Cats and Greyhounds
Mar 13, 2020
We receive a lot of questions about cats and greyhounds, so we've answered some of the most frequently asked.
Can greyhounds live with cats?
Yes! However, being sighthounds, these dogs are rare or require a bit of extra work before living with a cat.
How do you assess whether a greyhound could live with a cat?
The greyhound must be uninterested in the small dogs at their initial GAP assessment. They will then be tested with a cat, and matched to a foster carer with a cat. Being exposed to a cat for a short period of time is one thing, living with a cat full-time is another thing entirely. Skittish cats may not cope with a greyhound, and a running cat is far more interesting to the greyhound than a stationary cat. Similarly, homes with multiple cats may be a bit too much for them.
We have a duty of care to both the greyhound and your cat, therefore all interactions between them must be supervised to ensure their safety. This is also why it is difficult to place a greyhound in a home with an outdoor or indoor/outdoor cat, as you can’t monitor their interactions when you're not home. A slow introduction is best! Often these dogs are not suitable to live with both young children and cats, as this may be a bit overwhelming.
I have a cat – how do I get a retired greyhound?
The best way is to keep an eye on our website and apply when a cat-tolerant greyhound becomes available. These greyhounds aren't as common and are in high demand so please be patient - we promise they are worth the wait!
If you have any questions about your suitability for a retired greyhound, please don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’d be more than happy to discuss it with you and provide some more information!
