These 14 Dog Breeds Make Great Friends with Cats and Will Bring Your Cat Lots of Joy

The age-old adage of cats and dogs being mortal enemies has been proven wrong time and time again, but that doesn’t mean that cats don’t have preferences when it comes to dog breeds. Simply put, some breeds are too energetic while others are too annoying. The terrier breed group will instinctively chase the cat while a border collie or shepherd dog may attempt to herd it. And no cat likes being bossed around or agitated when they’re resting. 

Beagles

Beagles are some of the most lovable breeds and are very affectionate with cats. They were originally bred for pack hunting and are great with all animals that aren’t on the receiving end of a hunt (and even then they simply sniff and point toward prey animals). While affectionate, these dogs aren’t as overbearing as some other breeds which is great news for the felines as most of them like distant love.

Basset Hounds

Basset hounds may be a bit difficult to train as they are ‘as stubborn as a hound’. However, once trained, they end up as highly loyal, highly patient dogs. A cat with a knack for bullying will find that bassets will simply ignore most of their antics. They’ll snuggle alongside the cat as if nothing happened between them.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The C.K.C.S (let’s just call them cavalier spaniels from here) are small dogs, not much bigger than a cat. They’ll engage in play with an interested cat and they’ll often play with them for hours. They’re generally tame but will not take any sass from a cat because next to nothing can intimidate them.

Bulldogs

Bulldogs are somewhat misunderstood, with some people thinking that they’re aggressive and dangerous. But the truth is, these dogs are big goofballs and the only thing they can and will hurt is a ball (of any kind or size). Cats are more like playful companions to them and they’ll happily share their ball with them. The cat(s) may not like the ball, but the bulldog just knows it’s the best thing in the world.

Pugs

Ah, pugs. These little pipsqueaks are overflowing with love and they enjoy spending time with their owners. But when the owners go to work and leave the pug all alone, the pug feels sad and lonely. A cat companion is the perfect cure for their ailment and they’re often even better with cats than with other dogs. Plus, they’ll very rarely try to intimidate a cat.

Labrador Retrievers

Labrador retrievers love pleasing their owners (kind of like small children that love being included in everything) and they don’t have a bad bone in their bodies. They are kind and outgoing, but also level-headed, knowing when to back off when they cross a line. Cats enjoy their company primarily for their laid-back character but also because they’re very soft so they can be used as cat beds.

Golden Retrievers

Golden retrievers are basically labrador retrievers with longer hair. They’re outgoing and energetic and require additional exercise on top of playing with the cat. They’re also gentle (they can carry an egg in their mouths without crushing it) which is a great trait for a breed that would live with a cat.

Papillons

Papillon means ‘butterfly’ in French and these dogs got their name because their ears resemble butterflies (and fluffy ones at that). They love being the center of attention and will engage with a pet cat for some friendly fun. Though, they can be a bit too energetic for a cat’s liking, but they’ll rarely be pushy about it, which means no kitty slaps for the papillon!

Poodles

Poodles come in three sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. Toy poodles will relish the opportunity to play with an outgoing cat, miniatures generally tolerate cat antics (such as unprovoked slaps), and standards pretend cats don’t exist. Either one is excellent with cats overall and won’t cause fights unprovoked (and even when a cat is up to no good, they’ll usually just chill out the situation).

Bichon Frisés

If you ever thought about getting your cat a pet cloud, the bichon frisé is a great choice. These dogs are extremely outgoing which may be too much for certain cats but those that are naturally playful will enjoy spending time with this breed. They’re also obsessed with being happy for no apparent reason.

Great Danes

Great Danes are giant, drool a lot, and eat huge amounts of food. But they’re gentle giants for a reason. These dogs prefer spending their days lounging on a bed (preferably a queen-size one to accommodate their royal behinds). As far as what cats think, this is the ideal type of dog.

Shetland Sheepdogs

Shetland sheepdogs are part of the ‘herding’ breeding group so you’d expect them to not be great cat companions. However, they’re easily trained, mild-natured, and incredibly welcoming, meaning that they’ll get along with most cats just fine. On top of that, cats can help occupy the Sheltie’s time because they like to howl (very loudly) when they’re bored.

Maltese

The Maltese is the diva dog that you didn’t know you needed. They are picky about who they let near their long, luxurious hair and will stand up to any cats that dare play with it. But otherwise they’re pretty chill. In most cases they’ll simply ignore the cat altogether but will engage in play if the cat is gentle about it.

Boston Terriers

Finally, the Boston Terrier. Scary-sounding name but these dogs couldn’t be funnier and more non-threatening if they tried. They are the outliers of the ‘terrier’ breeding group as most of their fierce predatory instincts were bred out in favor of a more playful breed. And if cats love anything more than catnip, it’s playing with a companion who knows how to play, which is precisely why this breed is so good with cats.

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