Are Persian Cats Good With Dogs?

A well-known breed, the regal-looking Persian cat makes a very popular choice as a household companion. While they can be affectionate towards their human carers, do Persian cats also get along well with dogs?

Are Persian Cats Good With Dogs? Persian cats are known for their calm personality. The enjoy a peaceful environment where they are treated with a gentle touch. As such, Persian cats are only good with dogs that do not make loud noises, invite them to a game of rough play, or bother them incessantly. In other words, Persian cats only bode well with dogs that do not cause them anxiety.

Read on to understand more about the personality of Persian cats and how this translates to their relationship with dogs. You’ll also find some tips on how to get your dog and a Persian cat to live harmoniously.

What is the personality of a Persian cat?

The personality of Persian cats cannot be homogenized into definite traits. This would risk inaccuracy as a Persian cat’s personality would be affected by factors such as how it was raised. However, there are certain characteristics that Persian cats are generally known for.

This includes their quiet nature. Persian cats are known to be reserved – almost standoffish – which is why they have been described as “snobby”.

In truth, Persian cats are simply quite shy and they take a while to get comfortable with people. Once they do, they will begin to show and accept affection from their human friends. Even so, these majestic felines are not the needy kind who will demand attention.

Persian cats love to lounge. You are more likely to find them posing on a sofa than leaping from furniture to furniture.

As these cats have low energy levels, they are not very active.

Their short playtimes will be punctuated by long stretches of beauty naps. In line with their calm personality, Persian cats prefer a serene environment where are not frequently disturbed by noises and unsolicited attention.

Are Persian cats good with dogs?

The answer is certainly not a resounding “yes” but neither is it a “no”.

As you can guess, it really depends.

As mentioned, Persian cats are calm and shy. They take time to get used to new strangers, including dogs. A big no-no for Persian cats are dogs that are loud, hyperactive and rowdy – basically embodying traits that clash with a Persian cat’s personality.

These are the dogs that will bark excessively, behave unpredictably, run amok in the house, and worse, deliberately annoy the poor feline that just wants a laid-back day.

On the other hand, Persian cats can get along perfectly fine with quiet dogs that know their boundaries.

Persian cats are adaptable, hence they can slowly accommodate to an addition in the household as long as they are treated with respect by the new member.

Once the Persian cat has found a good match, you might even find a budding friendship filled with plenty of friendly rubbing.

What types of dogs are best suited for Persian cats?

If you are in the midst of adopting a dog into a family with a Persian cat, it’s certainly considerate to weigh the personality of the dog.

The simplify your search, the two qualities you should look out for would be quiet and lazy. Either one of these features will not do; a quiet dog that is overactive at home will not be appreciated by a Persian cat.

It’s also important to consider whether the dog belongs to a breed that is typically good with cats because you’ll want the dog to be comfortable too.

The shape and size of the dog, however, do not matter.

• The small and cute Shih Tzu,
• the stocky English Bulldog,
• the graceful Greyhound,
• the big Newfoundland or
• the even bigger Great Danes

could potentially co-exist well with a Persian cat within the same household.

What happens when a Persian cat is forced to live with an unsuitable dog?

It’s not wise to force a Persian cat to live with a dog that it has trouble getting along with. When introduced with its antithesis, chances are, the Persian cat will feel scared, stressed or anxious.

Such negative feelings will slowly impact your Persian cat’s health and this could translate to physical symptoms. It would manifest in signs like hiding, trembling, pacing, aggression, excessive vocalization, compulsive grooming, vomiting, or changes in appetite and weight.

If you notice a Persian cat exhibiting such anxious behavior, bring it to a veterinarian for a physical examination so you can rule out any illnesses and be sure that these signs are attributed to the presence of the dog.

From there, you can decide what action to take.

How can I get a Persian cat and a dog to get along?

If you are trying to get a Persian cat and a dog to live together, you’ll need a good dose of patience – especially if the said dog is a rambunctious one that might terrorize the queen of the cat species.

The first stages of introducing the Persian and the dog together are crucial. The introduction is best conducted at home and over a period of time.

The two creatures should be rotated in different rooms, but always separate, enabling them to get used to each other’s scents.

The initial meetings should be strictly supervised, with both animals calm and with the dog on a leash.

Do this multiple times until both parties seem relaxed around each other, showing no signs of fear and aggression. Only when you’re confident that they won’t harm one another can unsupervised interactions be allowed.

The whole process might take a month.

Next comes the part of getting them to live together amicably. If the dog is a noisy and hyperactive one, you must try your best to subdue the dog’s personality so that it’ll gain acceptance by your Persian cat.

Remember, dogs are so much easier to train than cats, so it’s smarter to change the dog rather than the stubborn cat.

As an example, if the dog is constantly barking, you’ll want to remove the stimulus, create distractions, or train them to stop barking by using a look, sound, or physical action.

Dogs that are hyperactive at home are usually just too full of energy. Therefore, you’ll need to incorporate regular exercise into its daily routine, teach it a new sport, or engage it with some smart toys.

All in all, the dog should not cause disruption to your Persian cat’s preferred lifestyle. Behaviors like chasing and bullying should be stopped.

The Persian cat should be given its own space and the dog should be curbed from interacting with the Persian cat excessively (unless the Persian cat is enjoying it).

What should I do if a Persian cat and a dog simply cannot get along?

It’s really sweet when pairings between a dog and a cat work out.

Unfortunately, happy endings are not for all. Some people will put onerous time and effort into various methods to get the Persian cat and the dog to get along, but alas, it’s futile. Both parties are unable to live harmoniously with one another.

What do you do?

You may not want to hear this, but you probably know it already: if all else fails, you should re-home either the Persian cat or the dog in question.

At the end of the day, you’ll want to put the feelings and health of both animals before your desire to see them living together.