Huskies and Cats: Do Huskies Like Cats?

A Husky lover that wouldn’t choose another dog breed in the world may should wonder what exactly they’re getting into. Especially if they own a cat or wish to add one to the home. Is the Husky’s temperament compatible with cats? More specifically, you need to know “do Huskies like cats?” and how it’s going to affect your living situation.

So, do Huskies like cats? No. Huskies have a very strong predatory instinct and a high chase response that can put a cat in danger. While you may be able to train a Husky as a puppy, it’s still unsure if consistent training will help to ease tensions and allow Huskies and cats to live peacefully in one environment.

Knowing why your Husky isn’t fond of cats is imperative to understanding why it might not be the best idea to have both animals in one home.

However, there are a few things you can try to help your Husky and cat live peacefully together; it will really depend on the Husky and how willing you are to consistently train throughout his life.

Why Huskies Don’t Like Cats

There are actually two main reasons why Huskies don’t like cats.

1. Strong Predatory Instincts

The biggest reason why a Husky won’t like a cat around is due to the fact that they have very strong predatory instincts. Being bred in the harsh conditions of Siberia, Huskies were immediately designed with a predatory instinct as good was scarce.

That being said, if a Husky sees a smaller animal- such as a cat, rabbit, bird, or guinea pig- it will likely look like a delicious meal to your canine.

Keep in mind that while a cat may be part of your Husky’s menu, there’s still other options for pairing your pet with another. Most of the time Huskies will be able to get along with certain other dog breeds safely. However, cats are a different story; and if your Husky can’t get along with your cat, it may put him in a very dangerous situation.

2. High Chase Instinct

Much like the strong predatory instinct, the Husky breed also has a knack for chasing. Once they see a cat running around, it will activate their chasing instinct due to the underlying predatory aggression.

Once your Husky begins to chase its ‘prey’, a set of other instincts begin to follow once he has successfully caught it. These instincts include biting, eventually killing, and eating.

While your Husky more than likely won’t go all the way as to kill and eat your cat, it is still possible due to the underlying predator instinct. However, whether or not your Husky ends up killing and eating the cat will also depend on a few different factors, including human involvement and training.

Do Huskies Eat Cats?

It is part of the Husky predatory instinct to chase, catch, bite, kill, and eat.

#nomnomcats

That being said, it’s possible that a Husky will eat a cat if he is left alone with one for an extended period of time with no proper training to live peacefully.

Just because it’s in the Husky’s DNA to put cats on the menu, doesn’t mean that it is completely impossible to have a Husky and cat living in a single area. We’re going to discuss the best ways to train a Husky to like cats and leave cohesively with these animals.

How to Train a Siberian Husky to Like Cats

There is a specific training method for getting your Siberian Husky to like cats.

Remember that you will need to be consistent and continue to train your Husky throughout its entire life, as the predatory instinct simply won’t ‘go away’ because you have trained him.

Try start training your Husky when he is a puppy.

This will allow him to grow up in a peaceful environment with a cat and become more ‘used to it’. Yes, the predatory and chasing instinct will still be there, but it might not be as fierce.

It is also beneficial to ensure your dog knows some basic commands like ‘sit’ and ‘stay’. If he knows these commands it will be easier to train your dog to get along with cats.

He should also be able to respond to the ‘no’ or ‘leave it’ command, as these are likely commands you will need to say to your canine during training.

• Make sure that the Husky and cat have their own living spaces. Ensuring that the dog and cat won’t be together all the time is crucial. In fact, if you can, keep them apart for the majority of the time as to not ‘click on’ the predator instinct. Also make sure they have different sleeping and eating areas as well.
• Start with small introductions. Don’t expect to put your Husky and cat in one room and see a miracle. Upon first greeting, your Husky might try and attack the cat as he sees a small treat to prey on. For that reason, you should always have your Husky on a leash that isn’t too tight, until he tries to attack.
• Reinforce good behavior. As you begin with small visits between the dog and cat, also reward your Husky with food when he behaves well around the cat. If he’s being aggressive, simply tell him ‘no’ and walk away for a little while. He needs to be taught to be peaceful with the cat, so plenty of love, positive talk, and treats when he does well helps.
• Offer plenty of distractions. If your Husky and your cat are going to be in the same room somewhat often, you need to have plenty of distractions to keep your Husky’s mind off chasing the cat. This includes things like toys, treats, or games. 
• Supervise at all times. Even after years of training you shouldn’t become comfortable enough to leave the dog and cat in an area by themselves. While sometimes it might be impossible to do so, you should supervise them around each other at all times. You never know when your Husky might decide to key in on his predatory instincts and attack.

Sometimes, even with weeks and months of training, your Husky simply won’t leave the cat alone.

Unfortunately, if this is the case, you need to make sure that your cat never comes near the Husky or is seen by the Husky. You will need to keep them in separate living quarters and provide safe outlets and barriers for the cat.

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