Cats and dogs can either be the best of friends or scare the living daylights out of one another. Their ability to get along strongly depends on the dog breed, so you may be wondering “are Boxers good with cats?”
Boxers are known to be really good with cats and other household pets. However, it’s important that the Boxer has been socialized so it doesn’t view cats as prey. Living in a multi-pet household with a Boxer is entirely possible, and the big dog can also make a great companion for the little house cat.
Even though Boxers do have a strong prey drive, an owner can train and socialize the dog so it’s compatible living with small animals. On this page, we’re going to go into further detail on why Boxers are actually good with cats. We will also cover what multi-pet owners should know about living with Boxers and cats.
Are Boxers Good With Cats?
Boxers can get along very well with cats. Now, keep in mind that this generally doesn’t happen by nature. Boxers are keen hunting dogs that are very good at catching game. It’s in their nature to chase down small (and large for that matter) animals.
That being said, Boxers are notoriously friendly. They love being in the company of people and other animals. The thing is, they need to be trained and socialized at a young age so they are obedient when a cat is around. When a Boxer is trained, it will know how to behave around the cat and pet owners won’t have to be worried about their interactions.
This is why it’s strongly urged to teach your Boxer commands during training. If you notice signs of it becoming too rough or rowdy with the cat, you can use the “stop” or “here” command. This way, you can give the dog a time-out until it’s calmed down.
How to Introduce a Boxer to a Cat
Always be patient when you’re introducing a Boxer to a cat. The first initial meeting may not always go smoothly. After all, they are both new and foreign creatures to each other. You can expect some fear and aggravation. While this may be challenging at first, keep in mind that it’s worth it because Boxers and cats can be good friends.
In this situation, both the Boxer and the cat need to learn how to behave around each other. To make the initial meet and greet easier, we want to share some of our tips for introducing a Boxer to a cat.
Keep the Boxer on a Leash
When the Boxer and the cat first meet, it’s very likely that the cat is going to be more afraid of the dog. This is why it’s important that you have the dog under control. We recommend keeping the dog on a leash or in a crate. This way, if its prey drive kicks in, it won’t be able to chase the cat.
Let the Cat Make the First Move
If you want this meet and greet to go well, it’s important to let the cat approach the Boxer on its terms. If you let the Boxer approach the cat, there is a good chance the cat will be frightened and won’t want anything to do with the dog. Your cat will feel a lot more comfortable if it is the one to make the first move.
Set Up the Right Area
When a Boxer and cat are being introduced, you won’t want to do it in an open area where they can easily runoff. Many pet owners have success by using a baby gate to prevent the animals from escaping the room. However, you won’t want to block off all exits. Make sure there is an open or elevated area for the cat if it wants to get away.
Don’t Treat the Cat Like an Infant
Although you may be worried about the size difference, it’s important not to keep a hold of the cat. When you’re holding the cat in your arms and keeping it from the Boxer, it makes the dog curious. It will jump up and try to get what you’re keeping from it.
Keep it Short and Sweet
Don’t be disappointed if the first meeting didn’t go well. It does take time for a cat and Boxer to adjust to one another. That is why we recommend keeping the first meetings short and on the positive side. Make both animals see that this is supposed to be a good experience. You can even reward them with treats for good behavior so they begin to like the experience.
Does the Boxer’s Age Matter?
Age does play a role in how a Boxer will behave when it’s being introduced to a cat. If the Boxer is a puppy and the cat is a kitten, it likely won’t take long for them to adjust. Puppies and kittens can adjust to living with other animals a lot easier than an adult cat or dog would.
Now, when it comes to introducing adult Boxers and adults cats, you have a bit more work ahead of you. Ideally, these animals are best when meeting at a young age. However, life doesn’t always work that way. When either an adult Boxer or an adult cat isn’t used to the other animal, getting them to warm up will be challenging.
In most situations, the cat is the deciding factor. This is why you could have better luck introducing a young kitten to an adult Boxer. It likely won’t be phased by such a big animal. An adult cat may seem put off by a Boxer puppy, but since it’s smaller the cat could warm up to it sooner than expected.
Can You Introduce Adult Cats to Adult Boxers?
Cats and dogs both become familiar with the routine, especially as they become adults. If their previous routine never involved the other animal, you can expect there to be a few challenges when introducing the two animals. Always be prepared for it to take more time when adjusting an adult Boxer to an adult cat.
At first, getting the adults cat and Boxer to like each other may seem like it’s impossible. This is especially true if either animal came from the shelter because you may not be aware of the previous trauma the animal experienced. Always be patient when the adult cat and Boxer are adjusting to one another.
Before you know it, you will have a pair of best friends and cuddle buddies.
Are Boxers Dangerous To Cats?
Boxers are large dogs that can grow to be as big as 80 lbs. A full-grown cat, on the other hand, is usually an average of 10 lbs. This has a lot of pet owners worried that the Boxer may hurt the cat.
Cats are fast runners and Boxers do have a strong prey drive to chase after them. However, if your Boxer is trained and socialized, this won’t be an issue. This is because Boxers react much differently to animals in their home environment than they do when they are outside. The urge to chase an animal in the house isn’t as strong.
Believe it or not, your cat is the one who can cause more damage. If the cat swipes the Boxer and hits the dog’s eye with its claw, it could cause corneal lacerations. If the cat is frightened by the dog, it may scratch them, resulting in an injury. Don’t let the small size fool you, cats can defend themselves very well when needed.
What To Worry About When Living With Cats and Boxers
When you have a Boxer and a cat together in the same house, you need to plan out where you put the cat’s litter box. Is there an area in your home that the cat can easily get to, but is easy to block the Boxer from? If so, you should place the litter box in there.
It’s very important to keep the litter box out of reach from the dog because Boxers are tempted to eat cat feces. When they do this, the Boxer is at risk of intestinal parasites. Some of the biggest risks of Boxers eating cat poop can be tapeworms and roundworms.
Final Thoughts
Are Boxers good with cats? Boxers are very friendly dogs that get along great with cats. However, the pets owner will need to make sure the Boxer has been trained and socialized before meeting a cat. This is because Boxers have a prey drive and could chase the cat.
Boxers and cats are known to form really good bonds with one another. However, this never happens instantly. When introducing the two animals, you can expect some challenges along the way. While this may be difficult, it will be well worth it in the end when you see how well they get along. Always monitor how they get along to ensure the Boxer doesn’t frighten the cat and get scratched.