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Worrying about having a cat and a German Shepherd in your home at the same time is perfectly normal.
But If you approach the situation with the right attitude, your German Shepherd and cat can become the best of friends.
However, it can take weeks or months for a dog and a cat to get used to each other, so don’t expect instant results. Do your best to stay patient with your two pets during this period.
Upbringing, timing, training, and socialization will all be a part of this process.
You’re also going to want to consider the temperament of your existing pet before you bring another dog or cat into your home.
If you already have a cat, look for a German Shepherd with a mellow personality.
In terms of training a German Shepherd to get along with cats, If possible, start training your German Shepherd to become comfortable with cats while it’s still a puppy.
You can also try teaching your dog to ignore cats. Do this by capturing your dog’s attention while a cat is in the room.
Start by placing your cat in a pet carrier. Bring your dog into the room, and let it sniff the carrier. After a moment, call your dog away for treats and direct its attention.
Continue to play with your dog while the cat is safely crated. If your dog tries to investigate the carrier, block their access, or distract them again.
Whenever your dog ignores the cat and pays attention to you, reinforce this behavior with treats and praise.
After a few successful ignore sessions, put a leash on your dog and let the cat out of the carrier. Continue to reinforce ignoring the cat; and don’t let your dog get up to investigate.
Eventually, you should be able to let your dog offleash and maintain its full attention while a cat is in the room.
Once your dog knows the ignore skill, you can also teach them to wait patiently and let a cat approach them. Put your dog on a leash, and bring a cat in a carrier into the room.
Ask your dog to lie down and stay. If your dog lunges at the cat, say no. Correct their behavior until they remain still.
Once your dog has shown that it can stay quiet around the kitty, let the cat out of the carrier, and remember not to let yourself become tense; your dog will react to your emotions.
Keep your dog lying down while the cat explores the room.
Eventually, the cat may feel like approaching your dog; so remember to keep your dog calm for the entire process, and reward your pup for good behavior.
Once the cat is put away, let the energy rise again with treats and playtime.
You can also try asking your dog to lie down every time they see a cat. You want your German Shepherd to automatically relax and assume a nonthreatening position whenever they encounter a cat.
Training cats to get along with German Shepherds will also involve keeping your cat calm. Since German shepherds usually only chase cats who run, if you can help your cat relax around the dog, you can prevent most chasing situations.
Start by Introducing Scents
Keep your two pets separated for the first day or two. If they’ve already had a bad introduction, give them a few days to cool off and forget about the incident.
And remember to spend time with each pet individually; they shouldn’t feel like you love the other animal more.
Next, introduce your cat to the German Shepherd’s scent. Take a towel or a blanket that the dog has interacted with, and bring it into the cat’s space.
This will help your cat become comfortable with the dog’s presence in their home, and you can also bring the cat’s scent into the dog’s environment.
We also recommend feeding both pets while they’re on opposite sides of the same door. This lets them feel more comfortable in each other’s presence without exposing them to direct interaction.
When you haven’t noticed any barking, hissing, or stress from either pet in a few days, it’s time to try an introduction.
Follow the same steps as with your GSD to make sure your puppy doesn’t scare your cat when they first meet.

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