Do Shiba Inu and Cats get along well?

Shiba Inu is a beautiful family dog with a great spirit. Shiba Inu has a proud personality and a dominant attitude towards other species. Owners, to make sure Shiba and their cats get along better, should introduce them as puppies.

There is no specific answer to how well Shiba Inu and Cats get along. It ultimately depends on the temperament of Shiba. Some Shibas get along very well with cats, and some don’t. It entirely depends on the personality of Shiba. Shiba Inus have a proud and dominating personality; hence they always want to step over other dogs and animals present in the house. 

So, how well are Shiba Inu and Cats get along wholly depends on how well you train your Shiba. If Shibas are trained well and are good at socializing, they get along with cats very well.

Challenges of Shiba Inu with Cat

Historically Shiba was explicitly bred as hunting dogs; hence they have an instinct of falling prey over other species. A cat roaming around in your house can trigger the hunting instinct of your Shiba. 

Shiba Inu can be dangerous sometimes when left without a leash. They are overprotective towards their family hence might attack someone they might find suspicious. Keeping Shiba on a leash for the entire time is a tremendous challenge for owners. If kept unleashed, there are chances that they might attack other pets kept alongside. Because of the nature of Shiba Inu, they are less popular when owners already have any pets at their house. 

Why do Shiba Inu act like cats?

There are many similar characteristics between Shiba Inu and Cats.

Both Shiba Inu and Cats have a proud nature, and they are both stubborn and independent creatures. Both Shiba and cats can accept or leave the attention they get from the owner.

When bringing Shiba Inus home, you must accept that Shiba Inus are not very much fans of cuddling. They are known for their arrogance. Shiba has many similar characteristics as cats, but it is not always the same. Shiba Inus can be good with cats if they are trained properly.

Shiba Inus might chase your Cat initially, but it is not due to hatred but their history of being predators or more active creatures.

Are Shiba Inus good with cats?

To make sure your Shiba and Cat get along well, the owner should introduce them when, in the very beginning, when they are puppies. The owner should bring both Shiba and his Cat together and introduce them to each other to be familiar with each other from the very beginning. Shibas have dominating nature. If you have an assertive cat that thing might go south if owners do not give proper attention.

Socialization plays a vital role to make sure both your pets get along well. Leave your Shiba Inu with cats from an early stage. Shiba Inus and cats have a similar nature. Shibas are also called cat like dogs. Shibas can be the right dog for you to keep with your cats if they are trained well. But not all cats will be okay with it. Shiba’s prey drive can make them attack your cat. These two species are not co-existing in nature hence precautions should be taken.

In case of not getting socialized well, we can often see Shiba Inu breed and Cats staying away from each other. There may be a possibility that Shiba might show hostile behaviour. Shiba Inu dogs can be good with cats and other animals if trained and socialized properly.

Why do Shiba Inu hate Cats?

Shiba Inu dogs were explicitly bred for hunting birds and wild boars. They naturally have a hunting personality hence show dominating behaviour towards cats. Shiba Inus are not considered trustworthy around small animals like guinea pigs as they might attack them. In this case, cats are no exception.

Instead of hating cats, Shiba Inus enjoy chasing cats because of their instinct. They like to go after them and chase them away. They want to involve themselves in socialization activities. 

Best way to keep Shiba Inu and Cats as pet

Avoiding Conflict

Shiba Inu dogs are aggressive dog breeds hence may act in this manner in certain situations. Shiba Inu owners should ensure both Shiba dog breed and their adult cats live together in harmony. Since Shiba is a proud dog, he is possessive around his things. Shiba doesn’t like to share their stuff with others. So, in this case, owners should ensure that both Shiba Inu and Cat have a different set of eating bowls, Toys, and other stuff. 

Proper Training

To make sure Shiba Inu is comfortable with your Cat, you should start the training of your Shiba at a young age. He should follow fundamental orders like sit, stand, stop, and many others. Training your Shiba will help control his behaviour towards other pets in your hence and reduce its hostility. People can go for veterinary advice to know more about handling Shibas with cats. A breeder can guide you too in this case. Ask your breeder to provide a dog that has lived around cats earlier.

Spaying or Neutering

Spaying or Neutering helps in reducing aggression in dogs breeds, and Shiba is no exception. It reduces aggressive urges in your Shiba; hence, it will help you keep it under control.

Feed them in different places

To ensure no aggressiveness over food, the owner should feed them at different places, separated by a door. Owners should feed their Shiba Inu and Cat at the same place where they can see each other. This will ensure that they don’t fight over food and develop a habit of seeing each other eating in the future.

Tips on Introducing your Shiba with Cat

Both Shiba Inu and Cats are hot-headed dogs with a proud nature. It is advisable to bring both Shiba Inu and Cat as puppies. In this way, they will bond together from the very beginning hence will be easier to handle.

When introducing their very first time, make sure they are not left alone. Since Shiba is aggressive, there should be someone present to watch them in the initial days to check on his aggressive behaviour.

Make sure your house has a cat safety zone so that in case Shiba chases your Cat away, they can hide in there.

Conclusion

Since both Shiba Inu and Cats are stubborn and aggressive, they cause many problems when kept together. Owners need to opt for discreet ways to keep them together. Owning Shiba Inu and Cats is not suggested to novice owners as they may get hard to handle. Both Shiba Inu and cats should be trained well and familiar with each other to ensure their safety