Are Springer Spaniels Good With Cats?- Lets Find Out

By / June 16, 2021
Springer Spaniels Good With Cats

Springer Spaniels are fantastic pets – they are loving and playful, great with children and other dogs, and always up for a hug. But the problem may come when introducing your dog to new pets in the house. If you’re looking at getting a Springer, and asking yourself the question ‘Are Springer Spaniels good with cats?.

Then this is the article for you!

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Do Springer Spaniels get on well with cats?

Generally speaking, most Springer Spaniels are good with cats around, they may need some training to get used to your cat. If the cat and the springer will bond will mainly depend on the personality of the dog. However, there are some other factors that decide whether the two will get along.

The English Springer Spaniel Breed
Although ‘English Springer Spaniel‘ (<–link to Wikipedia) may seem like a reasonably specific breed name, there are two different types of springer breed lines – working/field lines and Show lines.

Working lines dogs are much more athletic and energetic, bred to have the drive to work. you may ask how can a hunting dog be good with cats? well they were not bred to actively hunt they were bred to flush and retrieve game and to have a soft mouth( not bite down onto the birds they pick up).

While the show breed is thought to be a little more relaxed and laid back, tho will happily work given a chance, generally, with a full longer coat, that’s brushed and groomed to perfection for showing whereas a field-bred dog has a shorter more tight coat, more suited to bounding through the undergrowth.

Introducing a show springer to a cat will probably be a much calmer experience. However, the cat may still see the spaniel as a new threat and start to hiss and may also claw your dog.

Many dogs do end up getting hurt by cats usually with eye injuries due to being clawed, so bear in mind that not all springer spaniel-cat introductions will go peacefully.

 Many Spaniels are good with cats and can usually be seen cuddled up together sleeping. If they are introduced the correct way, you should be fine.

Previous Experience With A Cat
If you are introducing a new puppy to a cat, they probably won’t have any previous experience of cats; however, an older dog may have been acquainted with a cat before. This could be a good or a bad thing; if their last encounter was positive, then meeting a new cat should go quite well, because their brain has a good link with cats.

However, if their previous cat encounter was not a good one, then there may be a negative link in the brain which means they may bark and growl at the cat, or possibly even try to attack it.

Getting A Springer Spaniel Used To a Cat

Introducing a cat to a spaniel could be quite dangerous if not properly controlled, but by following the tips below, you can keep the pets’ first meeting positive, safe, and welcoming.

Using a leash
Whenever you are introducing a Springer Spaniel to a cat, it is essential to make sure you have control over them, especially as they are such boisterous, energetic animals.

Letting the dog get close to the cat is crucial to starting the bonding process but being able to pull the pets away from each other may be necessary if things start to get aggressive.
If you are using the leash method, only put a leash on your dog that way if things don’t go so well your cat can easily run to safety.

  • Give lots of praise to your dog through the whole process and the use of treats as a distraction from the cat can also be a good idea.
  • I would recommend fitting a muzzle to your dog if you have one available, if not it may be a worthwhile investment just to be safe.
  • Use shorter meetings instead of longer ones.

Using slow introductions
If the cat and the spaniel do not seem immediately happy with each other, then it will probably take a lot of time and patience to get them comfortable living with each other.

Taking things slowly by keeping them in separate rooms to start with, and letting them meet once a day gets them used to the fact that they are going to live together.

use your cat and dogs scent

The scent is part of a cat and dog’s way of communicating with each other so why not use it to your advantage now. By swapping your cat and dog’s bedding around they can get used to each other’s scent long before they ever meet!

crate training
using a crate to introduce your springer spaniel to a cat can be a great safe option as there is no way they can get into contact with each other. Doing this will prevent harm to your cat or dog and allow them time to get used to each other. 

When using this method place your dog or cat into a locked mesh crate. Then let your dog or cat come up to the crate so that they can see and smell each other.

Let them do this in their own time don’t force it. From this, you can safely see how they react to each other, and work out how to move forward. This step should be carried out a few times over several days. Never take the first meeting as golden.

Training classes
No matter what the age of the dog, taking your springer to some training classes will help them to learn new bonding skills. Taking the dog to classes alone will help it to learn not to be aggressive and hopefully to be obedient to you.

However, taking the dog and the cat to classes together will help the animals to create a positive bond, and using professional help will also speed the process along.

One significant thing to bear in mind is that some animals will not get along. Don’t try and force your cat and your springer to become best buddies – if it’s not meant to be, then there is no point in making the animals unhappy.

Things to Avoid When Introducing A Springer Spaniel To A Cat

  • Feeding at the same time and in the same room, this should be avoided at all costs no matter how tame your cat or dog animals are very protective over food.
  • Introducing your springer to your cat too fast, take it slowly 
  • Do not continue the meeting if there is a show of aggression from either side, instead, take a short break and try later once things have calmed down.

Advice on choosing the right spaniel for you

If you are somebody who is looking into getting a springer spaniel, then choosing a dog that will adapt the fastest to having a cat around will make your experience much more straightforward.


It is not always possible, but looking at getting a puppy will make your life much easier. Springer puppies are super-fast at learning and adapting quickly, and because they are smaller, the cat will be less intimidated. There may still be some issues, but the whole process will move much faster if the dog is a puppy.

Should I get a springer spaniel puppy if I have a cat?

I would say that if you are looking at getting a Springer Spaniel puppy while you also own a cat, then your heart has to be in it 100%! You need willpower, patience, and resilience to create an ideal living situation with a cat and a spaniel.

Getting a springer spaniel will also involve lots of hard work and patience as they need plenty of exercise, lots of attention, and can rarely be left home alone. But if you are willing to make a significant lifestyle change for a new dog, then getting a springer spaniel is definitely worth it!

So are springer spaniels good with cats?

A well-socialized springer spaniel will get on well with cats and other dogs.  The same may not be true for your cat so that is something to bear in mind. with a little patience and training, you should have no problem getting your dog to get along with a cat. So to answer the question “Are Springer Spaniels good with cats?“Yes, they can be it just may take a little work on your part!

Disclaimer
Myspringerspaniel.com does not provide veterinary advice. We aim to provide you with information to enable you to make a good decision when making a purchase or to care for your dog.
All content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice.

If you’re concerned about the health of your pet, you should contact your vet for advice.
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