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The doghouse

Saluki cross and a cat - bad idea?

20 replies

sempereadem1 · 10/05/2016 09:58

We have a 2 year old neutered Tom Cat and are hoping to add a dog to our family. We have seen some 10 week old Saluki x pups in a dog rescue locally. I have done research and think they would be great with our Dc, 9 and 5. But the Cat? I understand they're sighthounds but the lady at the rescue said it should be okay if introduced together at a young age? I eotk 2 days a week - help!

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sempereadem1 · 10/05/2016 09:58

*work

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ScrotesOnFire · 10/05/2016 10:14

I wouldn't personally.
High prey drive dogs can often learn to live with, even love their 'own' cat but those dogs can and do, mistakenly kill their own cats out and about when they don't recognise them.

ScrotesOnFire · 10/05/2016 10:17

Also, I would consider how your kids might feel seeing their dog kill bunny rabbits or errant cats on walks....
Unless your going to keep it on lead 24/7 chances are, if your walking anywhere remotely rural your dog might spot prey and act on impulse.
Trying to teach a high prey drive dog not to chase and kill small furriers is insanely difficult, if not impossible.
Your working against instinct which is very strong.

CMOTDibbler · 10/05/2016 10:24

One of my lurchers is probably a saluki cross, and have 3 cats, and its no problem. It does help if your cat is the sort to stand up to a puppy, rather than just running off

sempereadem1 · 10/05/2016 12:10

Ah buggar, I think you're right. Batman (cat) is pretty tough but would be too much of a risk

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Wolfiefan · 10/05/2016 12:11

I know of wolfhounds that live with cats. BUT you can't go off to work and leave them shut in together.
How long do you work each day?

sempereadem1 · 10/05/2016 12:30

I work 9 till 5 but am 5 mins drive away from home as is Dh who would come home at lunchtime on the two days I work

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situatedknowledge · 10/05/2016 12:33

We have always had sighthounds, and always had cats. Perhaps you could take some advice from a lurcher rescue about finding out how to ensure there are no calamities.

sempereadem1 · 10/05/2016 12:38

They are saying that introducing from puppyhood would be good, I would use a safety gate/lead/cage when first introduced. Dog obedience classes and physically separated whilst at work, one outside, one in?

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CMOTDibbler · 10/05/2016 12:41

I leave the dogs in the house with the cats, but the cats have their catflap and we have a baby gate across the kitchen so they can go away from the dogs if they wish.

Its important to note that not all sighthounds are the same, and a puppy who has never been encouraged to chase things is very different to an adult rescue who has been heavily incentivised to chase and catch furries (as they do in greyhound racing, or coursers). Neither of mine have ever caught anything, go off lead and recall etc. My cats otoh bring home rabbits, so its not like there isn't the opportunity.

mistlethrush · 10/05/2016 12:42

I have friends with lurchers including salukis and saluki crosses that have cats with absolutely no problem at all. And they've introduced another saluki cross that was 3 and not cat testted with no issues. Getting the dog as a puppy would be easier for the cat.

I had a lurcher we got when I was 5 - and she was a wonderful rabbiter. It didn't upset me in the least (even though I turned vegetarian when I was 6) - she would eat the rabbit she had caught, it was natural behaviour and it was better for the rabbits than catching mixi or being gassed which were the alternatives.

mistlethrush · 10/05/2016 12:45

I should add that the salukis with the cats also are great racers and simulated coursers and love doing that - it does not mean that they're more likely to chase the cats.

My lurcher has a fairly high prey drive, although she's not good at catching anything so has never actually caught anything ever which is probably why she was abandoned when she was 2.5yrs. However, her 'high prey drive' is extremely specific - when there are rabbits about she'll notice squirrels and completely ignore them, even though she'll chase squirrels and crows etc if there are no rabbits to chase. The terrier is a lot less choosy about what she chases!

LilaTheTiger · 10/05/2016 12:46

I have a saluki cross. He's fine with our rabbits cats and chickens. He will chase if we are out and he sees something before me, but he's never killed anything.

He was a strong willed and destructive when bored pup though, up until he was neutered. Get him in puppy classes asap and teach as many tricks as you can so you can amuse him at home.

My boy is 7 now and he's an absolutely star. They are wonderful dogs. Good luck

sempereadem1 · 10/05/2016 12:55

They were born in the rescue, Mum and Dad both used for poaching so unsuitable for families with Cats. I'm so torn. Can a Saluki jump a babygate, I thought they would clear one easily? I think I'm going to go and see them.

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ScrotesOnFire · 10/05/2016 13:08

Up to you, the previous posters here have clearly found great success so it obviously can be done.
Have to weigh up pros and cons I guess.
I have never have had a sighthound but I don't think I would have one with my little cat.
I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable with one from working breeding personally as I would assume that they would have inherited a strong prey drive as presumably the previous owners were selectively breeding for work ability if the parents were coursers.

ScrotesOnFire · 10/05/2016 13:10

P.s. My collie can easily clear a baby gate if she wants.
She's a working type so quite large - around Labrador height.

CMOTDibbler · 10/05/2016 13:11

Mine could clear it, yes. Both could jump a 5' fence if they felt like it. But they don't.

Right now the dogs and one cat are asleep on a bed upstairs together.

Go see them, talk to their fosterer and they'll tell you all about them. The last thing a rescue wants is for an adoption to go wrong so they always err on the side of caution

LilaTheTiger · 10/05/2016 13:32

Can a Saluki jump a babygate, I thought they would clear one easily?

Hahahaha! Yep.

However, mine wasn't allowed upstairs for a while, and just didn't. He was very easy to train once we'd bonded.

TrionicLettuce · 10/05/2016 13:50

Sighthounds living with cats certainly can be done but you do need to be careful and prepared to put management strategies in place if the puppy doesn't grow up as cat safe as you'd hoped.

A great deal will depend on the cat as well, you're much more likely to be successful with a cat that is confident around dogs rather than one that is skittish and likely to bolt.

Personally if I wanted a sighthound to live with cats I'd go for an adult dog that has been properly cat tested (i.e. not just deemed cat safe because it didn't go batshit at the sight of a cat in a carrier) rather than a puppy, especially one from working lines.

mistlethrush · 10/05/2016 13:57

We got a dog gate to try to help with separation anxiety. She went straight over the top (it's a lot higher than a child gate).

The side gate used to keep her in (4') then it didn't so we extended it with plastic mesh to 5'6" which worked for a while... It's now got 2m deer fencing on the inside and she's not gone over that yet. Not that she ever wanted to run away - just wanted to be on the other side of the gate.

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