Are French bulldogs good with cats?
Last month, my friend asked me to foster a cat for a few weeks until they could find him a permanent home.
‘But I have a Frenchie at home!’ – I exclaimed.
‘Are French bulldogs good with cats?’ – She asked.
Well, my Frenchie answered the question for us. He is inherently quite sweet so we knew we would not have much trouble with the newcomer. It helped that the cat in question was also quite docile.
Thankfully, as expected, we had no issues with the interaction. In fact, the duo got along beautifully and to our surprise, our Frenchie was actually quite sad to see the cat go once we had found him a permanent home.
If you need the answer to the question, Are French bulldogs good with cats? – then this post is for you!
Also Read: Are French Bulldogs Good with Kids
Are French Bulldogs Good with Cats?
Cats and pet dogs are arch enemies since times immemorial, but there are some dog breeds that get along fairly well with cats.
The Frenchie is one of them.
French bulldogs are inherently docile and their easy-going nature makes them quite friendly towards other house pets.
Occasionally though, a French bulldog might have trouble adjusting to a new feline in its territory.
This may be due to its hunter and high prey-drive instincts which stem from the breed’s early work of trapping rats and other vermin.
But in general, the French bulldog breed is quite open and easily accepting. So, should you want a dog that will blend well with other house pets, especially a cat, then a Frenchie is a good choice.
Also Read: Are French Bulldogs Good with Other Dogs
7 Reasons Why Most French Bulldogs Are Good with Cats
Here are some reasons why your French bulldog is likely to get along well with most cats:
1. They have an inherently loving nature
The Frenchie is a sweet, mild-mannered dog breed.
It is loving, docile, friendly, and generally very cheerful. These dogs are also kind and emphatic. So they are more open and accepting of new pets.
2. They are not the jealous types
Unlike certain dog breeds, the Frenchie is not at all the jealous type. It won’t get angry or jealous if its pet parent gives attention to some other pet.
That is why, they are more likely to welcome a feline happily in their circle and will gladly share their space with it.
3. They love being in packs
The French bulldog loves being part of a pack. Historically too, it was made to trap rats in packs.
Resultantly, it will look upon your cat as its sibling or companion and would be more likely to be sociable towards it.
4. They dislike being alone
A Frenchie is also prone to separation anxiety. It gets very nervous when its humans leave it alone at home.
If you have a cat at home, then the friendly-yet-anxious Frenchie will love having it around as the cat will make it feel safer and more secure.
(So sweet and loving are these small dogs that they even love having small animals like hamsters around in the house.)
5. They are usually very calm and relaxed dogs
Frenchies have sociable and outgoing personalities. At the same time, unlike the more energetic dog breeds, they are calm dogs that love taking naps.
For a cat that loves its peace and quiet, a Frenchie makes the ideal housemate.
Even if your cat is highly energetic, a docile Frenchie will be very accepting of its antics and that makes the two get along quite well.
Also Read: How Much Do French Bulldogs Sleep
6. They are highly trainable and mild-mannered
Frenchies were originally bred to be house dogs or companion breeds. This makes them fairly easy to train.
Their mild natures combined with easy trainability and welcoming attitudes make them great pets in multi-pet households.
Also Read: How to Potty Train a French Bulldog
7. They have a laidback and easy-going attitude
Although they were bred to trap mice, French bulldogs would be more interested in hunting for dinner and for that reason, they won’t be interested in running behind a cat which is not its prey.
They are also generally very easygoing and have laidback personalities. This is an invitation to any cat or kitten to curl up beside this sweet little dog.
Also Read: Are Yorkies Good with Cats
Why Are Some French Bulldogs Not Good with Cats?
As always there are exceptions to every rule.
Some Frenchies might not get along too well with cats for the following reasons:
1. They may be too docile for a naughty or dominant cat
Some cats tend to take advantage of a Frenchie’s sweet and docile nature and might be the one to start the trouble.
So, always supervise interactions between your pets. Watch out if the cat starts troubling your sweet Frenchie when it is napping.
2. Hunting instincts
Some Frenchies end up chasing cats/kittens that like to run.
This is born out of their hunting instincts since they were bred to trap mice and rats. However, this chasing is done out of fun and not with an intention of prey drive.
3. Some traumatic experience in the past
Some French bulldogs are not too good with cats because they might have had a negative experience with cats in the past.
If you have adopted an older Frenchie, chances are it has had to compete with other animals or cats in the shelter. Often, a cat might have started the trouble due to which a Frenchie will remain aloof with it forever.
Past experiences could play a role in how it gets along with a cat.
4. Early socialization is key
Early socialization is key to ensure that your pet gets along with each other. If you socialize your Frenchie puppy with a kitten from an early age, there is no reason why they won’t love each other.
Frenchies are loyal, loving, and protective dogs and they won’t hesitate to extend that protection to your house cat as well.
Naturally, this bond will be much stronger if you have had them interact with each other since their youth.
Are French Bulldog Puppies Good with Cats?
Puppies are like sponges. They will absorb whatever their Frenchie owners teach them.
So, if you plan on bringing home a cat when you already have Frenchie at home, then you must do so while your Frenchie is still a pup and also preferably when your cat is still a kitten.
The good news is that, most Frenchie puppies get along well with cats. Some get used to the newcomer within a few days, a few others might take a bit longer to pair well.
Any new kitten or puppy will want to play with the other animal, as long as it is not too fearful.
However, the existing animal should be accepting of the newcomer. It is also important to note that just because a puppy has been socialized to other cats, it will get along well with another/different cat.
That is why, it is important to supervise all interactions in the beginning. Also, you must confine the cat and puppy in different rooms for a while. This way, they can get used to each other’s smells.
In the next section, I will tell you exactly how to introduce the two animals for the first time.
How to Introduce your French Bulldog to Your Cat
When you introduce your Frenchie to a new or existing cat, you must make sure to make the adjustment period as painless as possible.
Here are a few steps you can take to help having your existing pet used to the newcomer:
1. Consider the personalities and temperaments of both the animals
Whether you already have a French bulldog at home and plan to get a new cat or vice-a-versa, consider both animals’ personalities.
French bulldog temperament is docile and lovable, but some could get aggressive towards newcomers especially in the beginning.
Some pets adjust beautifully from day one while others might take longer to adjust.
2. Allow them to calmly meet each other
Keep the environment calm. If you have kids, ask them to stay quiet when the two meet.
When you are introducing your Frenchie and cat for the first time, keep your Frenchie on a leash. Allow them to sniff each other.
If required, you can conduct the initial meeting on neutral ground first – outside your home.
3. Never force the interaction
If you notice your Frenchie or your cat getting frisky or aggressive with each other, then separate the two animals right away.
Confine either pet to separate room or crate your Frenchie. You can also use a cat carrier to keep your cat safe.
4. Provide your cat with a vantage point
Cats need a vantage point where they can view things safely from a height. So add some secure and safe furniture pieces for your cat to climb up on.
If needed, invest in a cat tree, cat perch, or cat furniture.
Also read: Best Cat Perches for Large Cats
5. Feed them at the same time
Another great trick for introducing a French bulldog to a cat or kitten is to feed them at the same time. You can separate the two animals using baby gates or on different sides of the same door.
This way, they can smell each other but cannot see each other. Also, they will associate their feeding times with the smell and would later be too full to attack or become aggressive.
Over the next few days, you can remove the barriers and feed them together at the same time. However, do supervise this interaction.
6. Use separate accessories
Never feed the two pets in the same bowl. An adult dog can be very possessive about its stuff.
Keep everything separate including beds, toys, food and water bowls.
7. Allow unsupervised interactions
Sometimes, pets seem to be getting along when the humans are around. However, both animals can get aggressive when no one is watching.
So, do allow unsupervised interactions too. (You can watch from a distance or over a pet camera). Praise both pets when they play happily and reward them.
8. Assess the situation
Once a few days have passed, you can take a call whether you want the Frenchie (or the cat) to stay for a few more days. This way, they can adjust over the period.
If they do seem to be getting along well after a few days and there have been no untoward incidents, you can safely assume there will be no violence.
FAQs on Are French Bulldogs Good with Cats
1. Can my French bulldog harm or kill my cat?
A Frenchie is strong enough to harm a small cat but technically it won’t do so since you are training it not to.
Every time you see your Frenchie showing predatory behavior towards your cat, make sure you separate the two.
You must also make sure that the two pets are compatible before adding the Frenchie/or the cat to your little home group.
2. Can a cat harm my French bulldog?
Yes, cats can harm Frenchies with their sharp claws. In fact, cats can do more harm to small French bulldogs than the other way around.
Frenchies are not inherently aggressive. So, it is more likely a cat would attack it rather than the Frenchie attacking the cat.
3. Do French bulldogs have a strong bite?
Frenchies, despite their small size, do have a strong bite. However, their bite pressure is not as much as the bite pressure of dogs with larger head size.
Due to smaller head size of this brachycephalic breed, a Frenchie’s bite pressure isn’t too much.
4. Which other dog breeds are good with cats?
Dog breeds like Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Pugs, English bulldog, American bulldog, Labrador Retrievers and Basset Hounds are generally very docile and great with all house pets including cats.
Conclusion – Are French Bulldogs Good with Cats
Are French Bulldogs good with cats?
Yes, they mostly are because they love being in packs and hate being alone. They are inherently very welcoming, loving, and friendly dogs.
However, you may want to supervise all interactions in the beginning. Occasionally, a Frenchie with a high prey-drive could have trouble with a cat but most often the breed is very accepting and open.
We hope your family pets get along well and adjust to each other!
