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The doghouse

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Original poster

How are spaniels with cats?

31 replies

HermioneMakepeace · 31/03/2021 07:37

We have been looking to adopt a dog for months now, but can’t find one. Battersea Dogs Home literally has about 4 available dogs, and it’s the same with other shelters.

I’ve just been looking at a spaniel for adoption but he has never lived with cats. Does anybody know how the are - generally - with cats? Thanks.

OP posts:
Els1e · 31/03/2021 08:13

All the spaniels I know are fine with cats. Far more interested in food and their human. But that’s not to say this one will be. What do the rescue centre say?

MaryLennoxsScowl · 31/03/2021 08:32

How old is the dog? My spaniel likes to bark and chase cats if he gets the chance, but he’s always stopped short of biting them and will back off if the cat hisses or swipes at him. I think if it weren’t for lockdown and not being able to practise with cats I could train him out of it and I intend to do that when we’re allowed to go into people’s houses again (Scotland so stricter than England), with the help of my sister’s very big and bolshy cat.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 31/03/2021 08:35

I think it depends on the dog.

Most dogs will chase cats they don't know but that's very different to living with them.

Original poster
HermioneMakepeace · 31/03/2021 08:42

I always thought cocker spaniels were quite lazy. I couldn’t imagine them chasing cats. But all the spaniels on the site say ‘No Cats.’

OP posts:
MaryLennoxsScowl · 31/03/2021 08:53

Mine is a working cocker and nothing could be further than lazy! He’s a ball of energy. And every springer I’ve met has been worse. Is this a show cocker or a cavalier?

Bomchiccawick · 31/03/2021 08:54

Cavaliers are a lot calmer but all the cocker/springer spaniels I’ve met have been crazy (but lovely!)

BiteyShark · 31/03/2021 09:03

@HermioneMakepeace

I always thought cocker spaniels were quite lazy. I couldn’t imagine them chasing cats. But all the spaniels on the site say ‘No Cats.’
Hmmm lazy is not the word I would use for cocker spaniels (unless very old or overweight).

Mine likes to chase anything that moves.

Pandapotato · 31/03/2021 09:05

Our springer is terrified of cats!

chatw00 · 31/03/2021 09:07

@HermioneMakepeace

I always thought cocker spaniels were quite lazy. I couldn’t imagine them chasing cats. But all the spaniels on the site say ‘No Cats.’
I would imagine if the dog is 'untested' with cats, then the place that's rehoming, will just say no dogs, to avoid any potential issues.
ineedaholidaynow · 31/03/2021 09:10

Our cavalier barks at every cat he sees, not sure how he would cope living with one! Although he has never got up close to one so not sure what he would do if the cat retaliated.

The word lazy does not usually go with the word spaniel!

Arbadacarba · 31/03/2021 09:12

My Cavalier was fine with cats - we had two when he came to us, and two new cats were introduced during his lifetime after the original two passed away.

He never showed any interest in chasing them - he liked to sniff their bums after they'd had a poo (nice!) but that was the only interest he showed.

He'd bark if he saw a cat in the garden but that was the same for any 'intruder' - foxes, squirrels and so on. He showed no interest in passing cats while out on the lead.

The cats treated him like part of the furniture. If he was in their way when they were going from A to B they'd jump over him.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 31/03/2021 09:16

Lazy??? Yeah, no.

Mine liked to play with anything and everything, including cats, but never aggressively. She'd certainly have happily lived gently with a cat.

If I was going to adopt a dog it would be a cocker spaniel. Love them.

Celeryhead · 31/03/2021 09:19

Op, have you actually met spaniels? They are, by far, one of the most energetic and on the go breeds you can meet. Lazy is not a word that is associated with spaniels. If you're expecting a low maintenence dog you're in for a shock if you get a spaniel!

And as with all dogs, how well they get on with other animals depends on the actual dog. You really can't make a blanket statement about the breed except for traits ie. We have an Irish wolfhound, she's very gentle, loving, soft, but if something moves fast and runs, her instincts will kick in a she will go on the chase -
This is not to say all Irish wolfhound would do this, but you can make assumptions based on the breed and how likely they are to chase/hunt small furries

Luckingfovely · 31/03/2021 09:19

Spaniels? Lazy? That properly made me laugh. There are few dog breeds that need more exercise and stimulation. If you're not prepared for that, this definitely is not the dog for you.

One of my spaniels is petrified of cats; the other would chase a cat until he dropped from exhaustion. It depends on the dog, obviously.

But given your lack of knowledge about the breed, I really would think again.

Chocolateandamaretto · 31/03/2021 09:31

I think you misheard - cockers are crazy, not lazy!!! I certainly only know very high octane ones!

catatecheese · 31/03/2021 09:33

Cavalier here absolutely fine with cats activity plays with ours, they are best friends they roll around together and sleep together. He is also friends with next doors cat who demands more respect from him . They walk nicely side by side around the garden and if dog tried anything like sniffing a bottom he gets a cat smack. Cats always rule! I have a friend with working cocker and a cat again no issues. Dogs often chase cats out of the house but live in harmony as a family.

Heyha · 31/03/2021 09:38

Our Springer gets bullied by one of the cats, he was here first though and had gentle intro to kittens at an older age. My dad's cocker youngster is outraged by all cats on walks but she's never lived with them. So I think it's the usual 'it depends' unfortunately.

Lostmyunicorn · 31/03/2021 09:40

Anyone who thinks spaniels are lazy has clearly never met a springer! Mine would love to be friends with the cat but she rejects him every time. I think they just don’t understand each other, he’s bouncing about in ‘come play’ mode and she is a bit alarmed by his energy. I do think that the cat has been a bit more withdrawn and worried since his arrival, on the other hand I don’t think her rejecting him has impacted much on his quality of life...

Heyha · 31/03/2021 09:41

I will say though, the worst dog to visit our house is a greyhound. He's the only one I think that would actively attack the cats- he can't help it of course but we have to be super careful and plan ahead when he is coming to visit.

tabulahrasa · 31/03/2021 09:51

“I always thought cocker spaniels were quite lazy.”

Um... what? Lol

No, they’re really not.

The thing with dogs and cats is - they don’t need to want to actually attack them to make a cat pretty miserable, with a lot of dogs it’s more that they want to interact, the cat runs so the dog follows. That to the cat is no different than being chased to be attacked.

Original poster
HermioneMakepeace · 31/03/2021 11:32

That’s really funny! We have had 2 cockers in the family and both were really lazy! Interesting and helpful to hear that this isn’t typical of the breed.

OP posts:
countrygirl99 · 31/03/2021 11:45

@HermioneMakepeace

I always thought cocker spaniels were quite lazy. I couldn’t imagine them chasing cats. But all the spaniels on the site say ‘No Cats.’
We've always had spaniels of working types. None of them were in any way lazy, I frequently wished I could remove the batteries from the cocker.
Daytimetellysucks · 31/03/2021 12:02

My springer is fine with our cats indoors - they sleep together, boop each other, etc.

However, the second they set foot outside they become fair game and she chases them. Has never hurt them, and if the cats stand up to her, she’ll back away pretty sharpish

sunflowersandbuttercups · 31/03/2021 15:13

@HermioneMakepeace

I always thought cocker spaniels were quite lazy. I couldn’t imagine them chasing cats. But all the spaniels on the site say ‘No Cats.’
Where did you read that?!

I have never once met a calm (healthy) cocker spaniel. Ever. If they're lazy, it's generally because they're overweight.

Hoppinggreen · 31/03/2021 16:55

Try Many Tears rescue, I think they have quite a few puppies in
And yes, Spaniels are not generally lazy