Read this article and find out if all kinds of Poodles are good with Cats.
How can we answer the question “Do Poodles get along with Cats?”
Every dog (so every Poodle) has their own unique teamperment (that they are born with) and personality (that they develop over time through learning) and so does every Cat. so, asking a question like “do Poodles get along with cats?” is a bit like asking ’how long is a piece of string?’ You might get this happy scene on the left, Cats who like to tease Poodles or Poodles who want to tease Cats.
Best Buddies
So, things can work out if the pets decide themselves they are going to be best buddies for life. That can (and does) happen. Poodles and Cats can behave like they are from the same mother. They will take care of each other by grooming and they might enjoy sleeping together in the same place. Cats and Dogs are like us, they like to cuddle. A good cuddle releases pleasant chemicals in their brains, just like it does with a human. Some Poodles and Cats even get into the ‘I’m going to be Mom’ thing and one animal treats the other as if it was their kitten or puppy, which (from personal experience) is pretty funny to watch, especially when the ‘junior’ animal is a dog who is a bit baffled by what is going on and gives you those long ‘hey my human dad/mum, what’s the deal here with this crazy Cat? I’m asking myself are us Poodles good with Cats and do you still have that Freud Book?’ looks.
Occasional Playmates
Stepping down from the previous level, even if not best buddies it can also work out if one pet wants a playmate and the other is usually happy to oblige. so, no sharing the bed in this one but some friendly chasing around, and a bit of gentle play fighting. This can work out well, although with a Standard Poodle, there’s a bit of an issue with the Standard Poodle size, strength and weight difference compared to an average Cat, which is less of an issue with a Toy Poodle or Miniature Poodle.
If you want some ideas for toys that they both can play with, there’s some good suggestions here.
Polite Disdain
This is when your Poodle and Cat mostly just ignore each other. That’s quite common and just give them some space and let them get on with it. At least your home is quiet. Do Poodles and cats get along in this case – yes.
Conflict
Ok, do Poodles and cats get along always? No. Here’s why:
Poodle vs. Cat Psychology
It’s a mistake to assume Dogs and Cats have human emotions, so everything we are saying here is a bit of an approximation. Here goes:
Poodle Thinking
Poodles are Dogs and Dogs are basically domesticated Wolves (or had an ancestor similar to a Wolf). Wolves live in packs and the pack has a territory, which it defends. There is always a Wolf pack leader and a hierarchy. Wolves are fierce in battle but kind to other pack members (although you get squabbles). Wolves also cut pups a lot of slack and allow them to get away with stuff they would not take from another wolf. There do appear to be real several cases of wolves ‘adopting’ young lost children and raising them. The Jungle Book is fiction but there is evidence it is based on fact. So a Poodle sees it’s family as a pack, the humans in the family as more senior pack members than itself (if that isn’t the case things can get difficult as the Poodle will want to dominate and you need to get it trained). The Cat will be seen either as another pack member (OK) or as a pup (OK) or as a mother (OK). The problems only then come either because the Poodle is trying to establish dominance over the Cat (bad) or the Poodle is jealous of the attention you are giving the Cat (bad) or over personal space (see the next section) or doesn’t see the Cat as really part of the pack (really bad and then you might have to take drastic measures, like removing one or the other). But like these Poodles below, your Dog has a sense of right and wrong and will generally be fine.
Generally, Poodles are very sociable and if they are brought up with kindness and gentleness, they will be kind and gentle dogs.
Cat Thinking
Your Cat is basically a domesticated type of solitary wildcat, who do not generally have a pack structure (Lions are an exception) but do have small family groups, to raise kittens and sometimes have a loose bond that carries on after the Kitten stage. A wild Cat is very territorial and will get into serious fights with other Cats to defend the territory that belongs to it. Cats relate to Humans as if the Humans were part of their family. You might be seen as a sibling, parent or kitten, depending on the Cat and the same goes for your Cat’s view of your Poodle and vice versa.
Avoiding Flashpoints
The very first possible flashpoint is when the two animals first meet. There are so many factors here (which animal is in the house first, what are the respective ages of each animal, the underlying temperament of each animal etc.). However, there are a few simple tips:
- Tip #1. Trim the Cat’s nails. First impressions count with Poodles too. They might be getting along fine, then for whatever reason the Cat gets its claws out and the Poodle gets a painful scratch. Now, even a mild-tempered Poodle is going to have an issue with that.
- Tip #2. Keep an eye on both of them for a while. If there is anything like a pack dominance move being made by the Poodle, step in and gently remind the Poodle that you are the pack leader and that the Cat is just fine by you. Praise and reward your Poodle for being kind to the Cat.
- Tip #3. Watch out for jealousy. Both Cats and Poodles have an equivalent to jealousy, and for different reasons, they want your positive attention. So make sure that they both get it and one animal doesn’t feel aggrieved.
- Tip #4. Allow a bit of territoriality but not too much. If you Cat and Poodle don’t want to sleep together or eat together, make sure that each has its own sleeping place, own blanket, own bowl, own feeding time etc., and that each ‘respects’ what’s theirs and what isn’t.
- Tip #5. Give your Cat somewhere to escape to, if the Poodle wants to play but it doesn’t. Cats naturally climb to get away or find hiding spaces. Help your Cat out if the Poodle is being annoying.
- Tip #6. Give your Poodle lots of exercise. A bored Poodle that’s full of energy might well decide playing with the Cat is a good idea. The Cat might not see it that way. an exhausted and happy Poodle is going to want a nice liedown, not a game of ‘let’s chase Kitty’.
So, those are some top tips.
Conclusion: Poodles and Cats generally get along
For most Poodles, they are going to get on just fine with a Cat and you can pretty much leave them to it. If you follow our top tips, the chances are even better still.
What did you think about this article? Do you have any ideas of your own? Leave us some comments and we’ll be happy to answer.
