Border terriers and cats?

[mugofwater]

Anyone got any experience of Border terriers and cats?

On some sites they come up as good with cats, on others their terrier nature is emphasised and it says not so good.

I've heard they are the least terrier of terriers, so possibly less likely to see cats as prey?

And if you know ones good with cats, did they grow up as a puppy with them, or were they ok introduced as adult rescues?

I feel terriers in general are not a good idea with anything slightly bigger or smaller than itself.
Its preydrive its just in them.
Have you asked the breeder? Other owners etc?

I have a BT and he is very unreliable around cats. They set off his chase instinct. We've never had one, so maybe if he'd grown up with a cat it might have been different, but even in his autumn years he's still a very terrier-y terrier - shouts at postmen, chases birds, likes scratting around at leaves and balls, etc.

Ok that's interesting to read. I wonder why they came up elsewhere as good with cats.

Sounds like I'd still have to have a rescue BT attached to me by a long line at all times.

Hmm.

Personally in my experience it involves training. I have cats and malamutes. Malamute were bred for hunting not just freight dogs. They have a high prey drive. I make sure my cats have a safe place which is a safety gate up. According to websites its not recommended I dont believe everything on google. Train your dog. One of my dogs was a brought up with them. My other dog wasn't. I have had to train him so he knows they are not prey. They all get on OK.

I agree it's training. It's more understanding the likelihood of that training being against breed type and weighing it against the pros of that dog and the lifestyle we could offer it.

I'm thinking of the kids in and out of the back door in summer, door into the garden open for hours. I understand a lot of dogs can be trained to ignore cats in the house, but might then chase the same cats in the garden.

IF I'd have to have the same wariness long term with a BT as with a Greyhound, then perhaps the better fit I think a Greyhound would have with our lifestyle means it is better to focus on Greyhound with low prey drive in foster with cats, and accept I'd have to presume outside is a different world for the dog, than to go for a breed I'm less drawn to?

I do get the terrier prey drive, I had Staffie's growing up and one chased everything that moved, but someone had suggested BTs might be less terrier on the cat issue. Seems it's not the case, so back to thinking.

Our border terrier met our cat when they were both around 4-5 months old and so they got used to each other and never had any problems.

We then rescued a cat when the border terrier was around 8 years old and he's great with her too.

I have a Border Terrier and a cat, they get along just fine, I've never had any concerns. Our cat will literally walk over our BT if she's in her path!
The cat was well established in our home before we got our BT as a pup. The cat put all the pups we've had in their place early on with a smack on the nose when they got a bit excited and they respected her there after.
The BT is the least reactive to cats of all the terriers we've had, the others would chase 'stranger' cats, but she just watches them with interest!

If you have a cat already and plan to get a Border, I would get a pup if possible, or an older one who has lived with cats. Always make sure the cat can 'escape' from the dog if necessary, cats need to feel safe in their own home

I’ve got a BT and he nearly killed my neighbours cat luckily said cat managed to clamber up the wall and run.
He’s also killed two chickens this year despite last year being afraid of them

Yep, my BT almost got the neighbours cat, his prey drive just took over.

Our Border just ignores cats! Strange as she can be a bit shouty with small fluffy dogs, but it’s like she can’t even see cats!