Imagine you already have an adorable cat in your household. But now you’re considering adding an Australian Shepherd. You can’t help but wonder—will these two very different pets be able to coexist peacefully?
“Cat and Dog”
Cats and Dogs are known to not be great of friends historically. The phrase “Cat and Dog” is even used to signify two people of different personalities. And so you might be worried about getting both to stay in the same space.
Let me put your mind at ease, at least somewhat. With the proper approach, introductions, and training, Australian Shepherds can indeed learn to get along just swimmingly with their feline housemates.
However, it’s not quite as simple as just tossing them together and hoping for the best.
We will talk about ways you can help both friends stay together in the same space while worrying less about their personality conflicts.
The Herding Breed Instinct
You see, Australian Shepherds (or “Aussies” for short) are part of the herding group of dogs.
Despite the name, they actually originated in the United States, not Australia.
These high-energy pups were bred to herd livestock on sprawling ranches out west.
That herding background means Aussies have an innate tendency to chase, nip at, and try to “herd” anything that moves—including smaller critters like cats.
So you can imagine how introducing an Aussie to your kitty could go awry without the right precautions!
The Good News
Before you cross Aussies off your list entirely, though, here’s the good news: These dogs are incredibly intelligent, energetic, and eager to please their owners.
With early socialization and positive reinforcement training, they can absolutely learn that the family cat is a friend, not something to chase.
It simply takes patience, commitment, and the right approach from their human owners. Let me walk you through what that could look like:
Imagine adopting an Aussie puppy into your home with an existing cat. From the very first day, you’d want to go slowly with introductions.
Keep the new puppy and your cat separated at first while they get used to each other’s smells and sounds.
Then, you’d supervise carefully and reward your puppy with treats and praise anytime it remains calm and ignores the cat during short interactions.
You’d create positive associations with the presence of the feline friend.
Over time, with continued separation when unsupervised and gradual increases in interaction periods, your Aussie puppy would learn: “Ok, this fuzzy little creature is part of my family pack! I should be gentle and calm around it.”
A Well-Exercised Aussie is Key
Of course, this training process is made much easier if your Aussie is receiving adequate physical and mental exercise.
These dogs require a ton of daily activity to stay happy and well-behaved.
An under-exercised Aussie may view your cat as a tempting target to chase, simply due to pent-up energy.
But if you’re an active owner providing plenty of walks, hikes, games of fetch and other enrichment activities?
Your Aussie will be a lot more inclined to listen to the “don’t chase the cat” rule you’ve patiently instilled.
Don’t Forget the Cat’s Role
It’s a two-way street, too. Just as you’ll train your Aussie, you’ll need to get your cat accustomed to being around a dog.
Make sure your feline friend always has escape routes, vertical surfaces to feel safe, and the ability to retreat from interactions until they build confidence.
The Ideal Scenario
With time, commitment, and the right environment, an Australian Shepherd and a cat can certainly become the best of buddies.
Your Aussie may happily let your kitty groom them from time to time. Or you might catch them snuggled up together for an adorable little nap.
The key is managing expectations, taking it slowly, and putting in the consistent positive reinforcement training from day one.
As long as you do that, there’s no reason your Aussie can’t learn to love—rather than chase—their new feline housemate.
So don’t let outdated breed stereotypes dissuade you!
With the proper introductions and training, the intelligent and eager-to-please Australian Shepherd can co-exist with Cats in your home.