Are Irish Setters good with cats? It’s a question many people ask when considering this breed as a pet. Many people believe that almost every pet dogs despise felines and vice versa, which is a common misperception. The truth is, it really varies from dog to dog – and sometimes even from cat to cat. So, are Irish Setters good with cats? Let’s explore this a bit further.
Are Irish Setters Good With Cats?
Due to its strong hunt history, these dogs are bred to chase and flush out birds and other small prey, which unfortunately means they may view your kitty as a potential game. That being said, with the right training and socialization, Irish Setters can definitely learn to coexist peacefully with cats – and even become friends with them.
If an Irish setter sees a cat, bird, hedgehog, badger, squirrel, or even a rabbit, its innate hunting reflexes come in immediately. It is, therefore, crucial to start socialization early on and expose your pup to different animals – including cats. It will help them understand that not every creature they see needs to be chased.
However, if your car and Irish Setter grow together from a young age, they are more likely to develop a strong bond and become best friends. So, are Irish Setters good with cats? The answer is – it depends. With the right training and socialization, they can learn to get along with cats and even become friends. However, if you don’t put in the work, your pup may always see cats as prey.
Are Irish Setters Good With Cats? Ways to Introduce Them
The initial introduction is perhaps the most crucial step in getting your Irish Setter and cat to become friends. The approach is similar, especially if you’ve got a cat and acquired a puppy setter; it will be simpler than if you have it the opposite way. *Proceed with extreme care at the initial introduction since you are in charge of their welfare and safety.
Take these simple steps to determine the most effective way to introduce your cat and Irish Setter.Â
▶Teaching Fundamental Commands
Before introducing your Irish Setter to your cat, make sure they understand basic commands like down, stay, and sit. If your pup gets too excited and starts chasing your cat, you can quickly give them a command to stop.
▶Do a Scent Swap
Every dog breeds rely heavily on its sense of smell, so this is a great way to help them get familiar with each other’s scent before they actually meet. Simply take a towel and lightly rub it on your cat’s fur. Then, do the same with the Irish Setter. This way, they’ll each be familiar with the other animal’s smell before they meet face to face.
▶Ensure the Area Is Safe
Provide a secure place for the cat and Irish Setter that the other household pets are not allowed to enter. For the first few days or weeks, this should be a room where the cat can climb up on things and escape if necessary. The Irish Setter should not have had access to this area at all during this time.
▶Keep Them Initially Separated
Initially, keep them apart for the very first few days. Ensure that both the Irish Setter and the cat have all of the necessary vaccinations. It is essential because you don’t want either animal to get sick.
▶Feed on Opposite Sides
Always feed the cat before your Irish Setter, regardless of their spatial location. It’s good to make this approach by 10 minutes early. It’s another sign to your Irish Setter that the feline is a valued family member since it gets to eat first.Â
Your cat and Irish Setter should be fed on different sides of a closed door. It makes it easier for them to associate each other’s presence with enjoyable activities.
▶Make the Initial Meeting Short
Start conducting meet and greets in a shared area of your home once they can both eat peacefully near the door. With your Irish Setter on a leash, make the first few sessions calm and short. Both household dogs should be rewarded for their excellent behavior.
▶Daily Face to Face Sessions
Every day, continue conducting face-to-face meetings. Make sure your Irish Setter’s favorite food is saved for these sessions. Let your cat leave, but ensure that Irish Setter doesn’t pursue after them. Try to end the sessions as soon as any pet exhibits signs of resentment or stress.
▶Let Them Hang Around The Same Space
Encourage them to hang around during the area with one another if they appear to be getting along very well. Return to the previous steps and repeat these if any tension arises. You should also provide each pet with its own food, water bowl, bed, and toys to prevent potential disputes.
▶Stop Them From Annoying One Another
Allowing them to communicate with one other once they’ve built a connection is highly recommended! However, if one of them likes playing and the other does not, it may soon get annoying. If this happens, provide a safe space for the pets, as mentioned above, to rest and observe.
▶Spread Equal Attention
Almost all dog breed craves the attention of their owners as much as cats do. So, continue spreading your attention equally to avoid any pet feeling left out. Showing your cat and Irish Setter that you love them both makes them more likely to develop a strong bond with one another.
▶Keep the Positive Associations
Play games with your cat and Irish Setter to make interactions good and entertaining. Always remember to provide snacks for both. If they’re together, there is nothing more motivating than getting things they both like. Make it a new home rule that either they receive a reward together or don’t get anything.
Positive interactions may develop connections over time until the cat, and Irish Setter become great buddies. That sounds incredible, and it is, but it will require effort and time.
▶Be Patient and Consistent
The final and most important tip is to be patient throughout the entire process. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are relationships between pets. Just like humans, it takes time for animals to form bonds with one another.
Cats are creatures of habit, so any change can be stressful for them. The key is to go slowly and let them warm up to the idea of having a new animal friend in the house. Remember to be consistent with your actions and words throughout the entire process to send a clear message.
As you can see, there are several steps you can take to help your Irish Setter and cat become friends. It’s important to remember that every pet is different and that some may never become besties no matter how hard you try. But as long as you are patient and consistent with the training, you will have the best chance for success.
How Can Irish Setters Stop Chasing Cats?
With the correct introduction and plenty of patience, your Irish Setter can learn to coexist with your cat. However, some dogs are simply too high energy for this to ever be possible. If this is the case, you can do a few things to help stop the chasing behavior problem.
✔️Keep Them on a LeashÂ
Have the Irish Setter on a leash whenever the cat is in a similar space. It will help to prevent any potential accidents from happening.
✔️Distract Them with a Toy
If the Irish Setter starts to chase, quickly distract them with a toy or treat. It will redirect their attention and help to stop the behavior. Continue to reward your Irish Setter until your cat leaves. When your cat persists, treat your Irish Setter with a toy or a chew to keep them engaged on its reward.
✔️Exercise Them More
A tired dog is a good dog. Be sure to wear out your Irish Setter with plenty of exercises. It will help burn off any excess energy and make them less likely to chase after the cat.
List of Cat Breeds that Can Get Along with Irish Setters
Many people believe that cats despise dogs. It isn’t usually the case, however. In fact, many cats like their furry friends. The adorable cats from this list adore dogs as much as you do!
😺Abyssinian Cats
Abyssinian cat is a gregarious, friendly cat who gets along well with Irish Setters, other dogs, and other animals. These cats are typically simple to keep in the house and are quite active and energetic. They like interacting with their pet parents just about as much as they enjoy playing with dogs.
😺American Shorthair Cats
The American shorthair cat, dubbed “America’s breed,” is a family favorite, routinely placing in the 10 leading cat breeds every year. They get along well with other household pets, such as Irish Setters and other dogs with a calm, even temperament, keen intelligence, and a friendly demeanor.
😺Birman Cats
The Birman cat is a medium to large, longhaired domestic cat breed with Siamese-style point coloration and deep blue eyes. Birmans are known for being social, affectionate, and good with other animals. They are particularly fond of dogs and make excellent companions for Irish Setters.
😺Bombay Cats
The Bombay cat is a short-haired domestic cat breed with copper eyes and a black coat, created by crossing a black American Shorthair with a sable Burmese. Bombay cats are very social creatures that enjoy the company of other animals, including dogs. Irish Setters are likely to find a new best friend in a Bombay cat.
😺Japanese Bobtail Cat
The Japanese Bobtail is a domestic cat with a naturally occurring stub tail. These breeds are known for their friendly personalities and are good with other animals, including dogs. These cats are very interactive and enjoy playing games with their pet parents and Irish Setter pals.
😺Maine Coon Cats
Sometimes known as a Maine Coon, this gentle giant is recognized for possessing a dog-like demeanor. They’re nice and affectionate, and they like following their pet parent around. They like cuddling, will most likely want to be touched, and enjoy playing with you. Your Irish Setter and other cats will probably get along Absolutely fine with this cat breed.
😺Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest cat is a large, semi-longhaired domestic cat breed native to Northern Europe. These cats are known for being social, friendly, and good with other animals. They are particularly fond of dogs and make excellent companions for Irish Setters.
😺Ragdoll Cat
The Ragdoll is named for its propensity towards becoming fluffy and doll-like once carried and for being among the most gentle breeds around. These cat breeds are ideal for households with kids. Since they tend to follow humans along and fetch, they are frequently referred to as “puppy dogs.” They should have little trouble getting along with your Irish Setter.Â
😺Siberian Cat
This cat is generally a domestic cat that has been prevalent in Russia for millennia and has only recently been introduced as an official breed, with criteria issued in the mid-1980s. Siberians are known to be social animals that enjoy the company of other animals, including dogs. They are likely to find a new best friend in your Irish Setter.
😺Tonkinese Cat
These cats are a household cat breed that originated from combining Burmese and Siamese cats. These cat breeds are social, affectionate, and good with other animals. They are particularly fond of dogs and make excellent companions for Irish Setters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How to tell if my Irish Setter will be good with cats?
There are a few things you can look for that may indicate whether or not your Irish Setter will be good with cats. If they are social, affectionate, and enjoy the company of other animals, they are likely to get along well with cats. Additionally, if they are particularly fond of dogs and make excellent companions for them, they are likely to get along with cats as well.
Q: Is it better to acquire a cat or dog first?
Generally, the ideal method is to first acquire a well-mannered middle-aged dog who is uninterested in cats; then a kitten nurtured in a home with hostile and friendly dogs.
Q: Will my Irish Setter hurt my cat?
If your Irish Setter is social, affectionate, and good with other animals, they are unlikely to hurt your cat. However, as with any animal, there is always the potential for harm, so it is crucial to supervise them when they are first introduced and never leave them unsupervised together.
Q: How do I train my Irish Setter to like cats?
However, it is essential to socialize them from a young age with various animals, including cats, to be accustomed to their presence and are less likely to view them as prey. Additionally, it is important never to leave your Irish Setter and cat unsupervised together, as even the best-behaved dogs can sometimes act on instinct.
Q: What are some other animals that Irish Setters are good with?
Irish Setters get along very well with other dogs and cats in the home, particularly if they’ve been raised around them, but they may consider birds prey because that’s what they’re meant to chase.
Q: Can an Irish Setter be left alone with a cat?
It is generally not advisable to leave any dog unsupervised with a cat, as even the best-behaved dogs can sometimes act on instinct. If you must leave them alone together, it is important to provide a safe space for the cat where they can retreat if they feel threatened and to ensure that there are no items in the environment that could potentially be used as weapons. Irish Setters are particularly fond of dogs and make excellent companions for them, so they are likely to get along well with cats if left alone together.
Final Thoughts
If you consider adding a cat to your home and wonder if an Irish Setter is the right breed for you, the answer is likely yes! They are social, affectionate, and good with other animals, making them ideal companions for cats. However, it is important to socialize them from a young age with a variety of different animals, including cats, so that they are accustomed to their presence and are less likely to view them as prey. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your Irish Setter and cat will be the best of friends!
