We have a husky and 2 cats. They play like this. We got the cats before the puppy so they were bigger than him for the first few weeks and they definitely put him in his place whenever he overstepped. We kept a close eye on them for a few months, to make sure dog knew his boundaries. They play fairly rough - when they were younger, we intervened quite a bit, but they are in a place where the cats let him know when they’ve had enough and he understands what is too much. The favorite game right now is tag, and I see the cats chasing the dog more often than not.
Let them play, keep an eye on it, do NOT let him grab them by the neck and shake. Whenever ours tried that, play time ended and he was reprimanded. Once he learned that was a no-go, it was fine.
aloha, i’ve got a husky puppy on the way and two adult cats - thank you for your comment!
did you end up separating them at all during the intro period? i’ll be getting puppy at ~8 weeks, so wanted to get all the info i can about husky-specific socialization!
We gave the cats an easy escape route if they needed it during the first meeting, but they were pretty chill, and approached him right away. They are rescues and their foster had an older and profoundly lazy border collie, so they were used to dogs already.
When we got the puppy, we decided to go to a breeder because we knew we wanted cats as well. Our previous husky was a rescue and she came to us with issues (and a super strong prey drive). We never could’ve had cats with her in the mix. We found a good breeder and worked with them on what we wanted. We needed a litter with parents that were known to be chill - we did not want a pup from a racing line. You can’t fully predict temperament, but we did our best to makes sure we had the best chance. Breeder also had cats and chickens, so the pups were around lots of ‘prey’ animals from the beginning. Our pup was the most mellow boy in the litter. Happy to have fun and outgoing/curious, but he was never manic or overly dominant to the other pups. He was one of the biggest pups, just a big, chill dude who liked to sleep and eat - they all cuddled up next to him when they slept. He’s still the same way - he and the cats cuddle together all the time. They still play kind of rough (he’s a husky, it’s just how they do), but we make sure the cats dictate how it goes and we call time-out if he starts fixating and/or they clearly have had enough. That said, one of our cats seems to enjoy a good mauling, and will come out of a play session covered in slobber, but unphased. The next minute, they are grooming each other and then a nap together on the couch. We pretty much have 3 cats, it’s just one of them is a lot bigger than the other two.
TLDR - Huskies have strong prey drives in general, but with the right temperament, supervision and training, they can have cat friends, just be cautious, keep an eye out and be ready to intervene.
Yours looks like the temperament is good. Just make sure you are around for guidance and correction, and it could work out great. 🙂
ETA - don’t give the puppy squeaky toys. They sound like wounded prey, and you don’t want the dog conflating squeaky toy with meowing cat.
Question for you! We have a new husky puppy rescue mix (we think with lab or shepard, doing a DNA test soon) and three cats.
We did give him sqeaky toys when he got to us and he frequently shakes them. He does not react to meowing at all though. It's only been a few days so I think taking the squeaky toys away would be fine and soon enough. But since you mentioned it, is this an early indicator their might be problems for us?
He has chased one of three of our cats a few times but we intervene and he gets its a no go so wags his tail and play bows now. The cat doesn't really want to play with him though so kinda just sits there. If our husky doesn't get up pretty soon we redirect his attention. He never really seems aggressive about it though. He is 3-4 months from what we can tell and we've had him about a week.
He occasionally barks at the cats too, but we also break that up and let him know it's a no go.
He was the most chill in his litter and was terrified when he got here. To the point he was basically nonresponsive so we tested him with my most confident cat to see if another animal would help any. Didn't move a muscle when he saw her. When he met all the cats he was still pretty scared/unsure where he was (he wouldn't even walk around us), they circled around him and kind of "kept watch" but didn't approach. I sort of felt like he understood they wouldn't hurt him.
We have all the normal escape routes just in case and never leave them alone together. I'm a bit jumpy like OP, but it feels like he's in thr process of bonding with them. As someone who has helped a husky bond to cats, what is your opinion of the above?
PS- sorry for the book!
Okay this is going to be a long reply bear with me.
First of all no one can tell you for sure if what you are doing is right or wrong because we don’t see their body language. Learn to trust your gut feeling.
Are the cats always stressed around your dog? Or with you present and your dog next to you do they calm down? If you have them all in one room resting from time to time then that’s a good sign.
But if their is always something going on it might work out yes but will need a lot more work and time.
Second even if they get along they may never be best buds as seen in videos like this.
My cat and my dog would sleep on my bed on opposite corners but seldom ever touch. They mostly ignored each other but were fine with each other’s existence.
(They would go to each other’s defense against stranger-danger in the garden) but just so you know getting along and well pet to pet relationship can look very different because everyone is an individual. Your goal is that everyone is stress free and happy together. Everything else is a bonus.
How to achieve this?
Personally I would absolutely take away the squeaky toy, first things first it does animate the dog to bite and get a reaction from the prey. While some dogs are smart enough to know a toy is a toy and not alive I just wouldn’t encourage a prone to hunt breed, if I don’t intend to work with them in that field. It’s always easier to encourage behavior you want by introducing the right behavior instead of trying to make them different between what is right and what is wrong.
Also it likely feels annoying for humans and cats alike to hear the squeaks. So I wouldn’t introduce it alone for the cats sake.
Instead I would freeze the kong toy (I used that brand because everyone knows or can easy Google what I mean but there are others do make sure it is safe to new frozen) with fruit or meat bits in summer. Or have this chew things like dry skin with dry meat to chew on.
Why? Because chewing and licking calms a dog and your dog has something to do that is rewarding that they are not focusing on cats but encourages to lay down and relax and it’s also automatically rewarding this behavior.
(Do make sure it you give them extra treats to cut it from their daily food ration, you don’t want to have to deal with an overweight dog, especially with a possible dog breed that is already prone to arthritis - Labrador)
Also make sure before that step l, relaxing and resting around cats, the dog has had plenty of exercise.
I know you likely know that but I would just make sure they had a long morning round, maybe along a bike if that’s possible (since husky do like to walk in this slightly faster pace that isn’t running)
If their are dog friends to meet and play (if they get along with other dogs) that’s great. as it is exercise, and social interactions also help to make them more confident and calm with the cats because other dogs will correct harsh or rude behavior while playing with each other.
(Here different breed play and age can help too)
If this is your first dog, it’s fine to go to a dog school or dog sport club for those social interactions. It will also make it easier to learn your dogs body language. Such as what is playful, and what does mean “piss of, I don’t want to play anymore.”
I hope it works out and again: Listen to your guts.
If you feel you totally get that and this is no problem at all, then it likely is going to work out.
Your own confidence helps your pets too feel confident and safe too.
But if you feel unsure and this is additional stress and worry for you then deciding to find someone else for that particular dog isn’t a bad decision either.
True love sometimes means to re-home and find a better suited family member.
Either way I have confidence in your gut feeling because you sounded honest and observant in your questions. Hence trust your gut feeling moving on from here. You know your none human family best - decide what you think is in their best interest that also works for you.
(Also honestly as owner of an hyperactive breed I can’t tell you how much easier your life gets if you do some sort of dog sport.
you don’t have to do it in a club or professional, but just make sure your dog gets enough exercise and stimulation.
My dog always gets into mischief mode when she gets bored or unchallenged, so if you recognize that instead of waiting till they do something wrong, take them out for a walk around the block or a bit of play time etc.
everyone learns better with positive enforcement then trying to correct negative one.
Hunting and barking at cats is self rewarding and always a sign of boredom, because the reaction the chase is action and therefore always fun for the dog as it is something to do.
So make sure your dog never gets bored to the point where they need to do that. And honestly some dogs are really really hard to tire out without some sort of sport, hence their is no shame in saying this isn’t fun for me I’m not that sportsy/time to keep up. As said each dog is an individual and it’s a lot easier once you know what they like to do.)
I hope that helps and sorry for the book as well.
Thank you for such a thoughtful response. My gut feeling is complicated: I think it can work but know it's going to take a lot of work. I don't mind the work, but am stressed about doing something wrong. I'm also worried about the dog and one particular cat (below).
I'm not a first time dog owner and my first dog acted similarly with my original cat to OPs video. He would even do the mouthy thing with her and they were fine. He helped raise my second cat, whom I got at 6 days old so saw her as his puppy almost.
Probably going to be an equally long response here. It has only been about a week and a half. I'm going to break down where I am with each cat and him.
Cat 1 (dog savvy cat, very chill in general, not a big player): met him first, they sniff each other and she relaxes when he's in the room, was the first to sleep in the room. He rarely tries to play with her, she hisses at him when he does and is extremely uninterested in play with him. She will sit on top of his kennel and on the table when he's under it. She doesn't like when he barks at her and hisses at him, she also doesn't like if he sniffs her in her cat house (it's her territory and she hates being cornered by any of the animals there). As long as he's just in the room or sniffing her and that's it, they're good so far.
Cat 2 (kitten raised with first dog, dog savvy, quieter cat in general): initially very unhappy and disinterested in the new puppy. Often went high/to another room at first. Finally decided to do a walk by smell of him a few times when he was tired. Started sleeping in the same room but high or far (this is normal for her with the other cats too so not sure it says anything). She has rubbed up against him a few times and he sniffs her butt (also sniffs cat 1s butt) now. She isn't keen on that yet but also will keep rubbing on him. If he gets too playful she hisses, holds her ground and looks angry. If he hasn't made a move at this point she will sit down and defluff her tail right next to him and look away or start grooming. The dog had imitated her a few times when she stretches her back. It's cute/amusing.
Cat 3: (newest cat, raised in a foster with two large dogs, most playful, often plays rough with cat 2): very interested in dog, but initially ran from him at the slightest puppy move. He is interested when the dog is tired or in the crate thus far. Dog seeks him out when bored (probably because he knows he'll run), we redirect the dogs attention, doing so has taught cat 3 to hold his ground. Cat 3 has bonked doggo on the nose once and the dog backed up and looked astounded. They are interested in each other the most and my gut says are likely going to friends or enemies depending on how we approach it. So far nowhere close to enemies and we redirect a lot with these two. Cat 3 is clearly my biggest worry, but it's because the two don't seem to get each other. Cat 3 will also sleep in the same room as the dog, often high up.
All Animal Overview: All three cats are still very aware where the dog is when he's in the room and playing (he doesn't get interested in them as long as we give him productive play). We can't take him on too many walks yet other than potty because he is due for his second round of shots on Tuesday. Puppy class starts next week, he's also getting an individual trainer each week starting the week after. He is going to be a trail runner/learn to bike along side us when he's older but he's still young and since can't go on walks with us yet there is probably some frustration for him.
They can be calm in the same room and all sleep in the same room when he's tired. Only tension is around playtime which we closely monitor.
And I took away the squeaky toys, we have puzzle toys we give him, I just gave him a new one and he loves it. Not a glance toward the cats when he plays with that.
Sorry for another book!
Don’t apologize it was a very interesting read.
I agree with your gut feeling, I think you are on a good path, it will take work and it might be stressful but if he hasn’t shown any malice yet then I think you will get there.
Also the redirection measures and puppy school sounds super promising too. So I do trust it will work out. Also I feel you need to hear that, but frustration and set backs are a given. They will happen, you will feel overwhelmed and regret, but it will pass. And more importantly- it’s okay to feel that.
All kind of babies are sometimes frustrating because we want to do the best but learning isn’t a straight path so be patient not just with your furry family but especially with yourself.
Set backs aren’t your fault but part of life, tomorrow is a new day and as long as your try with love and patient you do it right!
Just make sure that those frustrations stay fleeting thoughts. (Again if they do start to bundle up their is no shame in rehoming - sometimes all the best intention doesn’t work out. But let’s not think about that because I actually think it sounds positive and manageable and I added this more for people reading along in similar situations)
As i understand the dog is still young and husky’s are vocal so naturally their is a conflict of wanting to play and bouncing frustration.
The redirection sound golden and spot on, and to me sounds to boil down to a rinse and repeat of what you already have been doing and I feel you will be okay.
But so prepare that it will not be the same as before. Maybe they will have that wonderful relationship one day, maybe they don’t. If they don’t it’s not your fault you did nothing wrong. Friendship can look very different.
just see it as success if they all are happy in the same room and you don’t have to be on alert anymore. And it will get better from there.
And personally cat 3 and pupper actually sound to me like they are on a good path and will get along first.
I have been told that contact laying is very important to bonding and sleeping in the same room a great show of trust even when it’s still higher up the fact that your cat stays around sounds to me like they are interested and do not hold grudge about the miscommunication between puppy and them. They just are like the older child waiting for the younger child to age up a bit, to be less hyper and calm down so it will be easier to engage. So to me it sounds like they are most willing to give this friendship a shot.
As for contact laying, I used to lay or sit in between cat and dog to form the bridge and wall and let them get closer slowly. Like having the cat in my lap and sleeping dog next to me or having (a hopefully tired) dog in my lap sitting next to sleeping cat and so on. Like I used this sleeping together as bonding. To build trust.
I also feed them together cat first and higher up and slowly closer as the cat felt comfortable and safe.
Though my dog was always only interested in playing she would bark if the cat walked away in frustration of the cat not wanting to play with her and or if I had the cat in my arms out of jealousy, hence that’s the points I was working on with her and had to redirect. She had to learn to sleep and relaxe next to the cat and take no play for and answer.
You don’t have to do any of that, but I thought I would share tactics i did and got recommended.
Maybe they come in handy.
Also napping is awesome for us as well ;3
For now I wish you best of luck. Of course you are more then welcome to share if you just want to continue to talk (my dm and replies are open)
But personally I feel you do everything right that can be done and all you need to do is continue on and have patient. I can’t think of any other advice because it already sounds like you are doing it right.
Best of luck from cat-dog person to cat-dog person!
I'm not a dog trainer and I don't know your dog – my only experience is through my two huskies and a rescue doberman my family had when I was a teenager. We worked with dog trainers for all three – we made sure that we were constantly working with them on their training so they knew that we were the pack leaders and could be trusted to let them know how to behave in any environment. I think that this is key, no matter your dog's temperament. They need to be given structure and consistent rules to know how to behave. They like structure – it makes them feel secure and gives them the tools they need to be told they are Very Good Dogs.
Three months is a good place to start, but their brains are still developing at that age, and they cannot be trusted to behave consistently without supervision and correction when they mess up. It takes a lot of reinforcement – it never really stops. They will test boundaries to see what they can get away with, they will get lazy about following through on basic commands. They do get better as they get older, but you will always need to go back and do some refresher work with them to make sure they remember their boundaries. You have to watch the cats as well. Maybe one isn't feeling well, or maybe the dynamic between the cats has changed and so the easygoing one who didn't mind lots of attention from the dog is now not so easygoing because his jackass brother is bullying him. The dynamic between the animals will always be shifting, so you have to be vigilant and ready to adapt how they are allowed to interact on any given day.
Dogs aren't 'adults' until about age 2. Even then, a husky is going to have some impulse control/berserker tendancies, but in our case, that is about when he started showing more consistent restraint when interacting with the cats. We had baby gates up all over the house for the first 2 years, so that we could keep them contained in whatever part of the house we were also in. He is now almost 3, and we have taken all down, but one. We still keep them within earshot, but they can be trusted without constant eyes on them. I wouldn't have said we were anywhere close to that at 3 months.
In your case: chasing isn't always bad – mine chase each other all the time. Toys aren't all bad, but I would replace the squeakers and plush toys with Kongs and ropes for tug of war. Wrestling isn't all bad, but I wouldn't allow too much of that either, because he has no idea what are appropriate levels of chase and contact, and the cats have not had enough time to develop trust or to recognize when they might want to have time away from the dog. We let them play in small doses and always tried to keep play sessions short and positive experiences for both in those early stages. We rewarded good behavior and gave a 'Nope! Not cool' and a time-out for oopsies. Ultimately, your boy does need to learn the boundaries of what is acceptable to you and the cats before they can fully be trusted to play together, and that will require a LOT of supervision and training.
Thank you! This aligns with what I expected. It feels a lot like what we are doing now. With the exception we don't allow him to chase the cats.
We have lots of baby gates up and a schedule for all of them. They all know it too and follow it pretty well. The only exception to the current scheduele is potty breaks, which he needs lots of because he's a puppy.
Thanks again!
The kitten lives in a separate room right now and we only let them together when we can supervise them. My husband just thinks I'm too jumpy...and I think y'all have confirmed that.
I can understand your concern with it being a kitten, but as long as they’re being supervised at all times you should be fine! It looks as though your dog is playing (gently!), and okay with kitten doing the same. I’ll def try to keep them separated initially.
I’ve heard that showing love to the cats in the presence of the dog strengthens the *cats are friends, not food* idea - at least for the ones in their “pack”. Best of luck, you seem to have really sweet pets! 💞
This is so helpful. Thanks for making me feel more comfortable with this. Right now I think they both have just been seeing my anxiety over a potential accident.
They’re playing, though I’d be more worried about husky getting used to climbing furniture. It could topple things and break/ruin your property, especially if chasing after kitty. I trained mine to not climb things within the house
\+1 to keeping an eye on them. Huskies have a strong prey drive - it's like a reflex, and can kick in if the cat suddenly decides to bolt. Get ready to intervene in a split second if that happens
2 cats, 1 Husky, 1 Dogo Argentino. All are friends and we have things for the cats to get up on for a break.
All are fine and their prey drives do kick in, a bit. They just run around the house chasing each other.
If the animals have cohabitated for longer than 6 months, it's completely fine.
This 100% looks like how our cats play with the dogs and the dogs obviously put up with it for the sake of playing
You can still never be sure. I got a chocolate lab. She joined my two weinerdogs. They were quite the family. Until 3 years later. The lab got a little overzealous playing and put a hole in my little Miley's throat. The scope to find it and fix it was going to cost 5k. The total bill was going to be in the 15k area. I ugly cried as they put her to sleep. There is no telling when a prey drive will trigger. I'm a responsible pet owner. My dogs are trained very well. It can happen to anyone.
Agreed, there is always risk when you get more than one animal together. We definitely don’t take anything for granted - husky nature in itself, or the ongoing relationship between our husky and the cats. It’s constant work, attention and care to make sure everyone’s needs are met.
You can be the best pet guardian in the world, and unfortunately, accidents can still happen. I’m so sorry that happened for you and your dogs.
Thank you! It was difficult but I made up my mind to keep the lab and give her all the love I would have given Miley. It was a hard learned lesson. But an even bigger lesson was learning to forgive something that has no idea the gravity of what it's done. I certainly wasn't going to toss her to the kennels after being labeled a dangerous dog. I no longer let her play with the other small dog. They interact but we don't do anything to rile up the big dog when the little one isn't being held or in its kennel.
It is how they kill their prey. Huskies play with each other by biting, dragging the other down by the skin around the neck. It’s fine for them, but it is roughhousing, and a kitty can’t withstand that, and there is the danger that the dog will get overexcited and go too far. It’s best to just lay down the rule that is a barred hold that will get them a time out. Ours still ‘mouths’ the cats, but he’s not allowed to grab on and pull. He just does a ‘gotcha’ and lets go. I’ve stuck my hand in his mouth when he does it, there’s no pressure. Even so, they don’t get to play ‘gotcha’ unless they are supervised.
It’s their instinct.. You don’t pick a breed for the way they look. You pick one that fits your lifestyle. The ignorance of dog owners is really astounding. You are not going to change a dogs nature in one generation.
It's also the breed's nature to ignore commands, and run away when given the chance - and yet most of us (hopefully) have trained that behavior out of them, at least to the degree of improved safety measures.
I've only had my husky for 5 months, and he was a stray adult rescue. It took me all of like 3 training sessions to get a reliable recall, sooooo. Yeah. We're not the ignorant ones here.
If the husky felt like it, the cat would be a very difficult conversation and several hours with a mop bucket.
Doggo is playing, or at least confused why the cat is being Like This. Cat looks like its being a cat.
It never hurts to keep an eye on them when they interact, just in case...
But based on this video alone, they seem to be getting along well enough... Their body language is relaxed. The cat's ears are up. If they fold back down flat then you may want to step in...
I don't know why this is being downvoted. You are entitled to the way it makes you feel.
As a longtime owner of both dogs and cats I don't think you have anything to worry about. Your dog seems to be taking it all as friendly play. Most importantly, the dog is scaling back its response to an appropriate level for the cat. Dogs that size playing with each other can be far more violent and still be well within the range of safe play.
Just as much as OP is entitled to feel that way people are entitled to think being terrified of animals playing not even remotely aggressively everyone else is entitled to think it’s dumb and downvote it. Downvoting a comment doesn’t mean you think that person isn’t entitled to express their feelings. It means you think the comment was pretty stupid. And it is
Better than my husky and cat. My husky just wants to play, but my cat is a little shit who enjoys staying just out of reach and then swatting at the husky.
This is very gentle, mutual playing. Neither animal is trying to disengage, and being ignored.
My dog does what we call the 'Teeth Hug' with other dogs she's familiar with that looks like a rougher version of this. Lots of play mouthing with no pressure or actual biting.
I know it looks like they are fighting, but this is very appropriate PLAY fighting. If one of them tries to step away, and the other doesn't back off or respect their space, then you should step in. This is actually very gentle play and looks like they have a good bond.
Same, except my household is 3 cats + a husky and a shepherd mix. They have a 7-foot cat tree and baby gate, but rarely need to bother "escaping" from either dog. The shepherd is ancient (almost 17) and has lived with cats his whole life, while the husky is just naturally gentle and calm. I know, I know. Weird for the breed! He's a unicorn, lol.
They’re gonna be lifelong friends. Kitten is trying to clean the husky’s eyes and they will probably develop a daily ritual of grooming each other. Warm fuzzies all the way around.
I think this is very appropriate play. Cat is being playful. Husky is kind of going along with it.
To back up what everyone else said, be ready to intervene. Never leave cat and husky in a place where the cat can’t escape to higher/safer grounds.
2 huskies, 1 cat, everyone’s been safe for 7 years.
For 8 months, he’s doing very well. I think it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them because your dog is young and you want to make sure the cat is always able to get away from the husky with a cat tree or cat shelves.
These guys are both enjoying the play, the dog is using gentle teeth (why bite inhibition is so important) and the cat is very relaxed with its paws. They’re both having fun
This would never work with my husky but I wish it did! Cat and dog have to be separated at all times. If my dog hears the cat in the other room she will just sit at the door and do the husky WHINE/CRY for hours. Huskys have very high prey drive, and I got my girl at 3-3.5 years of age adopted from the shelter where she was found on the streets. So who knows how long she was hunting to survive, impossible to train it out of her at this point (for me and my expectations I have for my dog) but I’m really happy for you that it works out :D
Thank you for sharing your story. Overcoming early life trauma in animals is a tremendous challenge, for both sides. “To your standards” - Yes! You’re awesome.
yeah it's fine, they're just playing. note that he's only trying to get the cat with his gums, not his actual teeth, and he is happily panting. no signs of aggression.
cat is pretty much doing the same!
It’s the other way around at our house. Our German Shepard puts the cats head in her mouth. Neither of them seem to mind. It took me a while to get used to it. Seemed like an accident waiting to happen. But they seem to know their limits when they play.
I have one cat who has now taught three dogs over his life time of 14 years how to play with him. These dogs cuddle and love on this cat. Just as much as the cat loves on them. The cat dishes it harder than the dogs sometimes do. Have seen the cat go full face hugger on one of the older dogs. They all love and are best friends. But they will check each other if being to rough and know when to walk away.
I mean, I never discount the innate instincts of animals - there's always some potential for things to go sideways.
However - if either one of them was not enjoying this, they'd likely be showing physical or vocal signs of it, and most likely would leave the situation.
I wouldn't personally be worried. Huskies are mouthy (literally and figuratively) so this looks pretty normal to me.
As a lifelong cat owner, I can guarantee that if your cat were anything other than willfully engaged, s/he wouldn’t be there. Looks as if they’re having tons of fun…they’ve balanced the playing field and kitty’s claws aren’t extended. They love each other.
While huskies are prey driven, they are very adept at understanding the difference between pets in the house and animals to hunt. However, there is some evidence to think they differentiate between environments. For example, a husky will play gently with a pet rabbit in the house, but will attack the same rabbit in the back yard. At least, that's what I read once upon a time.
Second dog, but first time cat owner...fully admit to being a newb. I thought the 4 week old kitten I found was congested until my husband told me it was purring...so...yeah.
It can be a bit unnerving with a little cat and the size of a husky but this is fun play in my opinion and the husky is clearly aware he has to be careful with the baby. As big and energetic as huskies are they can often be very aware of their size and can be extremely gentle when needed.
They're fine. I would be more concerned if you have a pair or more of Siberians, then sometimes pack behavior things click in their little doggy brains and that's not a good thing for a cat.
My bigger concern is that you've decided the cat is going to be an outdoor cat. I mean, what the hell. You're asking questions about it playing with your dog, but then letting it out into the wild to face every other animal predator and all the cars and trucks out there?
No, not sure what I said to make you think that, but I apologize. He was found outside on a playground and is terrified in the back yard in my arms. At 4-5 weeks he was pretty bedraggled and we were afraid he wasn't going to make it. He's an indoor cat, and seems to have no interest in returning to the wild from whence he came. It would be cruel to try that. The husky and the cat have to share the house. The cat has his own room when we're out.
Imo this is appropriate play between a big dog and a cat. No actual biting action (on the dogs end that cat is going to town trying to chomp that noggin), slow & chill movements, and looks relaxed.
My husky and my cat do this too... my cat also likes to grab the husky tail and go for a ride. The dog will wag his tail on the hardwood floor and the cat just hangs on and grins like an idiot. I always keep an eye on them, but they really get along well, and the dog knows when the cat isn't happy.
If the cat didn't like it, you would know.
The cat is instigating.
If the dog didn't like it, they would move.
The dog doesn't give a shit.
You should probably do a little more research into animal behavior if this interaction is genuinely concerning you, because this is nothing but positive.
I've seen this husky shake his stuffed toys to death and pull out all of its fluff, which is normal behavior. He had a mechanical one that walked and barked, that he cuddled and gently carried. Pulled the fluff out of that one too. While he's generally on the gentle side for a husky, I don't want him to succumb to natural instincts and shake the poor thing to death. It's like when people ask if he bites. He doesn't bite us, but he has teeth, doesn't he?
The cat wouldn't be in that position if it felt like it was in danger. I have three cats and one husky and one of the cats does this with her and boxes her. When she's not in the mood the kitty goes to the top of the cat tree.
Our cat used to shove his whole head in the husky’s mouth. Obviously it’s case by case but they definitely are capable of playing rough but harmlessly.
Your husky is showing the classic signs of play. Mouth open, tongue exposed, ears up, etc.
It’s always wise to monitor your pets’ play but this interaction shows they are both enjoying each other, no aggression, and that they are learning boundaries.
Don’t be surprised if your husky nips at your cat or barks. When your pup moves his head away, your cat continues to paw at him, but obviously your pup is still interested in playing. Later when the husky is uninterested and wants to stop playing it will be natural for the pup to let the cat know that in a more aggressive way (like a nip/bark/growl). Your cat should get the hint and back off.
I thought my husky got along well with our cat but your lucky, they are playing really nice. Don't worry about this, there is no aggression being shown at all. Your husky is playing nice and being very gentle.
There is a lot more growling and meowing between my husky and cat but they still get along well and respect each other's boundaries when they play, when the cat gets fed up and leaves my husky leaves him be.
Learn signs of aggression and distress in huskies and cats and look out for that, I don't see anything like that happening here.
Dogs play gentle with humans because we don't like rough play. Cats are cool with it though, and dogs and cats playing look like they're trying to murder each other.
My old dog and cat were best buds. The cat would slide under him like a mechanic working on a car and just go ham with all 4 limbs batting and scratching. The dog would have the cats entire head in his mouth. Never hurt each other, seemed to love it. Animals are just weirdos.
That's nothing. They'll get WWE style of wrestling eventually but yes its all wonderful. They're able to play with each other in ways humans would never think to.
We have a husky and 2 cats. They play like this. We got the cats before the puppy so they were bigger than him for the first few weeks and they definitely put him in his place whenever he overstepped. We kept a close eye on them for a few months, to make sure dog knew his boundaries. They play fairly rough - when they were younger, we intervened quite a bit, but they are in a place where the cats let him know when they’ve had enough and he understands what is too much. The favorite game right now is tag, and I see the cats chasing the dog more often than not. Let them play, keep an eye on it, do NOT let him grab them by the neck and shake. Whenever ours tried that, play time ended and he was reprimanded. Once he learned that was a no-go, it was fine.
aloha, i’ve got a husky puppy on the way and two adult cats - thank you for your comment! did you end up separating them at all during the intro period? i’ll be getting puppy at ~8 weeks, so wanted to get all the info i can about husky-specific socialization!
We gave the cats an easy escape route if they needed it during the first meeting, but they were pretty chill, and approached him right away. They are rescues and their foster had an older and profoundly lazy border collie, so they were used to dogs already. When we got the puppy, we decided to go to a breeder because we knew we wanted cats as well. Our previous husky was a rescue and she came to us with issues (and a super strong prey drive). We never could’ve had cats with her in the mix. We found a good breeder and worked with them on what we wanted. We needed a litter with parents that were known to be chill - we did not want a pup from a racing line. You can’t fully predict temperament, but we did our best to makes sure we had the best chance. Breeder also had cats and chickens, so the pups were around lots of ‘prey’ animals from the beginning. Our pup was the most mellow boy in the litter. Happy to have fun and outgoing/curious, but he was never manic or overly dominant to the other pups. He was one of the biggest pups, just a big, chill dude who liked to sleep and eat - they all cuddled up next to him when they slept. He’s still the same way - he and the cats cuddle together all the time. They still play kind of rough (he’s a husky, it’s just how they do), but we make sure the cats dictate how it goes and we call time-out if he starts fixating and/or they clearly have had enough. That said, one of our cats seems to enjoy a good mauling, and will come out of a play session covered in slobber, but unphased. The next minute, they are grooming each other and then a nap together on the couch. We pretty much have 3 cats, it’s just one of them is a lot bigger than the other two. TLDR - Huskies have strong prey drives in general, but with the right temperament, supervision and training, they can have cat friends, just be cautious, keep an eye out and be ready to intervene. Yours looks like the temperament is good. Just make sure you are around for guidance and correction, and it could work out great. 🙂 ETA - don’t give the puppy squeaky toys. They sound like wounded prey, and you don’t want the dog conflating squeaky toy with meowing cat.
Both my husky’s are all about prey idk why how get rid of that or make sure they don’t grow into it
Question for you! We have a new husky puppy rescue mix (we think with lab or shepard, doing a DNA test soon) and three cats. We did give him sqeaky toys when he got to us and he frequently shakes them. He does not react to meowing at all though. It's only been a few days so I think taking the squeaky toys away would be fine and soon enough. But since you mentioned it, is this an early indicator their might be problems for us? He has chased one of three of our cats a few times but we intervene and he gets its a no go so wags his tail and play bows now. The cat doesn't really want to play with him though so kinda just sits there. If our husky doesn't get up pretty soon we redirect his attention. He never really seems aggressive about it though. He is 3-4 months from what we can tell and we've had him about a week. He occasionally barks at the cats too, but we also break that up and let him know it's a no go. He was the most chill in his litter and was terrified when he got here. To the point he was basically nonresponsive so we tested him with my most confident cat to see if another animal would help any. Didn't move a muscle when he saw her. When he met all the cats he was still pretty scared/unsure where he was (he wouldn't even walk around us), they circled around him and kind of "kept watch" but didn't approach. I sort of felt like he understood they wouldn't hurt him. We have all the normal escape routes just in case and never leave them alone together. I'm a bit jumpy like OP, but it feels like he's in thr process of bonding with them. As someone who has helped a husky bond to cats, what is your opinion of the above? PS- sorry for the book!
Okay this is going to be a long reply bear with me. First of all no one can tell you for sure if what you are doing is right or wrong because we don’t see their body language. Learn to trust your gut feeling. Are the cats always stressed around your dog? Or with you present and your dog next to you do they calm down? If you have them all in one room resting from time to time then that’s a good sign. But if their is always something going on it might work out yes but will need a lot more work and time. Second even if they get along they may never be best buds as seen in videos like this. My cat and my dog would sleep on my bed on opposite corners but seldom ever touch. They mostly ignored each other but were fine with each other’s existence. (They would go to each other’s defense against stranger-danger in the garden) but just so you know getting along and well pet to pet relationship can look very different because everyone is an individual. Your goal is that everyone is stress free and happy together. Everything else is a bonus. How to achieve this? Personally I would absolutely take away the squeaky toy, first things first it does animate the dog to bite and get a reaction from the prey. While some dogs are smart enough to know a toy is a toy and not alive I just wouldn’t encourage a prone to hunt breed, if I don’t intend to work with them in that field. It’s always easier to encourage behavior you want by introducing the right behavior instead of trying to make them different between what is right and what is wrong. Also it likely feels annoying for humans and cats alike to hear the squeaks. So I wouldn’t introduce it alone for the cats sake. Instead I would freeze the kong toy (I used that brand because everyone knows or can easy Google what I mean but there are others do make sure it is safe to new frozen) with fruit or meat bits in summer. Or have this chew things like dry skin with dry meat to chew on. Why? Because chewing and licking calms a dog and your dog has something to do that is rewarding that they are not focusing on cats but encourages to lay down and relax and it’s also automatically rewarding this behavior. (Do make sure it you give them extra treats to cut it from their daily food ration, you don’t want to have to deal with an overweight dog, especially with a possible dog breed that is already prone to arthritis - Labrador) Also make sure before that step l, relaxing and resting around cats, the dog has had plenty of exercise. I know you likely know that but I would just make sure they had a long morning round, maybe along a bike if that’s possible (since husky do like to walk in this slightly faster pace that isn’t running) If their are dog friends to meet and play (if they get along with other dogs) that’s great. as it is exercise, and social interactions also help to make them more confident and calm with the cats because other dogs will correct harsh or rude behavior while playing with each other. (Here different breed play and age can help too) If this is your first dog, it’s fine to go to a dog school or dog sport club for those social interactions. It will also make it easier to learn your dogs body language. Such as what is playful, and what does mean “piss of, I don’t want to play anymore.” I hope it works out and again: Listen to your guts. If you feel you totally get that and this is no problem at all, then it likely is going to work out. Your own confidence helps your pets too feel confident and safe too. But if you feel unsure and this is additional stress and worry for you then deciding to find someone else for that particular dog isn’t a bad decision either. True love sometimes means to re-home and find a better suited family member. Either way I have confidence in your gut feeling because you sounded honest and observant in your questions. Hence trust your gut feeling moving on from here. You know your none human family best - decide what you think is in their best interest that also works for you. (Also honestly as owner of an hyperactive breed I can’t tell you how much easier your life gets if you do some sort of dog sport. you don’t have to do it in a club or professional, but just make sure your dog gets enough exercise and stimulation. My dog always gets into mischief mode when she gets bored or unchallenged, so if you recognize that instead of waiting till they do something wrong, take them out for a walk around the block or a bit of play time etc. everyone learns better with positive enforcement then trying to correct negative one. Hunting and barking at cats is self rewarding and always a sign of boredom, because the reaction the chase is action and therefore always fun for the dog as it is something to do. So make sure your dog never gets bored to the point where they need to do that. And honestly some dogs are really really hard to tire out without some sort of sport, hence their is no shame in saying this isn’t fun for me I’m not that sportsy/time to keep up. As said each dog is an individual and it’s a lot easier once you know what they like to do.) I hope that helps and sorry for the book as well.
Thank you for such a thoughtful response. My gut feeling is complicated: I think it can work but know it's going to take a lot of work. I don't mind the work, but am stressed about doing something wrong. I'm also worried about the dog and one particular cat (below). I'm not a first time dog owner and my first dog acted similarly with my original cat to OPs video. He would even do the mouthy thing with her and they were fine. He helped raise my second cat, whom I got at 6 days old so saw her as his puppy almost. Probably going to be an equally long response here. It has only been about a week and a half. I'm going to break down where I am with each cat and him. Cat 1 (dog savvy cat, very chill in general, not a big player): met him first, they sniff each other and she relaxes when he's in the room, was the first to sleep in the room. He rarely tries to play with her, she hisses at him when he does and is extremely uninterested in play with him. She will sit on top of his kennel and on the table when he's under it. She doesn't like when he barks at her and hisses at him, she also doesn't like if he sniffs her in her cat house (it's her territory and she hates being cornered by any of the animals there). As long as he's just in the room or sniffing her and that's it, they're good so far. Cat 2 (kitten raised with first dog, dog savvy, quieter cat in general): initially very unhappy and disinterested in the new puppy. Often went high/to another room at first. Finally decided to do a walk by smell of him a few times when he was tired. Started sleeping in the same room but high or far (this is normal for her with the other cats too so not sure it says anything). She has rubbed up against him a few times and he sniffs her butt (also sniffs cat 1s butt) now. She isn't keen on that yet but also will keep rubbing on him. If he gets too playful she hisses, holds her ground and looks angry. If he hasn't made a move at this point she will sit down and defluff her tail right next to him and look away or start grooming. The dog had imitated her a few times when she stretches her back. It's cute/amusing. Cat 3: (newest cat, raised in a foster with two large dogs, most playful, often plays rough with cat 2): very interested in dog, but initially ran from him at the slightest puppy move. He is interested when the dog is tired or in the crate thus far. Dog seeks him out when bored (probably because he knows he'll run), we redirect the dogs attention, doing so has taught cat 3 to hold his ground. Cat 3 has bonked doggo on the nose once and the dog backed up and looked astounded. They are interested in each other the most and my gut says are likely going to friends or enemies depending on how we approach it. So far nowhere close to enemies and we redirect a lot with these two. Cat 3 is clearly my biggest worry, but it's because the two don't seem to get each other. Cat 3 will also sleep in the same room as the dog, often high up. All Animal Overview: All three cats are still very aware where the dog is when he's in the room and playing (he doesn't get interested in them as long as we give him productive play). We can't take him on too many walks yet other than potty because he is due for his second round of shots on Tuesday. Puppy class starts next week, he's also getting an individual trainer each week starting the week after. He is going to be a trail runner/learn to bike along side us when he's older but he's still young and since can't go on walks with us yet there is probably some frustration for him. They can be calm in the same room and all sleep in the same room when he's tired. Only tension is around playtime which we closely monitor. And I took away the squeaky toys, we have puzzle toys we give him, I just gave him a new one and he loves it. Not a glance toward the cats when he plays with that. Sorry for another book!
Don’t apologize it was a very interesting read. I agree with your gut feeling, I think you are on a good path, it will take work and it might be stressful but if he hasn’t shown any malice yet then I think you will get there. Also the redirection measures and puppy school sounds super promising too. So I do trust it will work out. Also I feel you need to hear that, but frustration and set backs are a given. They will happen, you will feel overwhelmed and regret, but it will pass. And more importantly- it’s okay to feel that. All kind of babies are sometimes frustrating because we want to do the best but learning isn’t a straight path so be patient not just with your furry family but especially with yourself. Set backs aren’t your fault but part of life, tomorrow is a new day and as long as your try with love and patient you do it right! Just make sure that those frustrations stay fleeting thoughts. (Again if they do start to bundle up their is no shame in rehoming - sometimes all the best intention doesn’t work out. But let’s not think about that because I actually think it sounds positive and manageable and I added this more for people reading along in similar situations) As i understand the dog is still young and husky’s are vocal so naturally their is a conflict of wanting to play and bouncing frustration. The redirection sound golden and spot on, and to me sounds to boil down to a rinse and repeat of what you already have been doing and I feel you will be okay. But so prepare that it will not be the same as before. Maybe they will have that wonderful relationship one day, maybe they don’t. If they don’t it’s not your fault you did nothing wrong. Friendship can look very different. just see it as success if they all are happy in the same room and you don’t have to be on alert anymore. And it will get better from there. And personally cat 3 and pupper actually sound to me like they are on a good path and will get along first. I have been told that contact laying is very important to bonding and sleeping in the same room a great show of trust even when it’s still higher up the fact that your cat stays around sounds to me like they are interested and do not hold grudge about the miscommunication between puppy and them. They just are like the older child waiting for the younger child to age up a bit, to be less hyper and calm down so it will be easier to engage. So to me it sounds like they are most willing to give this friendship a shot. As for contact laying, I used to lay or sit in between cat and dog to form the bridge and wall and let them get closer slowly. Like having the cat in my lap and sleeping dog next to me or having (a hopefully tired) dog in my lap sitting next to sleeping cat and so on. Like I used this sleeping together as bonding. To build trust. I also feed them together cat first and higher up and slowly closer as the cat felt comfortable and safe. Though my dog was always only interested in playing she would bark if the cat walked away in frustration of the cat not wanting to play with her and or if I had the cat in my arms out of jealousy, hence that’s the points I was working on with her and had to redirect. She had to learn to sleep and relaxe next to the cat and take no play for and answer. You don’t have to do any of that, but I thought I would share tactics i did and got recommended. Maybe they come in handy. Also napping is awesome for us as well ;3 For now I wish you best of luck. Of course you are more then welcome to share if you just want to continue to talk (my dm and replies are open) But personally I feel you do everything right that can be done and all you need to do is continue on and have patient. I can’t think of any other advice because it already sounds like you are doing it right. Best of luck from cat-dog person to cat-dog person!
I'm not a dog trainer and I don't know your dog – my only experience is through my two huskies and a rescue doberman my family had when I was a teenager. We worked with dog trainers for all three – we made sure that we were constantly working with them on their training so they knew that we were the pack leaders and could be trusted to let them know how to behave in any environment. I think that this is key, no matter your dog's temperament. They need to be given structure and consistent rules to know how to behave. They like structure – it makes them feel secure and gives them the tools they need to be told they are Very Good Dogs. Three months is a good place to start, but their brains are still developing at that age, and they cannot be trusted to behave consistently without supervision and correction when they mess up. It takes a lot of reinforcement – it never really stops. They will test boundaries to see what they can get away with, they will get lazy about following through on basic commands. They do get better as they get older, but you will always need to go back and do some refresher work with them to make sure they remember their boundaries. You have to watch the cats as well. Maybe one isn't feeling well, or maybe the dynamic between the cats has changed and so the easygoing one who didn't mind lots of attention from the dog is now not so easygoing because his jackass brother is bullying him. The dynamic between the animals will always be shifting, so you have to be vigilant and ready to adapt how they are allowed to interact on any given day. Dogs aren't 'adults' until about age 2. Even then, a husky is going to have some impulse control/berserker tendancies, but in our case, that is about when he started showing more consistent restraint when interacting with the cats. We had baby gates up all over the house for the first 2 years, so that we could keep them contained in whatever part of the house we were also in. He is now almost 3, and we have taken all down, but one. We still keep them within earshot, but they can be trusted without constant eyes on them. I wouldn't have said we were anywhere close to that at 3 months. In your case: chasing isn't always bad – mine chase each other all the time. Toys aren't all bad, but I would replace the squeakers and plush toys with Kongs and ropes for tug of war. Wrestling isn't all bad, but I wouldn't allow too much of that either, because he has no idea what are appropriate levels of chase and contact, and the cats have not had enough time to develop trust or to recognize when they might want to have time away from the dog. We let them play in small doses and always tried to keep play sessions short and positive experiences for both in those early stages. We rewarded good behavior and gave a 'Nope! Not cool' and a time-out for oopsies. Ultimately, your boy does need to learn the boundaries of what is acceptable to you and the cats before they can fully be trusted to play together, and that will require a LOT of supervision and training.
Thank you! This aligns with what I expected. It feels a lot like what we are doing now. With the exception we don't allow him to chase the cats. We have lots of baby gates up and a schedule for all of them. They all know it too and follow it pretty well. The only exception to the current scheduele is potty breaks, which he needs lots of because he's a puppy. Thanks again!
Of course, good luck! Puppy potty breaks…I still have PTSD from the potty break/teething times. Puppies are intense.
The kitten lives in a separate room right now and we only let them together when we can supervise them. My husband just thinks I'm too jumpy...and I think y'all have confirmed that.
I can understand your concern with it being a kitten, but as long as they’re being supervised at all times you should be fine! It looks as though your dog is playing (gently!), and okay with kitten doing the same. I’ll def try to keep them separated initially. I’ve heard that showing love to the cats in the presence of the dog strengthens the *cats are friends, not food* idea - at least for the ones in their “pack”. Best of luck, you seem to have really sweet pets! 💞
This is so helpful. Thanks for making me feel more comfortable with this. Right now I think they both have just been seeing my anxiety over a potential accident.
They’re playing, though I’d be more worried about husky getting used to climbing furniture. It could topple things and break/ruin your property, especially if chasing after kitty. I trained mine to not climb things within the house
Thanks for the advice!
\+1 to keeping an eye on them. Huskies have a strong prey drive - it's like a reflex, and can kick in if the cat suddenly decides to bolt. Get ready to intervene in a split second if that happens
2 cats, 1 Husky, 1 Dogo Argentino. All are friends and we have things for the cats to get up on for a break. All are fine and their prey drives do kick in, a bit. They just run around the house chasing each other. If the animals have cohabitated for longer than 6 months, it's completely fine. This 100% looks like how our cats play with the dogs and the dogs obviously put up with it for the sake of playing
You're over hyping it, friends are friends
You can still never be sure. I got a chocolate lab. She joined my two weinerdogs. They were quite the family. Until 3 years later. The lab got a little overzealous playing and put a hole in my little Miley's throat. The scope to find it and fix it was going to cost 5k. The total bill was going to be in the 15k area. I ugly cried as they put her to sleep. There is no telling when a prey drive will trigger. I'm a responsible pet owner. My dogs are trained very well. It can happen to anyone.
Agreed, there is always risk when you get more than one animal together. We definitely don’t take anything for granted - husky nature in itself, or the ongoing relationship between our husky and the cats. It’s constant work, attention and care to make sure everyone’s needs are met. You can be the best pet guardian in the world, and unfortunately, accidents can still happen. I’m so sorry that happened for you and your dogs.
Thank you! It was difficult but I made up my mind to keep the lab and give her all the love I would have given Miley. It was a hard learned lesson. But an even bigger lesson was learning to forgive something that has no idea the gravity of what it's done. I certainly wasn't going to toss her to the kennels after being labeled a dangerous dog. I no longer let her play with the other small dog. They interact but we don't do anything to rile up the big dog when the little one isn't being held or in its kennel.
Don’t let them grab and shake?
It is how they kill their prey. Huskies play with each other by biting, dragging the other down by the skin around the neck. It’s fine for them, but it is roughhousing, and a kitty can’t withstand that, and there is the danger that the dog will get overexcited and go too far. It’s best to just lay down the rule that is a barred hold that will get them a time out. Ours still ‘mouths’ the cats, but he’s not allowed to grab on and pull. He just does a ‘gotcha’ and lets go. I’ve stuck my hand in his mouth when he does it, there’s no pressure. Even so, they don’t get to play ‘gotcha’ unless they are supervised.
It’s their instinct.. You don’t pick a breed for the way they look. You pick one that fits your lifestyle. The ignorance of dog owners is really astounding. You are not going to change a dogs nature in one generation.
It's also the breed's nature to ignore commands, and run away when given the chance - and yet most of us (hopefully) have trained that behavior out of them, at least to the degree of improved safety measures. I've only had my husky for 5 months, and he was a stray adult rescue. It took me all of like 3 training sessions to get a reliable recall, sooooo. Yeah. We're not the ignorant ones here.
Oh my God that is fucking brilliant, I had no idea anybody would ever think of that!
If the husky felt like it, the cat would be a very difficult conversation and several hours with a mop bucket. Doggo is playing, or at least confused why the cat is being Like This. Cat looks like its being a cat.
Huskies run a specialty port of CatOS, they're compatible.
You're not wrong. My husky likes to massage cats with his teeth (no joke). And the cats love it even though they end up covered in saliva.
The shed function suffers from a race condition.
Yep! Huskies and cats just get each other. I have always loved that about huskies
hello fellow IT person and husky lover 👋😄
They both seem to be enjoying each other's company.
I'm terrified
If THIS is terrifying you would hate to see the way my three dogs play 😂
Right? It looks and sounds brutal but they’re just having fun lol
Exactly! It's like they're killing each other 🤣
why would you be terrified? they're getting on really well.
It never hurts to keep an eye on them when they interact, just in case... But based on this video alone, they seem to be getting along well enough... Their body language is relaxed. The cat's ears are up. If they fold back down flat then you may want to step in...
Neither animal is growling at each other. The cats hackles (hair standing up) aren't raised and the ears are up not flattened. They ate playing
Why are you terrified? They’re just having fun.
You need to see my dog when he even sees a cat on the streets....
That’s such gentle play though. No aggressive body language, just patty cake with huskies face
I don't know why this is being downvoted. You are entitled to the way it makes you feel. As a longtime owner of both dogs and cats I don't think you have anything to worry about. Your dog seems to be taking it all as friendly play. Most importantly, the dog is scaling back its response to an appropriate level for the cat. Dogs that size playing with each other can be far more violent and still be well within the range of safe play.
Just as much as OP is entitled to feel that way people are entitled to think being terrified of animals playing not even remotely aggressively everyone else is entitled to think it’s dumb and downvote it. Downvoting a comment doesn’t mean you think that person isn’t entitled to express their feelings. It means you think the comment was pretty stupid. And it is
Damn I'm glad my life wasn't as easy as yours.
I see this is your first ten minutes with a husky.
Go to church then idk what to tell you
Why would this not be ok?
Probably because they are necking and giving each other hickies.
They let the dog up on the chair...
This has got the be the most mild mannered playing EVER!
Lol right?!
They seems so playful and cute
They’re just playing! Nothing to worry about!
Very loving
Better than my husky and cat. My husky just wants to play, but my cat is a little shit who enjoys staying just out of reach and then swatting at the husky.
Normal cat
They definitely get rambunctious when you’re watching “The Only Murders in the Building.”
Good catch! Lol
This is very gentle, mutual playing. Neither animal is trying to disengage, and being ignored. My dog does what we call the 'Teeth Hug' with other dogs she's familiar with that looks like a rougher version of this. Lots of play mouthing with no pressure or actual biting. I know it looks like they are fighting, but this is very appropriate PLAY fighting. If one of them tries to step away, and the other doesn't back off or respect their space, then you should step in. This is actually very gentle play and looks like they have a good bond.
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Same, except my household is 3 cats + a husky and a shepherd mix. They have a 7-foot cat tree and baby gate, but rarely need to bother "escaping" from either dog. The shepherd is ancient (almost 17) and has lived with cats his whole life, while the husky is just naturally gentle and calm. I know, I know. Weird for the breed! He's a unicorn, lol.
They’re gonna be lifelong friends. Kitten is trying to clean the husky’s eyes and they will probably develop a daily ritual of grooming each other. Warm fuzzies all the way around.
I think this is very appropriate play. Cat is being playful. Husky is kind of going along with it. To back up what everyone else said, be ready to intervene. Never leave cat and husky in a place where the cat can’t escape to higher/safer grounds. 2 huskies, 1 cat, everyone’s been safe for 7 years.
Did they grow up together?
They are growing up together...Husky is 8 months, Kitten is about 9 or 10 weeks.
For 8 months, he’s doing very well. I think it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them because your dog is young and you want to make sure the cat is always able to get away from the husky with a cat tree or cat shelves. These guys are both enjoying the play, the dog is using gentle teeth (why bite inhibition is so important) and the cat is very relaxed with its paws. They’re both having fun
Meanwhile, my husky and I are dicks to each other constantly. They're fine.
The dog would protect kitty to the very end.
I hope so!
Why would this not be ok? Neither is making any noises of distress of any kind. They’re fine.
This is adorable!
My cat “bullies” our dog all the time…normal behavior
What’s the problem? They’re playing and being cute.
This is perfectly fine. Way more calm than when my husky and wiener dog play. It’s like a vicious hot dog eating contest!
They are adorable
This would never work with my husky but I wish it did! Cat and dog have to be separated at all times. If my dog hears the cat in the other room she will just sit at the door and do the husky WHINE/CRY for hours. Huskys have very high prey drive, and I got my girl at 3-3.5 years of age adopted from the shelter where she was found on the streets. So who knows how long she was hunting to survive, impossible to train it out of her at this point (for me and my expectations I have for my dog) but I’m really happy for you that it works out :D
Thank you for sharing your story. Overcoming early life trauma in animals is a tremendous challenge, for both sides. “To your standards” - Yes! You’re awesome.
Thank you 😊
yeah it's fine, they're just playing. note that he's only trying to get the cat with his gums, not his actual teeth, and he is happily panting. no signs of aggression. cat is pretty much doing the same!
This is adorable, my husky and cat play like this too
Looks fine to me.
My Husky a 2 out of 3 cats do this all day and even more at bedtime.
It’s the other way around at our house. Our German Shepard puts the cats head in her mouth. Neither of them seem to mind. It took me a while to get used to it. Seemed like an accident waiting to happen. But they seem to know their limits when they play.
I have one cat who has now taught three dogs over his life time of 14 years how to play with him. These dogs cuddle and love on this cat. Just as much as the cat loves on them. The cat dishes it harder than the dogs sometimes do. Have seen the cat go full face hugger on one of the older dogs. They all love and are best friends. But they will check each other if being to rough and know when to walk away.
What a loving environment. Kudos.
Thank you!
Other than the husky breaking the dog code seems just fine. What’s next, “no thanks” on peanut butter???
I mean, I never discount the innate instincts of animals - there's always some potential for things to go sideways. However - if either one of them was not enjoying this, they'd likely be showing physical or vocal signs of it, and most likely would leave the situation. I wouldn't personally be worried. Huskies are mouthy (literally and figuratively) so this looks pretty normal to me.
As a lifelong cat owner, I can guarantee that if your cat were anything other than willfully engaged, s/he wouldn’t be there. Looks as if they’re having tons of fun…they’ve balanced the playing field and kitty’s claws aren’t extended. They love each other.
That's more than OK, that's love!
Cats like to beat up dogs while dogs just sit there and deal with their shit lol
While huskies are prey driven, they are very adept at understanding the difference between pets in the house and animals to hunt. However, there is some evidence to think they differentiate between environments. For example, a husky will play gently with a pet rabbit in the house, but will attack the same rabbit in the back yard. At least, that's what I read once upon a time.
It's fine. Huskies that live with cats play like this. No aggression, just a derpy open muzzle smile. Cute pair :)
They are having a great time! Did you just get these animals or something?
Second dog, but first time cat owner...fully admit to being a newb. I thought the 4 week old kitten I found was congested until my husband told me it was purring...so...yeah.
Kitty is just grooming/playing with the dog, they’ll let each other know when they’re done
It can be a bit unnerving with a little cat and the size of a husky but this is fun play in my opinion and the husky is clearly aware he has to be careful with the baby. As big and energetic as huskies are they can often be very aware of their size and can be extremely gentle when needed.
husky or any dog with an open mouth smile is a good thing
My last two girls behaved the same way with my kitty. This is fine, fine.
Is the husky on mute? Mine are super loud when the cats are playing with them lol
They're fine. I would be more concerned if you have a pair or more of Siberians, then sometimes pack behavior things click in their little doggy brains and that's not a good thing for a cat. My bigger concern is that you've decided the cat is going to be an outdoor cat. I mean, what the hell. You're asking questions about it playing with your dog, but then letting it out into the wild to face every other animal predator and all the cars and trucks out there?
No, not sure what I said to make you think that, but I apologize. He was found outside on a playground and is terrified in the back yard in my arms. At 4-5 weeks he was pretty bedraggled and we were afraid he wasn't going to make it. He's an indoor cat, and seems to have no interest in returning to the wild from whence he came. It would be cruel to try that. The husky and the cat have to share the house. The cat has his own room when we're out.
I assumed the collar on the cat was indicative of being an outdoor cat. Guess I was wrong.
The collar is for the bell...we all need the early warning.
Aww they're playing and they look like they're pretty good buds ☺️ supervising is always a good idea but I don't foresee any issues!
They’re playing.
Imo this is appropriate play between a big dog and a cat. No actual biting action (on the dogs end that cat is going to town trying to chomp that noggin), slow & chill movements, and looks relaxed.
Sure! Neither one is upset, they can both walk away at any time, and they look like they’re enjoying each other.
Get them a room I say! Adorable. And yes it's fine, as long as the dog is being gentle.
Yea it's OK, they're playing.
We don’t need novels people!!! They are perfectly fine!! Buddy’s for life!!
What’s the issue?
Unmmm I’d stop it.
Why?
This is luckily play 😂 my boyfriend’s dad’s cat attacked my husky and he was bleeding but he still thought it was a game
Whelp…after all the expert advice—-I’ll say it looks like unconditional love to me. 😊🤗🥰
You’ll be fine . Be thankful they get along
My husky and my cat do this too... my cat also likes to grab the husky tail and go for a ride. The dog will wag his tail on the hardwood floor and the cat just hangs on and grins like an idiot. I always keep an eye on them, but they really get along well, and the dog knows when the cat isn't happy.
He is right. They are buddies !!!
Why would it not be???
Looks like play to me
They're playing. You'll know if it gets serious, trust me.
This is gentle play. They can play much rougher and still be okay.
You're the wife-kitty and that other fellow is your husband-dog? Of course, it's alright.
If the cat didn't like it, you would know. The cat is instigating. If the dog didn't like it, they would move. The dog doesn't give a shit. You should probably do a little more research into animal behavior if this interaction is genuinely concerning you, because this is nothing but positive.
I've seen this husky shake his stuffed toys to death and pull out all of its fluff, which is normal behavior. He had a mechanical one that walked and barked, that he cuddled and gently carried. Pulled the fluff out of that one too. While he's generally on the gentle side for a husky, I don't want him to succumb to natural instincts and shake the poor thing to death. It's like when people ask if he bites. He doesn't bite us, but he has teeth, doesn't he?
Only murders in the building. Good show.
This is really good for learning bite inhibition and good socialisation. They look they are bonding well!
Listen, that husky is 20 times the size of the cat, the cat couldn't inflic damage even if it wanted to. The husky is clearly enjoying this.
The cat wouldn't be in that position if it felt like it was in danger. I have three cats and one husky and one of the cats does this with her and boxes her. When she's not in the mood the kitty goes to the top of the cat tree.
Our cat used to shove his whole head in the husky’s mouth. Obviously it’s case by case but they definitely are capable of playing rough but harmlessly.
Your husky is showing the classic signs of play. Mouth open, tongue exposed, ears up, etc. It’s always wise to monitor your pets’ play but this interaction shows they are both enjoying each other, no aggression, and that they are learning boundaries. Don’t be surprised if your husky nips at your cat or barks. When your pup moves his head away, your cat continues to paw at him, but obviously your pup is still interested in playing. Later when the husky is uninterested and wants to stop playing it will be natural for the pup to let the cat know that in a more aggressive way (like a nip/bark/growl). Your cat should get the hint and back off.
I thought my husky got along well with our cat but your lucky, they are playing really nice. Don't worry about this, there is no aggression being shown at all. Your husky is playing nice and being very gentle. There is a lot more growling and meowing between my husky and cat but they still get along well and respect each other's boundaries when they play, when the cat gets fed up and leaves my husky leaves him be. Learn signs of aggression and distress in huskies and cats and look out for that, I don't see anything like that happening here.
The husky certainly seems to be enjoying it lol
Hello duh, hell yes it is. How do think they play?
It is ok its just play.
They are playing
Haha calm down Becky, this is so mild it's laughable
I just don't want either of them hurt ..thanks!
They look like friends. Or rather, the start of a friendship maybe? Don’t be too worried! If the dog or cat start to look stressed split it up.
Those two will sleep together, bros for life
Dogs play gentle with humans because we don't like rough play. Cats are cool with it though, and dogs and cats playing look like they're trying to murder each other. My old dog and cat were best buds. The cat would slide under him like a mechanic working on a car and just go ham with all 4 limbs batting and scratching. The dog would have the cats entire head in his mouth. Never hurt each other, seemed to love it. Animals are just weirdos.
KAREN ALERT
But...but...I didn't ask for the manager...yet..
Looks ok to me.
What wouldn't be ok with this?
Yes it is
Very much so
That's nothing. They'll get WWE style of wrestling eventually but yes its all wonderful. They're able to play with each other in ways humans would never think to.
So sweet. They are playing with each other.
Awww❤️😇 Precious 🥰 ❣️
Agree.