Are German Shepherds Good With Cats? I have heard this question thousands of times!
To be honest, it would have to be said that almost any animal species can live in complete harmony with another.
If you have come this far it is because you want to know how to educate a German shepherd dog so that it can live with cats and that there are no problems. Don’t worry, you are not alone, this question is asked by many! We are going to try to solve it and help you so that your cat and your German sheepdog can share the space without presenting problems for either of them.
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How to train a German shepherd to live with cats
In general, with good training, the German Shepherd and cats can be good friends, however, it must be recognized that some German Shepherd cat couples will never become friends of the soul , in these cases we can get them to live together without representing problems. We can continue to consider it a victory.
Let’s start with the cat, not the German shepherd
This training method is from your cat’s perspective . Why do we do it this way?
First of all, cats tend to be more nervous than most dogs and they also tend to reach their irritation thresholds faster. And this irritation can last a long time, sometimes even days.
Second, they experience negative situations, such as being in front of a jumping German Shepherd puppy, much more intensely than dogs.
Lastly, cats move very fast, they are real rockets, com, even when they are not trying to run away. And a German Shepherd is a herding dog , so his instinct is to chase and pay attention to everything that moves around him. So the cat falls within its prey targets.
Basic fundamentals for the success of this training
Just a few things before you start …
Don’t try to get results quickly , if you push your pets too hard, they will fail, but the one who is really failing is you. The objective is to get the cat and the German shepherd to live together and respect each other, but not to do it in a few days
Follow these tips, they will surely help you …
- You are the one who knows and handles your pets better, only you can give them directions to continue or stop at it.
- It can take weeks or even months before there is complete harmony between the dog and the cat. But total harmony means that you never have to worry that your cat will have to run out the window or that your dog may end up with a scratched eye.
- Going slow is good, but going slower is even better! You should give your cat and your German Shepherd dog enough time so that they are completely comfortable with each other’s presence.
- You will need to handle each step of this process individually.
Step One – Total Separation
If you want to avoid the first problems, initially keep the two pets separate.
In this first step it is necessary to separate the German shepherd and the cat completely, both visually and physically. The best way is to keep them in different parts of your home.
This should not represent a punishment for either of the two, so you should spend the necessary time with each of them, but always separately.
Provide plenty of interactive toys to keep them occupied, and keep in regular contact with both of them.
Step Two – Introducing the scent
You should start this step as soon as possible.
The goal here is to allow contact, but only through smell. Using 2 towels or soft toys, rub your cat with one and your German Shepherd Dog with the other. Next, expose each pet to the other’s scent and see how they react.
This step can last about a week , but who really knows those involved is you, so if you think they need a longer period, do not hesitate to give them a few more days.
Step Three – It’s time to meet
Once both pets are calmly coping with the smell and sounds they may have heard, it is time for the face-to-face presentation . For this, the cat must be in a cage and the German Shepherd puppy on a leash.
There should be no physical contact and we should start with a safe distance. For example, you and puppy in one corner of a room and the cat in its cage in the other corner.
Slowly decrease the distance , it is about going very slow. For example, in the first session, just stay to one side of the room without moving forward, and in the second, advance one or two steps, and gradually continue in the following encounters.
If when approaching, the cat or the German shepherd reacts negatively (hisses, moans, etc.) or increases their excitement (wants to flee, moves forward, the dog starts barking), it is best to return to the distance where this does not was happening and start over.
Step Four – It’s time for physical contact between your German Shepherd and the cat
Physical contact is the final step in training. This is the last step and the one that will probably take us the longest.
Once there is no reaction from both pets when the distance narrows we can begin to introduce physical contact.
This time, put your little German Shepherd in a cage or playpen or separate them with a fence that allows them to see each other up close.
This step should be done in a room with the door closed, pets should not be able to flee. However, make sure that there is a high place that can be reached for the cat, since they feel safer when they are observing the panorama from above (it is one of their natural characteristics that helps them in delicate moments)
Allow your cat to get closer to your puppy. Not the other way around. At this point allow the German Shepherd puppy to approach when they are behaving in a calm manner, while the cat approaches and investigates without being excited.
This step is usually very slow . Your cat will surely approach but will probably retreat again
At this point the main objective is to get your German Shepherd to be calm when the cat is around him, keep in mind that the German Shepherd has a good temperament.
Whatever they do, never leave them out of sight, it is still too early for that.
Keep meeting sessions short and build up the time slowly. Be patient, at some point you may need a good book to keep you busy while things progress.
You are ready to step forward, step back, and move on. But be persistent, and you will succeed.
And finally! Now you have a happy cat duo, German Shepherd!
So here are 4 solid steps on how to train a German Shepherd to like cats!
I love the animals. Reading and writing about them, their customs, their peculiarities or the attention they require is exciting, and I also believe that it makes us better people. I share articles that solve the questions that dog caregivers face on a daily basis.