If you are looking at getting a Boston Terrier, but you already have a cat, it is incredibly important to be sure that the two pets will get along when the new pup is brought home. For the most part, Boston Terriers do just fine with cats because they have an affectionate personality.
Most other terriers are not likely to get along with cats, but the Boston Terrier is the exception. It is important to keep in mind that each animal is an individual. Some Boston Terriers that are adults might not get along well with cats if they have had a bad experience with them in the past.
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Are Boston Terriers Good with Cats?
Most Boston Terriers should get along just fine with a cat. When introducing the two pets together, it is important to watch them closely. Your Boston Terrier might get excited and treat your cat how it would another dog. It is expected for the pup to lunge at the cat and sniff them until they can’t anymore.
The dog might also instinctually chase the cat or play a little rough. This is because they are curious and just want to get to know the cat. They will not intentionally harm your cat. Depending on your cat’s temperament, they might easily become skittish, anxious, and defensive.
In some cases, if you get the Boston Terrier from a rescue, they might have had a bad experience with a cat in the past. They might become anxious when introduced to your cat for the first time. If the dog is trying to keep their distance from the cat, don’t force the interaction. Take the introduction slowly.
In the majority of cases, Boston Terriers and cats will accept each other within a very short period of time. However, interactions should always be supervised until you are completely confident that there won’t be an altercation.
Are Boston Terrier Adults or Puppies Better with Cats?
This generally depends on the dog itself. If you get the Boston Terrier as a puppy, it is more likely to bond with the cat. Pets that are introduced to each other at a young age are more likely to get along and not have any problems with interactions.
As stated above, if you are getting an adult Boston Terrier from a rescue or another household, it is possible that they will not get along with cats. When getting a dog as an adult instead of a puppy, you don’t know what the dog has been through before they found you.
If you are bringing in an adult Boston Terrier to your home, it is extra important to pay attention to their interactions with your cat. If they are anxious, try introducing your pets gradually by keeping the dog in a crate or in another room where the dog and cat can sniff each other.
How to Train an Adult Boston Terrier to Like Cats
Boston Terriers are highly intelligent dogs, which makes them very easy to train. Bringing an adult dog into a situation that they are not familiar with can freak them out. First, you need to make sure the dog understands simple commands. They will need to know how to sit, stay, and lie down.
When your dog understands these basic commands, the introduction to the cat will be easier. Getting your adult Boston Terrier to like cats relies on slow introductions and a lot of supervision. Don’t put the two together and expect them to become best friends immediately.
It will be best for your adult dog if you keep them separate from the cat for a few days when you first bring the dog home. Give the dog something with the cat’s scent on it, so they can get used to how the cat smells and that the cat isn’t threatening.
Keep the cat’s scent near the dog’s food, or offer treats when you present them with the object with the cat’s scent on it. This will link good things with the scent of the cat in the dog’s mind. After a couple of days, try to slowly introduce the pets by feeding them on opposite sides of a closed door.
Slowly move the food bowls closer to the closed door. As long as both pets eat comfortably, the next step will be a face-to-face introduction. You can do so with the help of a baby gate or a screen door. This will allow the two pets to see each other and sniff each other with no risk.
If the Boston Terrier remains calm in this situation, you can then introduce the two in the same room together. Choose a neutral space for the meeting, so neither pet has the upper hand. Your dog should understand commands at this point, but if you feel more comfortable, you can keep the pup on a leash.
Start with short meetings. Give the pets time to interact, but don’t overdo it. Try several short interactions every day for at least a week. Continuously offer treats for good behavior, and so the dog makes a positive association with the cat.
How to Train a Boston Terrier Puppy to Like Cats
Training a Boston Terrier puppy to like cats will be a really simple process. Puppies are easily adapted to new situations. Puppies are also more likely to form a bond with another animal if they are introduced to them at a young age.
There are still some things you will want to do to train your puppy to get along with your cat. First, make sure your pup has a full belly and is completely relaxed before the introduction. Keep the puppy on a leash so you can control their behavior as much as possible.
If your cat is naturally skittish, put them in a crate. If not, they can be left to walk around the area. Have tons of treats for both pets ready to reward good behavior. Allow the puppy and the cat to sniff each other and check each other out at a distance.
Pet your puppy to keep them calm and let them know that they are safe. This will also give the pup a positive association with good behavior around the cat. If they behave well, they get love and attention as well as treats.
It will be in your puppy’s nature to try to chase after the cat. This is why you must have the puppy on a leash during the first few interactions. It will be easier to correct the dog this way and let them know that chasing the cat is not allowed.
During the interactions, you should talk to and correct your puppy with a calm voice. If you yell or get aggravated with the dog, this will cause fear and anxiety. The puppy would then have a negative association with the cat, which is not what you want in this situation.
What Should You Avoid Doing?
It is important to make sure you take proper action when introducing your Boston Terrier to your cat. To do the right thing, you need to know what the wrong thing is. There are some common mistakes that should be avoided when introductions are being made.
Not Planning Space
Not taking time to plan the space your pets will be introduced in can make a world of difference with the interaction. You should always make sure your cat’s litter box is easily accessible to the cat but a safe place away from the dog.
You should also keep both pets’ food separate for a while. Many dogs will like to eat cat food, which the cat might not appreciate very much. Food bowls should be kept apart during introductions to prevent any food-related disagreements.
Not Considering Personalities
If you have had your cat for a while, chances are you know what their personality is like. You should consider this before trying to add a new pet to the family. If you know that your cat doesn’t get along well with other animals, you should avoid adding a puppy or dog to the mix.
Boston Terriers are generally outgoing dogs. This can be overwhelming to cats that haven’t been around that kind of energy before. This is important to consider when introducing your pets. Give your cat plenty of places to hide and get away from the dog when necessary.
Rushing the Introduction
Even if you think your pets will become fast friends, the initial introduction should still be taken very slowly. Pay attention to the body language of both animals during the first few interactions. There will generally be curiosity from both pets, and you should keep control of the situation by having the dog on a leash.
Keep the first few interactions short until you are completely confident that there will be no altercations between the two pets. Let them take their time to get used to each other. Don’t force them together if they aren’t ready.
Giving Alone Time Too Quickly
You should never leave your pets unsupervised until you are absolutely sure the two are fine together. It is possible for the cat and dog to get along just fine when you are present, but animals can be unpredictable and can fight while you are gone.
You can keep the pets separate while you are gone by keeping the dog in a crate or blocking off sections of the house that the cat can’t get to. This will still allow the pets to get associated with no risk of an altercation.
Not Giving Each Pet Their Own Space
Animals are known to sometimes be territorial. Cats especially need safe spaces to get away and be alone if the interaction is too much. Take advantage of the ability that cats have to climb and give them a place high up to escape.
Give your cat shelves or a cat tower that they can easily jump onto when they need to hide. However, you don’t want your cat to spend all their time hiding, so monitor how much time they are spending in their safe space.
Want To Train Your Boston Terrier With Peace Of Mind?
If you haven’t trained your Boston Terrier properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
With Brain Training For Dogs, you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact, you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases, it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
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Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your Boston Terrier completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
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Recap
When it comes to Boston Terriers and cats, you are highly likely to have pets that get along very well. You should always introduce the pets slowly and never leave them alone together until you are completely confident that there won’t be any fighting while you’re not there.
It is best to introduce a puppy to a cat, but you can also train an adult Boston Terrier to get along with cats. It will take time and patience, but it will be completely possible.
