Do Poodles Get Along with Cats?

Do Poodles Get Along with Cats? 10 Nifty Tips to keep them together

Before bringing a poodle and a cat into the same home, it is important to know that they can get along…

To that end, I’m here to help you learn everything there is to know about poodles and cats living together.

Generally speaking, Poodles and cats get along well. When a cat joins the family, the Poodle’s protective instincts can kick in. Every cat and dog is unique. Introduce the two pets before bringing them together to ensure they get along.

You can bring a poodle into your home with confidence now that you know they get along with cats. 

However, there are a few things you should be aware of in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.

What it’s like having Poodles and Cats home together

It is critical to insure that a dog and a cat are a good match before bringing them together.

Dogs and cats are commonly viewed as adversaries. The most common way to see a dog and a cat on TV is for the dog to chase the cat down while the cat screeches. 

Fortunately, this is not always the case with dogs and cats. In fact, cats and dogs can be best friends at times.

The temperament of a poodle is well suited to living with cats. Poodles, especially when compared to other breeds, are generally calm and mellow dogs. Although they have a lot of energy, poodles can also relax on the couch.

Poodles have fully embraced cats as a member of their family in many situations where cats and poodles have been placed together.

This means that their instinctive protection extends to cats as well.

Poodles are extremely attached to their families as part of their poodle temperament. 

This includes the owner of a poodle as well as others who live in the home. When there is a cat in the house, the poodle will become attached to the cat as well.

This is fantastic news for anyone considering adopting a poodle alongside a cat.

While there are some dogs that do not get along with cats, poodles are not one of them. Poodles are affectionate and calm. 

A poodle and a cat will get along fine in most situations.

However, each cat and poodle is unique. 

Each dog and cat has their own personality and life experiences.

Introducing a Poodle into Your Home with a Cat

It is critical to note that you will want your cat and the new poodle( Or another way around) that you want to live together to meet. 

Many people believe that they can simply introduce a poodle to cats to see how he or she reacts and then call it a day.

On the other hand, Each cat and dog is unique and have their own temperament and needs.

Just because a poodle gets along with a random group of cats does not guarantee that he or she will get along with your cat. 

It is critical that the specific cat and poodle are the ones who meet. This meeting will be the test to see if they can coexist. 

After an hour of your cat and poodle being together, it should be obvious how well it will work out.

So, how do you prepare to introduce a cat and a poodle?

1. Keep your cat’s Nails Trimmed

This is a critical step. If you already have a cat, you are aware that cats simply scratch things.

Your cat may become nervous when meeting a poodle because the poodle is unfamiliar to your cat. So, if the poodle gets too close, your cat may swot it. Your cat may injure the poodle if its nails are not trimmed.

This is not a good way to start a friendship between a poodle and a cat.

2. Put the poodle on a leash

When the cat and poodle meet, you want the poodle to be as tame and controlled as possible.

The best way to do this is to simply put the poodle on a leash and keep the poodle right by your side. 

This will make the poodle comfortable to be by your side and reduce the chance of the poodle pouncing on the cat.

3. Observe the Behaviours of both the Poodle and the cat

The most important thing to remember when introducing a cat and a poodle is to simply observe their behaviours when they are together.

Simply putting your cat and poodle in the same room will demonstrate how comfortable they are with each other as well as how much they dislike each other.

In any case, by simply introducing your poodle to your cat or vice versa , you should be able to determine how well they will get along. Keep an eye on body language and be prepared to intervene if any fighting occurs.

How to Create the Best Living condition for a Poodle and Cat together

Apart from introducing the poodle and the cat to each other, there are a few things you can do to ensure a smooth transition for each of them.

1. Make sure the poodle gets plenty of exercise.

If you are new to owning a poodle, you will quickly discover that poodles have tons of energy and must be taken outside every day for exercise. In a perfect world, twice a day I must say.

By providing your poodle with the necessary exercise, he or she will be less likely to become wild, which is bad for your cat.

2. Create your cat some hiding spaces around the house or in garage

You can make hiding places for your cat by rearranging furniture or simply purchasing some cat-specific furniture pieces.

This will make your cat feel secure. Even if your cat is safe, he or she may feel uneasy at times. This is why your cat will appreciate the hiding places.`

3. Keep Separate territories for both the poodle and the cat

Because both cats and dogs like to claim territory, it is critical that your poodle and cat each have their own territory to claim.

Although there will be some overlap, they should each have their own space in the house.

This could simply be different food and water stations. There are also various bed spaces. Giving the cat and poodle different areas to call their own will make them feel right at home.

Wrapping up…

Each type of poodle( be it a Toy, Miniature or Standard poodle) is well suited to live with cats because of its calm and Protective nature. 

So, if you have a favourite size of poodle, you can simply go with that poodle.

However, because of the slight variations in the temperaments of these poodle types, one poodle outshines the others in regards to living with cats.

For more about Poodles see our other articles below

References

• AVMA– Vet 
• S,Coren Dog Intelligence study
• The Everything Poodle Book (2004) by J.Adams
  Poodle Clipping and Grooming: The International Reference (2001) by S. Kalstone