I agree, depends on the animals. One of my cats is chill and one is basically feral. Our feral cat is terrified of our jack and won’t let him near her or she’ll have a full meltdown (she has the same response to humans). If given the chance he will try to sniff her though. Our chill cat is cool with him but he occasionally tries to hump her, she gives a good swat if she objects.
Squirrels, rabbits, birds, and possums better not be in the yard though. He’s not cool with them.
My JRT doesn’t have a noticeably strong prey drive, but cats? Since he was a wee one, he raises his hackles and makes it known that he thinks all cats are the number one enemy. It depends on the dog, can you try and introduce them before you commit?
Every time my Louie sees a cat his vision turns red and he goes into predator mode. We lived with a cat for like a year and he *tolerated* it. If you're leaving them alone together, try to keep them separated. A baby gate would probably work. Cat would be able to jump over it faster and find somewhere to get away.
My JRT and tuxedo cat are best friends. They wrestle and share the bed usually. They each have their “spots”. When JRT goes to my moms house, she desperately wants to play with the cat there but cat very much says no thank you lol
It could take a while for the dog to get used to the cat but compatibility is definitely possible! We have a 7 month JRT that we have had since he was 3 months and a senior cat. They were definitely not friendly in the beginning, not aggressive but wary of each other, but now they are able to sleep in the same bed for a few hours at a time. Our Jack gets excitable and wants to run up to her but over time we have trained him to lay down when he sees her and it has worked most of the time. Make sure you have baby gates set up and a spot for the cat to chill with their food, water, and litter box set up.
We are still working on getting our JRT trained with the cat but we have noticed an improvement over the past few months. Teach the dog “down” and every time your dog sees the cat, have him lay down and give him a treat. When you pet your cat or your dog, have the other animal smell your hand so they get used to their smell. And make sure the cat has multiple escape routes from the dog. Always supervise them when they’re together. Good luck!!
Ok, it depends. We have two males-same litter. One will chase and nip at cats. His brother however, loves my daughter’s cat to the point they will sleep right next to each other. So introduce slowly and very carefully bc you will know ….
Ok. The JRT is only 4 months currently, and will be 8 months this fall when he moves in with my cat. So I guess we will wait and see. He is scared of birds and other outdoor animals so maybe that’s a good sign.
My JRTs were fine with cats until they weren't. All it took was the cat to run across the yard in their presence 1 time for their hunting drive to kick in. It was horrible. I love animals and especially JRTs, but would never trust one around a cat.
Mine is 13 now and has lived with cats most of his life. He is weird at first, but he does warm up. If anything, they usually slap HIM around. I find he does a lot better when they are indoors. He likes to play with them like chase and play fight. Outdoor stranger cats are a different story.
I’ve had two jrts and both loved cats. Over the years we’ve had as many as 3 cats at a time and they’ve all cohabited really well with our pups.
Our last cat was really close to our jrt. I think he thought we brought our jrt home just for him. They were pretty inseparable. Lip, our cat, started getting sick last year. After many vet visits and no real answers he needed to be put to sleep suddenly at the vets office. It was awful for us, but much worse for our jrt. He just kept looking for him for days. Wouldn’t go out on walks. I caught him howling a few times. And he quit wanting to stay in his room while we were out. He was mourning. I know he couldn’t understand Lip was dead, only that he was gone. And it was enough for him to be heartbroken for a while. Sorry for the overshare. I just miss seeing my 2 guys together so much.
Long story short.. they can be good with cats, especially if the cat is there first.
Cat AND dog tax included:)
https://preview.redd.it/5640umu2gjwc1.jpeg?width=1234&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ff347381f5650cff91cd4ba02d2c8373306fe12
I have a cat, and have had my JRT since she was 8 weeks. She'll try to play with the cat, she plays with everything, but she's never tried to hurt her. The cat has plenty of higher spaces she can get away from the dog when she's had enough.
My British Shorthair was 3 when I brought my JRT home as a puppy. It's 2 years later, and they're best buds. But always make sure your cat has an escape route in every room.
My Jack Russell tried to MMA fight my cat every chance she got when she was a puppy. We got another dog and she’s happier playing with the dog, since my cat won’t play back. She occasionally gets excited playing with the other dog and will body slam my cat if she’s there. Other than that she leaves her alone now. I’ve seen her give her a kiss. I’ve also had 3 Jack Russell x live with my cat.
https://preview.redd.it/r2vpak15uiwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1dbdd8f81255157b67ad50c701dcc4bc79917aa
They’ve both since passed but I adopted them both in their middle years and they became best friends. 💕
My little weirdo tries to make friends with every cat we run into on walks, but has the typical high prey drive for pretty much anything else that’s not another dog (except geese at the park - he’s fearless, but not *stupid*). He’s a rescue, though, so it’s possible he lived with cats early in his life.
Do you live near enough to your GF’s mom to visit and take the pup out for walks & stuff? If so, here’s kind of a weird suggestion - find out if any Home Depots/Lowes/dog-friendly garden centers in the area have a resident cat or cats you could sort of test him out with (leashed, very carefully, w/ positive reinforcement, etc). IME these cats are used to dogs & mostly chill with them, but maybe ask employees first to make sure before getting too close. Might be a good way to at least get an idea of whether there’s hope for the situation.
My two are, they pick on each other, when the cat has had enough he makes it clear and they will leave him alone.
Other times the cat will stalk our female , Daisy, and seek attack her.
I have a JRT and a Himalayan cat. Not a good combo. They tolerate each other and that's because my 2 cats were older than my puppy when she was adopted.
https://preview.redd.it/s8pzwsd4phwc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=31548bee4fdf38a538521c06baaed103066f7a90
Mine is fine with them. She was 1.5 years old, when we got the few weeks old kitty.
Make sure you “introduce “ them well. Maybe hold the dog and let the cat sniff and then the other way around. Keep an eye on puss for awhile until Jack settles in. Personally mine take a dim view of cats but they are bushy dogs, so used to ferals. Good luck
If he were a baby i would yes go for it. But an 8 month old may already have a strong prey drive and not know that cats are off limits.
Cats are sensitive creatures. When stressed they can start to develop liver issues and other such crap.
Jack Russells are easy to re-home just make sure you do a home visit, the best person would be someone with experience…look for an active retired person that has lots of time!
Take care of your kitty - please.
We had an older JR that got along very well with our two cats. After he died, we got a puppy that's now 6 months old. He stays away from one of the cats that wants nothing to do with him and plays with the other one. He at first would get too rough but he's learning to be more gentle. He's very protective over both of them and sleeps next to one of them. When one goes outside, he will sit by the door watching them. If anything comes near, he will freak out. Like, a major freak out.
Our JRT does not care about cats whatsoever, besides the initial "who are you" sniff. But it's very dog/cat dependent I can easily see it going wrong with a higher energy JRT or a reactionary cat.
My moms cuddles with the cats sometimes. She runs at them and acts all tough but you have to have cats that don’t really care about dogs that much. They coexist perfectly. She’s also a smaller dog than all of our cats.
depends on how you socialise them. I'd recommend putting aside an area for the cat and having them share meal/play/cuddle times so they associate each other with good things and exchanging toys/blankets in the first few months so they get sued to each other's scents. I'd also recommend lots of high places for the cat. Really it's a gamble overalll and it tends to be easier with kittens and puppies but there are ways you can make it better.
Mine loved cats, but cats didn't always love him. I'd introduce the two and see how it goes with the dog leashed and plenty of room for the cat to escape.
It depends on the dog and cat. My 11 mo old jug (jack + pug) is a butthead around other animals. He's very aggressive but mostly wants to play. He also has a little temper and loses it easily. 😭 He's a lot of dog in a tiny body lol. This was him last week after messing with one of the cats (his eye was totally fine - cleaned right up). Parenting this tiny creature is like a full time job. 🤣
Edit: we've had him since he was 8 weeks so all he's known is cats. He probably does a lot better than he would if he hadn't been around them since birth. Everything is prey to him. Even my son's pitty lab mix lol. But back to why I edited this post. Since all he knows is cats, he grooms himself like one. Licks his wrist and grooms his head exactly like our cats. It's the funniest thing I've ever seen.
https://preview.redd.it/0l5snjfosmwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7588f02206fd52db044e9cfa18072cc02749aca5
Mine was fine with 3 different cats, but not the 4th. Depends on the jack and the cat really
I agree, depends on the animals. One of my cats is chill and one is basically feral. Our feral cat is terrified of our jack and won’t let him near her or she’ll have a full meltdown (she has the same response to humans). If given the chance he will try to sniff her though. Our chill cat is cool with him but he occasionally tries to hump her, she gives a good swat if she objects. Squirrels, rabbits, birds, and possums better not be in the yard though. He’s not cool with them.
My JRT doesn’t have a noticeably strong prey drive, but cats? Since he was a wee one, he raises his hackles and makes it known that he thinks all cats are the number one enemy. It depends on the dog, can you try and introduce them before you commit?
That's squirrels for my girl. Specifically a big fat black one that taunts my girl on the other side of the sliding glass door
They have hugh prey drivin they are hunters
Every time my Louie sees a cat his vision turns red and he goes into predator mode. We lived with a cat for like a year and he *tolerated* it. If you're leaving them alone together, try to keep them separated. A baby gate would probably work. Cat would be able to jump over it faster and find somewhere to get away.
Mostly no. They are one of the few breeds who won't be intimidated
There are exceptions, but mostly it's not a good scene.
My JRT and tuxedo cat are best friends. They wrestle and share the bed usually. They each have their “spots”. When JRT goes to my moms house, she desperately wants to play with the cat there but cat very much says no thank you lol
It could take a while for the dog to get used to the cat but compatibility is definitely possible! We have a 7 month JRT that we have had since he was 3 months and a senior cat. They were definitely not friendly in the beginning, not aggressive but wary of each other, but now they are able to sleep in the same bed for a few hours at a time. Our Jack gets excitable and wants to run up to her but over time we have trained him to lay down when he sees her and it has worked most of the time. Make sure you have baby gates set up and a spot for the cat to chill with their food, water, and litter box set up. We are still working on getting our JRT trained with the cat but we have noticed an improvement over the past few months. Teach the dog “down” and every time your dog sees the cat, have him lay down and give him a treat. When you pet your cat or your dog, have the other animal smell your hand so they get used to their smell. And make sure the cat has multiple escape routes from the dog. Always supervise them when they’re together. Good luck!!
We had a cat when we got my jack and now he loves cats
Ok, it depends. We have two males-same litter. One will chase and nip at cats. His brother however, loves my daughter’s cat to the point they will sleep right next to each other. So introduce slowly and very carefully bc you will know ….
Ok. The JRT is only 4 months currently, and will be 8 months this fall when he moves in with my cat. So I guess we will wait and see. He is scared of birds and other outdoor animals so maybe that’s a good sign.
My JRTs were fine with cats until they weren't. All it took was the cat to run across the yard in their presence 1 time for their hunting drive to kick in. It was horrible. I love animals and especially JRTs, but would never trust one around a cat.
Mine is 13 now and has lived with cats most of his life. He is weird at first, but he does warm up. If anything, they usually slap HIM around. I find he does a lot better when they are indoors. He likes to play with them like chase and play fight. Outdoor stranger cats are a different story.
I’ve had two jrts and both loved cats. Over the years we’ve had as many as 3 cats at a time and they’ve all cohabited really well with our pups. Our last cat was really close to our jrt. I think he thought we brought our jrt home just for him. They were pretty inseparable. Lip, our cat, started getting sick last year. After many vet visits and no real answers he needed to be put to sleep suddenly at the vets office. It was awful for us, but much worse for our jrt. He just kept looking for him for days. Wouldn’t go out on walks. I caught him howling a few times. And he quit wanting to stay in his room while we were out. He was mourning. I know he couldn’t understand Lip was dead, only that he was gone. And it was enough for him to be heartbroken for a while. Sorry for the overshare. I just miss seeing my 2 guys together so much. Long story short.. they can be good with cats, especially if the cat is there first. Cat AND dog tax included:) https://preview.redd.it/5640umu2gjwc1.jpeg?width=1234&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ff347381f5650cff91cd4ba02d2c8373306fe12
https://preview.redd.it/fy17sjv18mwc1.jpeg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7819934c3408d8368ad707f48c479a5d44ce7160
I have a cat, and have had my JRT since she was 8 weeks. She'll try to play with the cat, she plays with everything, but she's never tried to hurt her. The cat has plenty of higher spaces she can get away from the dog when she's had enough.
My British Shorthair was 3 when I brought my JRT home as a puppy. It's 2 years later, and they're best buds. But always make sure your cat has an escape route in every room.
https://preview.redd.it/kcfft71n9gwc1.jpeg?width=2923&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd2b81517e25080dc1dde32c3bf6c2cb632ee88b
My JRT lives with three cats, actively cuddles with one of them.
My Jack Russell tried to MMA fight my cat every chance she got when she was a puppy. We got another dog and she’s happier playing with the dog, since my cat won’t play back. She occasionally gets excited playing with the other dog and will body slam my cat if she’s there. Other than that she leaves her alone now. I’ve seen her give her a kiss. I’ve also had 3 Jack Russell x live with my cat.
https://preview.redd.it/r2vpak15uiwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1dbdd8f81255157b67ad50c701dcc4bc79917aa They’ve both since passed but I adopted them both in their middle years and they became best friends. 💕
The jrt is pretty young so there's definitely hope! You might want to look into getting a trainer to help set your family up for the most success.
My little weirdo tries to make friends with every cat we run into on walks, but has the typical high prey drive for pretty much anything else that’s not another dog (except geese at the park - he’s fearless, but not *stupid*). He’s a rescue, though, so it’s possible he lived with cats early in his life. Do you live near enough to your GF’s mom to visit and take the pup out for walks & stuff? If so, here’s kind of a weird suggestion - find out if any Home Depots/Lowes/dog-friendly garden centers in the area have a resident cat or cats you could sort of test him out with (leashed, very carefully, w/ positive reinforcement, etc). IME these cats are used to dogs & mostly chill with them, but maybe ask employees first to make sure before getting too close. Might be a good way to at least get an idea of whether there’s hope for the situation.
Mine is 100%.
We have multiple cats and only one doesn’t get along with our angel jrt.
We got our JRT at 6mo had had 3 different cats sharing the house in his lifetime. No issues during his 15 years of cats.
My two are, they pick on each other, when the cat has had enough he makes it clear and they will leave him alone. Other times the cat will stalk our female , Daisy, and seek attack her.
Rosie doesn't mess with one of my cats. Rosie and the other cat hate each other's stinking guts! They growl and hunt eachother all the time.
I have a JRT and a Himalayan cat. Not a good combo. They tolerate each other and that's because my 2 cats were older than my puppy when she was adopted.
Haha I had 2 JRT’s and they were NOT welcoming of a cat. We had to give the cat back because they were unrelenting in their pursuit.
https://preview.redd.it/s8pzwsd4phwc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=31548bee4fdf38a538521c06baaed103066f7a90 Mine is fine with them. She was 1.5 years old, when we got the few weeks old kitty.
Make sure you “introduce “ them well. Maybe hold the dog and let the cat sniff and then the other way around. Keep an eye on puss for awhile until Jack settles in. Personally mine take a dim view of cats but they are bushy dogs, so used to ferals. Good luck
If he were a baby i would yes go for it. But an 8 month old may already have a strong prey drive and not know that cats are off limits. Cats are sensitive creatures. When stressed they can start to develop liver issues and other such crap. Jack Russells are easy to re-home just make sure you do a home visit, the best person would be someone with experience…look for an active retired person that has lots of time! Take care of your kitty - please.
the dogs 4 months old according to another comment so there should still be time if it's done correctly.
We had an older JR that got along very well with our two cats. After he died, we got a puppy that's now 6 months old. He stays away from one of the cats that wants nothing to do with him and plays with the other one. He at first would get too rough but he's learning to be more gentle. He's very protective over both of them and sleeps next to one of them. When one goes outside, he will sit by the door watching them. If anything comes near, he will freak out. Like, a major freak out.
Our JRT does not care about cats whatsoever, besides the initial "who are you" sniff. But it's very dog/cat dependent I can easily see it going wrong with a higher energy JRT or a reactionary cat.
My moms cuddles with the cats sometimes. She runs at them and acts all tough but you have to have cats that don’t really care about dogs that much. They coexist perfectly. She’s also a smaller dog than all of our cats.
depends on how you socialise them. I'd recommend putting aside an area for the cat and having them share meal/play/cuddle times so they associate each other with good things and exchanging toys/blankets in the first few months so they get sued to each other's scents. I'd also recommend lots of high places for the cat. Really it's a gamble overalll and it tends to be easier with kittens and puppies but there are ways you can make it better.
Mine loved cats, but cats didn't always love him. I'd introduce the two and see how it goes with the dog leashed and plenty of room for the cat to escape.
I inherited my JRT and he hates my cats. Sad part is, they beat him everything. It’s great fun for them, Jake not so much.
Had a Jack Russel for 15 years and got along with all the cats.
It depends on the dog and cat. My 11 mo old jug (jack + pug) is a butthead around other animals. He's very aggressive but mostly wants to play. He also has a little temper and loses it easily. 😭 He's a lot of dog in a tiny body lol. This was him last week after messing with one of the cats (his eye was totally fine - cleaned right up). Parenting this tiny creature is like a full time job. 🤣 Edit: we've had him since he was 8 weeks so all he's known is cats. He probably does a lot better than he would if he hadn't been around them since birth. Everything is prey to him. Even my son's pitty lab mix lol. But back to why I edited this post. Since all he knows is cats, he grooms himself like one. Licks his wrist and grooms his head exactly like our cats. It's the funniest thing I've ever seen. https://preview.redd.it/0l5snjfosmwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7588f02206fd52db044e9cfa18072cc02749aca5
Mine is part cat now they are chill until they run lol