Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do remarkably well with cats. Cavaliers are friendly and responsive to training, which makes their introduction to cats less challenging. If the animals meet each other at a young, they will likely get along. If one or both animals are adults, then you may need to provide some guidance in the beginning.
- Introduce your Cavalier and the cat to each other gradually and under close supervision
- Keep the dog on a leash at first, and allow more interaction as tolerated
- See if the animals can eat in the same room but at some distance from each other at first
- The cat’s disposition is important but more often than not Cavaliers and cats develop friendly relationships pretty quickly.
TRAITS THAT MAKE CAVALIERS GREAT WITH CATS
Friendly And Sociable
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are well known for their amicable and even clingy personalities. These good-natured dogs tend to get along very well with cats, dogs, and other pets, although they can be a little yappy in the beginning.
There is always the possibility of some initial tension, and the adjustment period could take a few days or even weeks. And then there is the personality of the cat that should be taken into consideration, of course.
Once the initial awkward period of getting to know each other is over, your Cavalier and the cat might love each other’s company and eat and sleep next to each other.
Cavaliers are so sociable that most dogs of this breed need company at all times to be happy. Having a cat or a few cats at home might be an excellent way to reduce separation anxiety in Cavaliers.
Solid Working Intelligence
For the two pets to have a good and trusting relationship, the dog needs to know the rules of behavior and obey commands. It is going to be much easier to train your Cavalier than your cat due to the whole feline independence factor!
The dog needs to be quite intelligent and responsive to training to be suitable for living with cats and other pets. Overall, Cavaliers have a high average working intelligence.
Canine working intelligence refers to the dog’s ability to learn new commands and skills with a certain number of repetitions.
According to Stanley Coren, a well-known canine psychologist, Cavalier King Charles spaniels are at the top of the average group. 140 breeds were evaluated by multiple obedience judges and Cavaliers were ranked #44 out of 79 (2-3 breeds can share a ranking spot). It is a very good result, and it means that these dogs have a sufficient set of abilities for training. In practical terms, being in this range means the following:
- Cavaliers begin to show a basic understanding of simple tasks within 15-20 repetitions
- They retain knowledge and skills and improve significantly with a lot of practice
- They generally respond to the command the first time you say it more than 50% of the time
- Their response may be delayed in comparison to the breeds that rank higher
- The dog may not respond as well when the trainer is physically farther away. It means that you might have to repeat commands when outdoors, even if your pet is very well-trained.
- Cavaliers can be very sensitive to the quality of training they receive. A good trainer could teach them to perform as well as dogs of higher intelligence, but a novice trainer may not achieve good results at all.
Owner-Oriented And Eager To Please
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are extremely responsive to positive rewards from the owner, and the rewards do not have to be treated every time. These dogs thrive with verbal praise, neck rubs, and any attention they can get from you.
Not only does this trait make them a great option for families with young children and other pets in general, but it also adds to their great potential to become very well-trained dogs.
HOW TO INTRODUCE A CAT AND A CAVALIER TO EACH OTHER
Introducing Young Animals
If you are welcoming both the cat and the dog when they are still very young, the introduction is extremely likely to be painless and successful.
The animals will grow up and mature together. They will teach each other, through playing, what is acceptable and what is not. Their interactions will be like puppy classes in a way, except a kitten is involved.
INTRODUCING GROWN-UP CATS AND DOGS
Prepare Safe Zones For Both Pets
At first, you will need to supervise your Cavalier and the cat very closely and allow for more independent interactions gradually.
- Make sure that the cat has a space where the dog does not go.
- Ideally, it should be an entirely separate room with a litter box, a scratching post, water, a food bowl, and toys.
- You could set up some hiding places in the room to help the cat feel safer.
- This arrangement does not have to be forever, just during the initial period.
- Your home should have several high areas, like shelves, that your cat is allowed on, so he can easily escape the dog if needed.
The Cavalier should also have a safe space where the cat does not go, although cats tend to keep their distance anyway, especially in the beginning.
Keep The Dog And The Cat Separate At First
Your new pet – especially if the cat is the new one – should mostly stay in the safe area where the dog does not go for the first few days.
Confinement in a small space allows the cat to get to know the immediate environment first and to get comfortable. The food and water bowls and the litter box could be in the same area too, to start with. Once the cat does not appear to be stressed out anymore, he can begin to explore.
Allow Them To Eat Next To Each Other
Start by feeding your pets at a good distance from each other. As they get more comfortable, start moving their bowls closer. Eventually, they will be able to eat side by side. You can feed them in the same room before they begin to interact, under very close supervision, of course.
The idea of feeding them close to each other is for the animals to associate each other with pleasant things.
Teach Your Cavalier Some Basic Commands
Knowing basic commands is essential for successful functioning among people and other animals. It also promotes safety around other pets in your home.
Essential commands include short simple words, such as “sit”, “down”, “come” and “leave it”. They will help you redirect your dog if there is a need for an intervention. The commands will also help your dog know how to behave in most situations.
Allow Supervised Interactions
- Let your pets meet in a neutral zone, not one of the safe rooms.
- Keep your Cavalier on a leash and let the catwalk around freely. It is okay if the cat prefers to hide in the beginning.
- Avoid restraining either pet in your arms.
- Ask the dog to sit and reward him with treats for complying. Give your cat treats and other rewards, too.
- If either animal is anxious or aggressive, calmly distract and redirect them. Return the pets to their safe areas, and try again later.
Repeat Interactions Daily
Repeat such interactions every day. Save your pets’ favorite treats for these sessions. If the cat wants to leave the room, allow him, and do not let the dog chase him.
It is important to end each session before either the cat or the dog show any stress or aggression.
Allow Less Structured Interactions
When your pets appear to be getting used to each other’s presence, allow them to freely walk around under supervision. You could keep the dog’s leash attached so you can gain control of the dog if something goes wrong.
Eventually, your pets should begin to accept each other’s presence. Some cats and dogs are very friendly with each other, others learn to tolerate each other at best. Cavaliers love other pets, so the cat’s personality may be an even more important factor.
It is going to be important to assess the dynamics between your pets to define the appropriate boundaries.
Related Question:
Should Cavaliers Be Kept In Pairs? Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are highly sociable and extroverted dogs but they can be happy either as only pets or in the company of other Cavaliers. An advantage of having a couple of these dogs is that they will always keep each other company and may tolerate being left alone better than a solo Cavalier typically does.
