrievers get along with cats?

Answer 1

It depends. If you buy your retriever while it is still a pup, it will get along much better with any other animal living in the house, whether it's an old pet, or another new pet. However, if the dog is older, how it gets along with other animals is very dependent on the dog's personality, and previous habits it obtained through its childhood. This goes with any pet, and also includes young children, which is good to keep in mind. I am uncertain of retrievers natural habits, but some dogs, like welsh corgis, have natural habits bred into them, such as herding. Therefor they tend to nip at things it feels are inferior. However, as stated earlier, if you introduce the other pet while the dog is still young, it has a much greater chance of getting along with the other pet.

I wont pretend to be a professional, however I've always know Labrador retrievers to be incredibly friendly toward any companion. Just be sure to make sure BOTH animals are calm before and during the introduction, which goes especially toward the cat. Cats also tend to do better with other animals if introduced to them at a younger age.

When introducing them, be sure to have control of both animals, especially the dog because of its size. If the dog begins to become hyper, or lunge, stop and try again at another time. The first few trials may not go well at first, but over time, they will become more used to each other, so there is no need to get rid of either pet. If they do not get along, they will most times avoid each other anyways. I've known labs to be hyper, but never aggressive or dangerous, so keep trying.

Sorry for such a lengthy message, and I wish you the best of luck.
~Scott

Answer 2

Labrador Retriever And Cats

Answer 3

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Labradors generally do get along ok with cats, but there are always things to consider. There is no simple "yes" answer to this question. As someone else pointed out as an answer to another cat/dog related question, cats and dogs have different body language and can misunderstand each other. This can lead to disputes between the two. Labradors can also be mischieveous at times, which can also result in disputes. It can take as much as three years before you begin to see the "puppy energy:" decrease in a Labrador. But they have a pretty steady temperament, so you don't have to worry as much about sudden changes in behavior as with some other breeds. However, any dog who has never been exposed to cats, or has had negative experiences with cats, has the potential to NOT make a good kitty companion. And a Labrador who has been bred and raised specifically for his/her skills (hunting, working in the field, etc...) might not necessarily be a good companion for a cat (depending upon the individual dog).

Answer 4

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Do labrador retrievers get along with cats?

Answer 5

Labs generally do not have a very high prey drive so they should be okay with cats. However, you must consider the individual dog. They may scare the cats at first with their large size and energy so go slow when introducing a dog and cat.
One way to tell if a dog will do okay with a cat is to enclose the cat in a carrier and let the dog sniff it. If the dog seems to lunge and is very anxious to get to the cat then back off. However, if he seems not to be phased or just casually sniffing take the cat out but hold the dogs lead securely. If you notice any aggression in the dog, pull back.

Answer 6

It all depends on the dog and the cat. It isn't something that is necessarily breed specific. I have a dog border collie mix that mess/plays a lot with my cat (they are known for herding them), but has met a cat that nearly sent her with her tail between her legs. Some cats can really put up a mean, "don't mess with me" front and others run, which results in a chase game...and some cats just act aloof.

Answer 7

I think so. They're pretty friendly, goofy dogs, so I don't think the dog would have a problem. The cat might, though.

I had a Lab and two cats, and the indoor cat was fine with her, even as a puupy, but the outdoor cat hated her for a while, then got used to her.

Answer 8

This is something that is very subjective. My golden retriever is submissive to my cat which is really funny to watch but my great dane wants to play with it. MY grandmother has a lab which we watch all the time when she goes out of town and we have no problems. You really need to bring them together and see how they act. Their is no right answer and not all dogs hate cats its a common misconception and every dog is different. See how they react to each other.

Answer 9

Our lab gets along fine with the cats here, although the cats we had at the time(we had three then and there's 5 now) had to get used to a bigger dog than they were used to. Because the one we had was not much bigger than(and in one case smaller than) our previous dog. Although sometimes there are disagreements over food.

Answer 10

I just got an eight week old lab and I also have two cats in a two bedroom apt. The puppy loves to chase and play with the cats. It's really the cats you have to worry about. Both of my cats usually don't like to be chased by the puppy. They will hiss and swat a couple of times and then the puppy eventually gets bored because they aren't playing. You shouldn't have any problems.