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Samoyeds and Cats – Do They Get Along well?
Cats and Dogs can be notoriously bad with eachother. Some Dog breeds, and likewise some cat breeds can be particularly bad integrating with another animal in the household. However, Samoyeds are different.
Are Samoyeds good with cats?
Samoyeds, despite their size (being similar to that of a Siberian Husky) are very good with cats. Samoyeds are an affectionate and inquisite dog breed that are good with cats, other animals and of course humans. It is best to introduce Samoyeds with cats at a young age to get them used to their different quirks.
Always be vigiliant however, when the Samoyed gets older, that they do not overpower the cat with their size and cause harm.
As a preface to this article, please also check out this article by the Animal Humane Society on introducing cats and dogs.
How to Introduce Your Samoyed to a Cat
Introducing your Sammy to your cat ideally should start at a young age, for both of them. However, what is usually the case is that you’ll either have a slightly older cat, or vice versa, a slightly older Samoyed, and introduce a new kitten.
Either way, the process should be a linear process, you want them to both meet eachother in a relaxed setting, so that they can both pick up on eachother’s scent and behaviours.
You want to inroduce them in a neutral setting, for example: Do not first introduce your cat while your Samoyed is eating, or vice versa. Cats and Dogs can be very territorial, and especially if that creature is used to their own space, suddenly introducing a new creature could backfire.
How to Integrate Cats and Dogs
So now you’re in the right setting, you need to start to integrate them together. This is a natural process and will involve a lot of sniffing, backing off, perhaps even running away or shock. Afterall, you’ve brought a new animal into the house, a new scent, and especially to the cat, a much large, more intimidating creature altogether.
Ok, so now you’re in the same room, and everything is going well…(fingers crossed)
From here, slowly assess the situation, if your Samoyed approaches to sniff the cat, be wary of any swiping from the cat. If they seem to be getting along, then thats a good start already. If there is any lunging from the Samoyed then you need to restrain them; for this initial encounter we wouldnt encourage using a full leash, but restraining them with their collar is sufficient.
From here you also need to discourage this behaviour, so do not reward the animal with any treats as this is a form of positive reinforcement and may accidentally encourage the Samoyed to lunge again in the future.
Typically the process of integrating cats and dogs is much worse for the cat due to the size difference and especially because of how bouncy and energetic samoyed puppies can be.
Keep the Interaction Short at first
If the initial encounter has gone well and the two creatures seem to be getting on well, this is a fantastic start. However, you still need to keep the initial encounter short as to not stress either animal too much. If you notice that they are both getting along well, then fantastic, but you still don’t want to overdo it, as depending on the temperament of your pet, they may react a bit suddenly if frightened.
Rinse and Repeat
After the first successful encounter with your cat and Samoyed, you’ll want to repeat the process again, constantly assessing their behaviour and if they are scared at all.
If their behaviour is good and they aren’t showing any signs of aggression, then now is a good time to use the positive reinforcement technique. If they have a particular favourite snack or treat, now is a great time to introduce it and reinforce this positive behaviour by rewarding both of them with a treat. Check out our article here on the Best Dry Dog Food
This is a great technique to reward good behaviours and disencourage negative ones. If they do not have a favourite treat, you can also give them their favourite Toy which will also help to comfort them if they are feeling stressed or anxious. Our article on the Best Toys for Puppies Who Chew will give you some great ideas.
How to Make a Cat and Dog Like Eachother
As mentioned this isn’t an easy task. Depending on the temperament of your Samoyed and/or cat, they may just not get along very well. Sometimes this is just the case, but you can facilitate things a little by making sure they do not feel threatened during their encounters, keep calm, make sure there is not a lot of commotion going on and the animals are feeling stressed or frightened.
Samoyed Mix Puppies – Are They Good with Cats?
Similar to Samoyeds, Samoyed Mix Puppies will be equally as good as Samoyeds when integrating with cats, typically as long as the breed they are mixed with are similar to the Samoyed.
For example, husky samoyed mix puppies are typically very good around cats and also small children. However, there are some poor and unethical breeders out there who have unfortunately mixed Samoyeds with incompatible/undesirable breeds, as such, stick to licensed breeders and those that have experience with Siberian Huskies, Malamutes and Samoyed Dog Breeds.
Can You Leave Your Samoyed Alone with Your Cat?
This is something you will need to assess after a period of watching both of them carefully. What you dont want is a false sense of security, leave your cat and Samoyed alone, and then something happens. After a successful introduction and enough time together, you will be able to leave your Samoyed alone with your cat without much supervision.
However, the same applies to if you left your Dog and Small Child in the room together; more often than not, at first this is just a bad idea, so be wary and constantly watch their behaviour.
Instead, watch how their relationship is developing together. As they get used to eachother’s smells/scents and behaviours, they will start to relax.
Sure, like any siblings, they will have their issues, but this is completely normal and to be expected.
Samoyeds and Cats – Be Patient
The crucial thing to note here is that sometimes you just need to be patient when introducing one animal to another. At first, for weeks, months or even upto a year or two, the animals may just not like eachother. Eventually this will change unless there is a behavioural trait in that particular animal that cannot be changed. For this you would need to seek a specialist to treat these negative behaviours.
We recommend this book by Brenda Aloff in regards to treating negative or aggressive behaviours in your Samoyed:
Conclusion
There we have it, we hope we have answered your question regarding are samoyeds good with cats? It’s not always an easy task to introduce your cat to your samoyed or samoyed husky mix, but the key takeways from this article should be the following:
Take it slowly, and on their first encounter make sure it is a quiet environment; if the animals show signs of distress or aggression, then remove them and try again at another date.
Once they have sniffed eachother and accepted eachother’s new scent, make sure to observe any behaviours, including lunging, swiping/batting (from cats), if they are aggressive then once again, remove one of them from that situation and try again .
From here, you’ll want to reward good encounters with treats and toys, this uses the positive reinforcement technique which works fantastically to encourage positive behaviours in your creature.
Repeat the process again in the same relaxing environment, being very wary of any sudden/sharp lunging by either animal.
Finally, keep repeating this process in different environments until both creatures are comfortable with eachother. They will invevitably have their differences, but this will always be the case with Samoyeds and cats. Luckily Samoyeds are very soppy creatures and you’ve chosen the perfect breed to integrate with your cat.
FAQ
How much do Samoyeds Shed?
Samoyeds shed alot. This is similar to other breeds such as Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies. During Shedding you will expect to brush your samoyed at least twice a day. They have an overcoat and an undercoat (often referred to as “wool”). The overcoat is alot straighter typically, so expect to to find alot of shedded samoyed fur around your house.
Samoyeds typically shed the most in Spring and less in Winter. This makes sense logically as they have so much insulation, it makes no sense for them to hold so much fur in the spring/summer months, wheras in the winter months, it would have helped them in the wild to stay warm and insulated through the rain and snow.
We recommend this undercoat shedding tool by Furminator, it works well to brush your Samoyed and make sure the undercoat is brushed effectively as well as the overcoat.
Are Samoyed Puppies Difficult to train?
Like any Puppy, Samoyed Puppies can be difficult to train at times. Samoyed’s are known for being energetic, sometimes disobedient but lovely dogs. This sometimes mean that training can be a difficult process.
Generally Samoyeds are not super difficult to train, but if you are having issues then you may benefit from a dog behaviour & training specialist who may be able to diagnose or fix some issues with your Samoyed.
Are Samoyeds aggressive?
In general, Samoyeds are not aggressive dogs. They have a naturally kind and tender personality and there are very few documented cases of Samoyeds attacking or injuring another animal or human without provocation.
Samoyeds are big dogs, so keep this in mind before purchasing one. They require a lot of attention, and due to their size they can be overwhelming at times, especially for small children. However, as mentioned, they have a lovely personality and they will make the perfect pet for any family out there.
Are Samoyeds good guard dogs?
Samoyeds, due to their tender nature, are certainly not the best choice for a guard Dog. However, due to their size and the noise of their bark, they will at the very least scare a potential criminal from their presence alone.
That being said, from my own personal experience with Samoyeds, if/when they need to fight, they can do with true force. Lets not forget here that Samoyed’s are Sled Dogs, and they are very powerful animals not to be underestimated.
Can samoyeds live in hot weather?
Samoyeds can live in hot weather but it is not recommended, Samoyeds are better suited to colder climates, as they are historically sled dogs and grew up in much colder climates.
However, Samoyeds are seen all across the globe, from places like Miami all the way to Thailand. As mentioned, it is not recommended and infact a little cruel to keep Samoyeds in consistently warm temperatures such as 30 degrees plus. Like all Dogs, they can regulate their temperature via panting, but still, it is not a great idea to have such a dog whos key features include a super thick coat for insulation in a warm climate.
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