Are Siamese Cats Great with Dogs

There is a weird belief that cats and dogs are sworn, enemies. This has made lovers of both animals wonder if pairing both animals is a great idea.

While both animals may exhibit behaviors that cause them to seem to hate each other, some cat breeds are more compatible with dogs than other breeds.

Do Siamese cats get along with dogs? Siamese cats are great with dogs because of their amazing personality. Little wonder they are the most sought-after cat breeds in America. Regardless of this fact, a proper introduction is necessary to ensure a great relationship between your dog and your Siamese cat. The temperament of your dog and the unique personality of your cat can go a long way go along way in determining they will interact with each other.

5 Best Dog Breeds For Siamese Cats

Sometimes, doing all you can to get your Siamese cat to get along with your dog may not be enough. It may not be your fault. The thing is that some dog breeds are more compatible with the Siamese cat than others.

Here is a list of five dog breeds that will get along with your Siamese cat

Golden Retriever: Golden retrievers are very kind and empathetic animals. They will warmly accept cats into your family.

Beagle: The beagle may be a hunter but he gets along well with cats. If you pair one with your Siamese cat, you will almost always find both of them all cuddled up.

Pug: Pugs and Siamese cats get along almost as soon as they meet each other.

Basset Hound: The Basset Hound’s laziness is probably a major reason why the Siamese cat will get along with him. If you get this dog breed, your cat will almost always use him as a couch.

Boston Terrier: The Boston Terrier is the only type of terrier that is great with cats. They are very polite dogs.

The Siamese Cat and its Personality

Siamese Cats are known for their distinctive appearance. According to Figo Pet Insurance, the Siamese cat is one of the most popular Asian breeds of cat (along with the Himalayan, Bengal, and Burmese).

They originated from Thailand in the 14th Century. During that time, they were reserved only for Thailand royalty. Their time of entry into Europe and America is not certain.

According to The Purrington Post, pictures of a cat with Siamese markings were found in by a man as far back as the late 1700s in Southern Russia. However, the certainty of this is not true. It was not until the late 1800s that anything about these cats in Europe was ever documented.

In 1884, the British Consul was gifted a Siamese Cat by the Siamese (Thailand) king. This is the cats’ first documented entry into Europe.

Its entry into America is still sketchy. However, according to The Purrington Post, the first Siamese Cat Society of America was formed in 1909.

Today they are the fifth most popular cat in America. The Siamese cat gained so much popularity because of its good looks and great personality.

There is a misconception among animal lovers that cats have very minimal regard for their human. With the Siamese cat, this perception is multiple times false.

The Siamese cat is popular for its playfulness, curiosity, and tendency to cause mischief if you are not around. In fact, your Siamese cat may get lonely you are away for a long period.

Siamese cats may exhibit dog-like behavior in the sense that they love to play fetch, walk on a leash, and watch television with rapt attention.

They are also dog-like in the sense that they can be very talkative. They always find a way to communicate what is on the minds. Purrington Post notes the cries of a Siamese cat are very much alike with those of a human child.

Siamese cats are very sociable animals. They never grow up and they love to play all day. They are a joy to watch when they interact with other animals. If you are the type of person that loves to stroke their animals, then the Siamese cat is for you.

The Siamese is also a very intelligent animal. According to the Purrington Post, Siamese is the most intelligent domesticated felines. They will make it a duty to find every nook and cranny of your house. They are that inquisitive.

They learn things from you and your dog through observation. They may be the reason behind you waking up to see all your kitchen cabinets open.

Siamese cats have the tendency to be very territorial and aggressive. They will become jealous if they see that they share their affection with other people or animals. They love attention, so it is important to keep that in mind when you are considering pairing them with a dog.

How To Discern The Temperament of your Dog

Before you go on to pair your dog with a Siamese cat, you have to consider the temperament of your dog. Dogs are generally bigger than cats.

For the Siamese cat, this is no different. As a result, the size of your dog can potentially mean harm to your cat.  A pounce from that may not be done with the intent of harm could easily kill your cat.

This is why you have to understand the temperament of your dog and their aggressive tendencies to ensure your cat is safe.

It is important to note that the level of aggression a dog has is largely based on its breed. Some dog breeds are more aggressive than others.

This is why you need to gauge the aggression level of your dog before you introduce them to your Siamese cat.

You can figure this out by looking at the way your dog reacts when your dog is approached by a small animal. Do they respond with active curiosity or react violently?

Are they friendly or aggressive to guests and little children?

Do they sulk or get aggressive when another animal wants your attention?

When you want to bring adopt a Siamese cat into the family, you have to ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly. If your dog tends to be very aggressive, then bringing a new pet may not be a good idea.

You will not only be putting the cat in danger, but you will also make your dog go through the stress of having to deal with an unfamiliar animal in the household.

On the other hand, if you are sure that you have a friendly dog, the subsequent sections of this article will teach you how to make them get used to each other.

How To Introduce the Siamese Cat Into Your Household

Depending on the temperament of both animals, the introduction phase can last for either a short while or a long time.

Your cat has to be introduced to everything, one step at a time. The same applies if you already have a Siamese cat and intend to introduce a dog to your household.

Patience and cautiousness are the key attributes you need to have to make this work.

First off, the animal who is being introduced, whether it is the Siamese cat or a dog needs to get comfortable and used to their environment. It is best if you put all of their belongings in one room. This includes their toys and other accessories that they may use.

Do not make the mistake of putting them together immediately. Keep both animals in separate rooms at first. While it is important to keep both animals in separate rooms, make sure you spend time with both of them.

During the first introduction, make sure you are holding your dog by the collar as a precaution. Just make them take a brief look at each other then return them back to their respective posts.

Pay attention to the way both animals react to the sight of each other. Do they seem to be hostile to each other? Or did they seem curious? Their reactions are what will determine your next line of action.

If they were hostile to each other, you may have to keep doing those introductions occasionally while holding the dogs by the collar. As time goes on, increase their introduction time based on the reactions that you pick. The nicer they seem to be with each other, the longer they get to spend with each other.

If you begin to see that they are getting along, graduate from holding your dog by the collar to holding them by a leash. This will give your dog more room to get to know the cat while giving you the ability to control them if things get hostile.

As time goes on, you can increase the intensity of introductions until they are living in the same space.

Remember that the goal is that they are happy and feel safe in the household.

Accessories That Will Help Your Siamese Cat Adjust Well To Living With A Dog

Generally, cats are much more sensitive than dogs. What your dog might consider playing around may cause your cat to get stressed out. During moments like this, your Siamese cat needs to have ‘a means of escape’ from your dog.

This is where the cat accessories come in. Here are some cat accessories that can help them unwind when they feel stressed.

  • Cat tower
  • Cat shelves
  • Cat door to another room

The cat tower is a great choice because there are so many different options available.

Look for a cat tower that is tall enough for your cat to get away from all the stress. Cats love to climb trees so a tall tower can act as a tree if you live in an apartment building.  The tower should also be strong enough to withstand the impact of a dog.

Cat Shelves are also a great option if you can set them up in your house. It is a tool that they can use to entertain themselves and hide away from stress and harm.

If getting shelves are impossible, you can use a tall bookshelf in an extra room. They can jump to the top and escape from harm. It can be a great place for you to store their toys.

The safest accessory you can have is a cat door that leads to another room in the house. However, note that this option can only be used by folks who can make permanent changes to their homes.

Additional Tips for Introducing Your Siamese Cat To Your Dog

Now you know the basics of introducing your Siamese cat to your dog. But sometimes, the basics may not be enough. Here are some tips that can help with the introduction process.

Always provide a safe space for both animals

In the initial stages of interaction, you may need to create a safe space for your Siam in your house. The separate rooms, cat towers, and cat shelves will do a lot of good for your feline friend.

Always make sure that dogs cannot make their way into this safe space. The same should be done for your dog too. Sometimes, these animals need space to breathe and be by themselves. This will allow them to effectively do so.

Share the Love

Both dogs and Siamese cats are very affectionate animals. They are both very likely to suffer from jealousy when they have to share you with someone else.

Your pets must always be reassured that they are still loved even though there is another animal that seems to be competing for your attention.

Make Both Animals Familiar With Each Other’s Smell

Siamese Cats getting accustomed to the smells of their canine neighbors can go a long way in easing their introduction. There are several ways to do this.

The most effective way to do it is to place a piece of cloth that strongly carries the scent of your dog under your cats feeding bowl. You can do the same for your dog by placing a cloth with your cats’ scent under your dog’s feeding bowl.

Do this while you are still doing those short meetings at the preliminary round of introduction. Both animals will likely get along better if they get used to each other’s scent.

Conclusion

Siamese cats are perhaps one of the best-domesticated cat breeds. They are beautiful to look, sociable, and have a lot of personalities – things that you look for in an ideal pet. Dogs also make great pets. There is a reason why they are called man’s best friend.

Having these two pets together in the same household can be really tricky. The good news is that Siamese cats are great with dogs due to their sociable nature. However, there are a few things that you need to put in place before you pair both lovely animals together.

In this article, we explored all of these things. I hope that you have learned a thing or two. If you have some suggestions, let me know in the comment section below.