Who can ever ignore the stunning, blue eyes of our beloved Siberian Huskies?
Though they’re used initially as sled dogs in the North, Huskies have made their way into our homes to become our companions.
Thus, if you have a Husky in your home, you’re guaranteed never to have a dull day in your life. As they love hiking and chasing the most, you’ll be up and about most of the time.
But, while Huskies mingle well with humans and other dog breeds, can they also extend their friendly nature to cats?
If you’re curious to find the truth out, then better make sure to stay tuned and read this article until the end.
Are huskies good with cats?
Unfortunately, Siberian Huskies don’t naturally go well with cats. Due to their high prey drive, it’s almost impossible for this dog breed to get along with animals smaller than them. The moment cats start darting across a room, this habit of theirs triggers the predation sequence deeply embedded in Huskies. But, if you allow the Husky and the cat to socialize at a young age, there’s a high chance that these two unlikely friends will become best buddies for life.
Why do Huskies find it hard to get along with cats?
As mentioned earlier, Siberian Huskies don’t naturally get along with our kitty pals. The moment they see the sly cats darting across the area, the Huskies will do everything to hunt them down.
While this is the most likely scenario every time a cat meets a Husky, it’s not entirely the dog’s fault. Blame it to the high prey drives that these mesmerizing creatures have.
But why is that the case?
Well, if you’re going to dig up the roots of our Husky pals, you’ll find out that they were initially used as sled dogs.
Since they’re naturally exposed to the wild, it’s only fitting of them to be alert all the time.
And, since they’re thought of as the wolves’ descendants, the wild animals’ predatory instinct’s passed on to our Husky friends.
Hence, the moment they see an animal smaller than them scurrying along, they’ll can’t control the urge to run after it.
By animals more petite than the Huskies, it means all small animals. Whether it’s a bunny, a squirrel, innocently chirping birds, or even rats, our Husky friends won’t pass the chance to pursue them.
But, there can be another reason why Siberian Huskies find small animals attractive in the chasing game department.
Back in the days when our Husky pals lived with the Chukchi tribe, the people let these majestic dogs roam free during summer.
With no fur parent to feed them delicious homecooked meals three times a day, the Huskies need to care for themselves while they’re in the wild.
Thus, they hunt any small animal they find along the way – vermin included – just to survive.
They’ll only return to their homes when they can no longer find small animals to hunt and eat.
Thus, modern-day Huskies tend to love plotting escape plans all the time – it’s just part of their genetic makeup.
But, before you put all the fault on the mischievous Huskies, our feline pals also play a part in activating their prey drive.
Skittish as they are, cats love darting and flitting around the area whenever they want to. And, they often do so without warning, frequently startling us out of our wits.
Though it’s part of feline behavior, their deft movements trigger the Huskies’ predation sequence, as stated earlier. And, by predation sequence, it means see-chase-grab-kill.
But, thankfully, Huskies don’t kill the smaller animal, in this case, the cat, all the time. Flitty felines unknowingly entice the Siberian Huskies to start chasing them.
Sometimes, this lively chasing game ends up well for both parties as they eventually engage in friendly play.
But, while Huskies and felines will eventually coexist, don’t be too complacent.
As their prey instincts are deeply rooted in their personality, a previously friendly Husky can “attack” their kitty pal for no reason.
Hence, it’s always a good idea to keep watch over their activities at all times – even if they’re the best of friends.
How to make Huskies befriend and mingle with cats?
While it’s almost impossible to make cats and Siberian Huskies coexist on the get-go, you can do it eventually.
Of course, you’ll need to have all the willpower and the support of your family to make this feat a success.
You also need to fully understand each animal’s behavior and instincts. In that way, you can identify possible triggers and make appropriate plans to avoid them at all costs.
Now, if you’re dead set in making your Siberian Husky a trusted comrade of your cat, there are three techniques you can use.
But, before you jumpstart with the three methods, make sure that your Husky’s in the best mood before letting it get close with the cat.
And, by best mood, it means that the Siberian Husky should’ve gotten its dose of exercise, as well as a full stomach before interacting with the cat.
Why?
Well, since Huskies are high-energy pets, it’s not wise to keep them close with a cat if they’re still hyperactive.
Chances are the Husky will get too rough in playing with the kitty, accidentally causing injury to the smaller animal.
Also, making sure that both animals are well-fed. This will lessen the chances that the dog will think of your kitty pal as its next meal.
As much as possible, you don’t want them to stay close to each other if they’re hangry.
So, if you’re ready to hear out what these three techniques are, continue reading carefully.
Early adjustment technique
From the name itself, you’ll need to introduce the cat with the Siberian Husky as early as possible. Think of it as early socialization for both animals.
But, as they always say, take everything slowly. The instant they meet without proper introduction, they’ll start a lively chase that you might have trouble stopping.
Thus, as soon as the Husky and the cat received their vaccinations, start introducing them to each other. Yet, don’t leave them unsupervised at all costs.
If possible, keep the Siberian Husky on a leash so you can easily pull him away if he starts getting rough with the cat.
Just make sure that the leash’s snugly fit on the Husky’s body, enough to hold when you need to control the pup.
Once the Husky gets used to the cat’s presence without exhibiting any problem behavior, you can start taking the dog off the leash.
Yet, the moment you see any signs of aggression in either animal, remove one or even both of them immediately.
This will prevent inducing any further stress and make their interaction not delightful to both parties.
Separate the two strategy
The name of the technique already speaks what you have to do in this method. Unlike the first strategy, the separation method prevents the Husky and the feline from getting close at all costs.
This is often done if the first strategy isn’t the best option to do yet.
To start with, you have to assign rooms and areas exclusive to both animals.
In this way, they can still move around the house without the constant stress of sharing a living space.
One way to achieve this is by putting up as many barriers as much as possible. Map out escape routes for the cat as well.
In this way, the feline can just flit in and out of the room whenever the tension rises.
However, even as you separate the Husky and the cat, you still need to keep watch on them closely. If any of the animals show aggression, address the situation immediately.
Reinforcing method
With this tactic, you need to emphasize to the Husky what behaviors you expect it to do when the cat’s in the same room as him.
It’s like you’re gently reminding the doggo of what he’s supposed to do when the feline’s around.
To start, you can engage the pup with a game, treat, or toy to distract him from the cat’s presence. In this way, you’ll preoccupy your Husky with the activity, diverting his focus from the cat.
And, once the Husky successfully ignores the cat’s presence, make sure to reward him. After all, dogs associate the behavior with the emotions he feels once given his gift.
Also, you can reward the canine if he shows good interaction with the cat.
Be it a hug, backrub, or belly rub, make sure to let your pup know that you’re happy with how he’s interacting with the feline.
Yet, if you notice that the Siberian Husky’s hyper-focusing or constantly following the cat around, stop the behavior at all costs.
Just like the other tactics, don’t leave the two animals unsupervised. This simple step can do wonders in preventing disputes and incidents from happening between the two.
With that said, there’s still a high chance that Huskies can interact peacefully with felines. Turning Huskies and cats into best friends isn’t an impossible feat to achieve with patience and determination.
As long as you make each of them feel they’re both loved and cherished in your household, they’ll catch on to it. Eventually, it’ll show in their behavior towards each other as well.
Check out our article about dog breeds that look like huskies next or delve into our White Siberian Husky care guide.