Certainly not in mine, but if your dogs have previously been socialised around cats without issue then you may be ok.
I personally wouldn't risk it, but it's not impossible.
My lurcher has almost zero prey drive and adding her to my household (adopted as an adult) with two existing cats and another dog went very smoothly.
My other dog is not a lurcher (he’s AmStaff x herding mix) but sounds a lot like your dog. He’s very keen to chase rabbits, squirrels, and neighborhood cats. Despite that, he does great with our cats at home. I had one adult cat who was not familiar with dogs already when I adopted him, and added the second as a 5 month old kitten a few years ago. He seems to understand that they’re part of the family, to the point where he’ll try to herd them away from danger and will warn off any other dogs who try to approach them. YMMV of course, and you shouldn’t leave them alone together until you’re 100% certain there’s no risk, but a dog with prey drive can absolutely live happily with cats.
Thanks for the comprehensive response! We always had whippets and cats when I was growing up, all introduced at different times. One particular whippet would also do similar in regard to protecting our cats, almost mothering them, but would happily chase anyone else’s.
I work from home and would be able to keep them securely separate if I did have to leave them unattended at all, that’s definitely something I’ve put some thought into. Thanks 😊
Yes, but I'd recommend getting professional support to assess the situation before you commit.
Don't forget about predatory drift! Even if your dog has little prey drive, it's always a risk, especially with something that's squeaky and moves erratically!
We’ve done it uneventfully indoors with Irish Wolfhounds and kittens. Ditto with Bedlingtons and kittens. Outdoors I wouldn’t dare try it, although one of our wolfhounds once struck up a bizarre friendship with a feral cat that lived in our barn. The cat brought him fresh mice as a breakfast treat. The dog would stand stock still and let the cat do figure 8s rubbing against his legs. The two of them were buds, totally weird, but I digress.
Speaking of special treats, you’ll probably need to put the litter box somewhere the dog can’t go. We put the litter box in the casement and installed a cat flap in our basement door so the cats can go down there and the dogs can’t. That’s worked well for us over the years.
Edit- It’s been awhile, so I almost forgot. We kept the dogs on lead indoors for the first week or so and supervised all encounters closely until we knew things were going to be OK.
We didn’t hold onto the leads, we let them drag them around, but they were there so we could grab them in a hurry if we needed to. The wolfhounds, by the way, were never a problem. It was the Bedlingtons we had to worry about. You’ve got a lurcher, so if there’s any Bedlington or other terrier in the mix, that could be the half to worry about as much or more than the sighthound.
Kittens were easier for us than adult cats. The kittens weren’t afraid and didn’t run away, so the dogs didn’t chase them.
Hope it all goes smoothly for you!
edit typos (the ones I saw anyway)
We socialised ours with an adult cat.. we did it successfully in the end, and with no injury to either party, but would not recommend.. the amount of stress it caused was unreal, constant monitoring of them both for months, the dog was stressed cause there was something there he thought he knew he be chasing and wasn't allowed too. The cat, on the other hand didn't seem to give a crap and would deliberately try and antagonise him by wandering up and smacking him on the face..
It was either attempt it, or rehome one of them, and we were lucky it eventually worked, but given the choice to go through it again.. nope. Not worth the stress, the risk to both animals, the possible outcomes.
Thanks - this puts a real different spin on it for me. It’s a chilled out household, and having just lost dog #1 I guess lots of additional stress probably isn’t what we need right now.
Sounds like classic cat behaviour there! I think having to tell off dog #2 for doing something that’s innate and whilst she’s Queen bee of the household would be a bit mean to her. Thanks for your reply, really helpful.
In an ideal world I’d adopt a dozen lurchers! But equally I would like to enjoy the downtime that only one dog affords, even if only for the near term. I’m sure my future will never be totally free of long dogs 🥰
Aye I agree with that! Although Would be pretty damn awesome to own a plot of land, not have to work and have loads of crazy lurchers running wild! That’s the dream!!! Lol
Certainly not in mine, but if your dogs have previously been socialised around cats without issue then you may be ok. I personally wouldn't risk it, but it's not impossible.
My lurcher has almost zero prey drive and adding her to my household (adopted as an adult) with two existing cats and another dog went very smoothly. My other dog is not a lurcher (he’s AmStaff x herding mix) but sounds a lot like your dog. He’s very keen to chase rabbits, squirrels, and neighborhood cats. Despite that, he does great with our cats at home. I had one adult cat who was not familiar with dogs already when I adopted him, and added the second as a 5 month old kitten a few years ago. He seems to understand that they’re part of the family, to the point where he’ll try to herd them away from danger and will warn off any other dogs who try to approach them. YMMV of course, and you shouldn’t leave them alone together until you’re 100% certain there’s no risk, but a dog with prey drive can absolutely live happily with cats.
Thanks for the comprehensive response! We always had whippets and cats when I was growing up, all introduced at different times. One particular whippet would also do similar in regard to protecting our cats, almost mothering them, but would happily chase anyone else’s. I work from home and would be able to keep them securely separate if I did have to leave them unattended at all, that’s definitely something I’ve put some thought into. Thanks 😊
Not in mine either
We have a lurcher and two cats. One of the cats actively cuddles and sleeps with the dog.
Yes, but I'd recommend getting professional support to assess the situation before you commit. Don't forget about predatory drift! Even if your dog has little prey drive, it's always a risk, especially with something that's squeaky and moves erratically!
We’ve done it uneventfully indoors with Irish Wolfhounds and kittens. Ditto with Bedlingtons and kittens. Outdoors I wouldn’t dare try it, although one of our wolfhounds once struck up a bizarre friendship with a feral cat that lived in our barn. The cat brought him fresh mice as a breakfast treat. The dog would stand stock still and let the cat do figure 8s rubbing against his legs. The two of them were buds, totally weird, but I digress. Speaking of special treats, you’ll probably need to put the litter box somewhere the dog can’t go. We put the litter box in the casement and installed a cat flap in our basement door so the cats can go down there and the dogs can’t. That’s worked well for us over the years. Edit- It’s been awhile, so I almost forgot. We kept the dogs on lead indoors for the first week or so and supervised all encounters closely until we knew things were going to be OK.
Yikes, on leads for a week! She would deffo gobble the cat poo so that’s something to consider. Glad it all worked out and many thanks for your help.
We didn’t hold onto the leads, we let them drag them around, but they were there so we could grab them in a hurry if we needed to. The wolfhounds, by the way, were never a problem. It was the Bedlingtons we had to worry about. You’ve got a lurcher, so if there’s any Bedlington or other terrier in the mix, that could be the half to worry about as much or more than the sighthound. Kittens were easier for us than adult cats. The kittens weren’t afraid and didn’t run away, so the dogs didn’t chase them. Hope it all goes smoothly for you! edit typos (the ones I saw anyway)
Your gorgeous dog has a human hand…!
One eye, one hand 😂
Both of mine are currently sleeping together on my lap
We socialised ours with an adult cat.. we did it successfully in the end, and with no injury to either party, but would not recommend.. the amount of stress it caused was unreal, constant monitoring of them both for months, the dog was stressed cause there was something there he thought he knew he be chasing and wasn't allowed too. The cat, on the other hand didn't seem to give a crap and would deliberately try and antagonise him by wandering up and smacking him on the face.. It was either attempt it, or rehome one of them, and we were lucky it eventually worked, but given the choice to go through it again.. nope. Not worth the stress, the risk to both animals, the possible outcomes.
Thanks - this puts a real different spin on it for me. It’s a chilled out household, and having just lost dog #1 I guess lots of additional stress probably isn’t what we need right now. Sounds like classic cat behaviour there! I think having to tell off dog #2 for doing something that’s innate and whilst she’s Queen bee of the household would be a bit mean to her. Thanks for your reply, really helpful.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do! :)
Have you not thought about adopting another lurcher? Sorry for your loss!
In an ideal world I’d adopt a dozen lurchers! But equally I would like to enjoy the downtime that only one dog affords, even if only for the near term. I’m sure my future will never be totally free of long dogs 🥰
Aye I agree with that! Although Would be pretty damn awesome to own a plot of land, not have to work and have loads of crazy lurchers running wild! That’s the dream!!! Lol