Do Dachshunds Get Along with Cats? Introduction Tips & Training
By Misty Layne
Updated on
Having more than one pet means more fun and love, but it can also be tricky. You never quite know how pets will get along, whether they’re the same species or different. Take —do these mischievous pups get along with cats? The answer is yes, Dachshunds definitely can become friendly with cats in your home. But it won’t happen overnight.
The first step is ensuring your Dachshund (and your cat) have been properly socialized from a young age, so neither one immediately jumps to aggression when meeting. Keep reading to learn the other steps you should follow when introducing your Dachshund to your cat!
How to Introduce a Dachshund and a Cat
As we said, the first step is socializing your pets from an early age, so they both have learned how to get along with others. But there are a few more steps¹ to take when introducing your Dachshund to your cat.
- Ensure your dog can follow basic commands, such as “sit”, “stay”, and “off”. If your pup has even a little training, it’ll be easier to control during the introduction.
- Next, keep in mind slow and steady wins the race. You don’t want to just bring a dog or cat home and toss them into a room with your other pets; that way lies disaster! Pets can be territorial, so bringing in a new pet can feel like bringing in an intruder. So, let your pets meet for the first time in a neutral area (and keep your Dachshund on its leash for this) before the new pet moves in.
- Once your Dachshund or cat has moved into your home, you’ll want to keep it separate from your other animal for a bit. But you can help both get used to each other by letting them smell one another. You can do this by sharing their toys with one another, so they can get a good sniff or by walking each pet around the home while the other is in another room.
- After your pets are used to each other’s scents, it’s time to let them see each other again. However, you don’t necessarily want to have them meet face-to-face again. For now, it’s wise to have them view each other from opposite sides of a gate.
- By now, your Dachshund and cat should be pretty used to each other, so let them begin hanging out together! You’ll have to keep a close eye on them to make sure they behave (and you might still need to keep your Dachshund on a leash for a bit), but over time your pets should be fine together.
Long story short, don’t expect your Dachshund and cat to become best friends overnight, but unless one of your pets has had a bad experience with the other species or is just incredibly aggressive and territorial, the two animals should end up at least tolerating each other.
Conclusion
Dachshunds can get along with cats, but it’ll take time for the two to get used to each other. You’ll need to be careful how you introduce your pets and take things nice and slow. And remember that all animals are different, so your pets may get along famously within weeks, or it may take months for the two to be able to stand being in the same room together. A lot depends on your animals’ personalities (and Dachshunds are known for being stubborn!).
Also, be aware that if one pet has had a bad experience with the other species in the past, you could have a long, arduous journey to friendship on your hands (and the two pets may never be super friendly with each other). For the most part, though, your Dachshund and feline should be okay with each other given enough time.
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
