Are Yorkies Good With Cats? Let’s Find Out!

Hey there! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I greatly appreciate your support!

The Yorkshire Terrier is a small, toy-sized terrier weighing no more than seven pounds with a long, silky coat and a dark golden tan as its crowning glory. Let’s find out about the Yorkies’ personality, including whether are Yorkies good with cats or not!

yorkshire terrier

Don’t let the timidness of Yorkie confuse you. The Yorkie is tenacious, feisty, brave, and often bossy and displays all the characteristics of a true terrier. Also referred to as the most common breed of dogs in different American cities, Yorkies pack a lot of large-city attitude into a tiny but significant box. These are the favorites of young people around the world.

Are Yorkies Smart

What You Should Know About The Yorkie

Yorkies are long-term and low-allergenic and make excellent little watchdogs. This is a real “personality race,” which offers years of fun, love, and close association.

General

This is of a long-haired toy terrier whose blue and tan coat is separated from the bottom of the head to the end of the tail to hang down on either side of the body uniformly and entirely straight. The body is sound, lightweight, and well-balanced. The high carriage of the dog and its relaxed manner will offer the impression of vigor and autonomy. Yorkies are also known to be a cool companion animals.

The head is not too large or round; the muzzle is not too long, the bite is not undershot or overshot, and the teeth sound. The eyes are moderate in size and not too prominent; dark in color, with a sharp, smart expression. The rims of the eye are black. The ears are small, V-shaped, upright, and not too distant.

Coat

The consistency, texture, and quantity of the coat are paramount. Hair, in its composition, is vivid, beautiful, and silky. The coat is medium long and perfectly straight (not wavy) on the body. It can be cut to the floor’s length to make the movement smoother and look nicer if desired. 

The head fall is long, connected to the middle of the head by one bow or divided into the middle, and bound to two bows. Hair is very long on the muzzle. Hair should be cut short on ear tips and trimmed on feet to make them look clean.

Food

Yorkshire Terriers should do well in a portion of high-quality dog food, whether commercially made or prepared at home, with the supervision and approval of your veterinarian. Each diet should be appropriate for the age of the dog. Many dogs are susceptible to being overweight so you might want to track the calories and weight of your dog. 

Treats can be a significant training aid, but the problem of obesity can be caused by too many. Learn which human food is safe and which is not safe for dogs. Consult with your doctor if you have any questions about the weight or diet of your dog. Clean, clean water should always be available.

The Truth About Yorkies and Cats

yorkies and cats

It’s a good idea to know how Yorkshire Terriers and cats usually work before you agree to get them under the same roof. Are Yorkies good with cats?

Although all dogs and cats will have their separate personalities, there are some general rules and some elements to bear in mind if both a cat and a york are to stay in the same house.

In comparison to some other toy dog breeds, many Yorkshire Terriers are relatively the same or smaller in size than other cats. Yorkies are usually between 3 and 7 lbs. While some are bigger, the house cat typically is 7.9–9.9 lbs.

This is a plus, which can lead both to get along well. And, in some situations, the cat will become more significant than the Yorkie.

This is not always a concern as both are introduced young and have a bond long before the cat grows more significantly than the dog.

There’s no overly powerful desire for chasing. While the Yorkshire Terrier was raised over time as a ‘rater,’ mostly chasing and snatching small mice and thus has a sense of hunting and capturing, it also doesn’t take place in cats.

Of course, if you the owner have a larger-than-average Yorkie and place him with a tiny kitten in the same room, maybe this isn’t the best idea. Nevertheless, there is usually no clear prey drive instinct to chase cats aside from the primary, obviously, dog-to-cat relationship.

Yorkies May or May Not Be Good With Cats

It all depends on how you parent them. First, it takes them a while to warm up to other pets, but then they get along really well. Yorkies are intelligent, so they instinctively know if you have a large dog that they can not overwhelm them, and then, they start to appreciate the dog.

Can Yorkies have cats as playmates? Can a Yorkie have a kitten as a brother or sister?

Yorkies should never, however, be kept in a room with small animals such as rabbits or birds unattended. On the other hand, Yorkies are good with cats.

If you own a Yorkie, you can never raise small animals because they have a hunting instinct that looks like a beast. Yorkies are also competitive quickly if they are not given enough publicity and often fight for the spotlight with other animals.

Are Yorkies Good With Cats?

are Yorkies good with cats

There are dogs as well as feline people, but what about us who like them both? Can we have both a cat and a dog in our home, or are they, mortal opponents? Can a Yorkie have a cat companion? Here’s what you should know, Yorkies are good with cats.

Feel confident; dogs and cats will become best friends or learn to live side-by-side peacefully. When you have a cat in your house and want a canine, choosing the right breed will probably take you a long way to a harmonious relationship.

Many breed types are more likely than others to get along with cats. For example, the Toy Community consists of careful and friendly dog breeds. They have been replicated as buddies and lap warmers.

Sporting Party members get together and outbound as well. Such cheerful dog breeds can make friends with everyone they encounter, consisting of pet cats.

The perky Terrier breeds were developed to hunt and kill vermin, on the other hand. A rapidly moving cat may cause these hard predatory reactions, as well as the Hound Group’s sighthounds, which are hardwired for a chase. No feline will undoubtedly appreciate the goal of this kind of focus.

Finally, the Herding Group breeds participants have an apparent willingness to chase everything that moves, including its owner and babies. Some pet cats may find this tolerable.

Introducing Your Cat and Yorkie to Each Other 

It is a good idea to consider different ways to make sure they both do well before you agree to put them under the same roof.

Evaluate both animals individually.

Take note at least one week of the actions of both pets separately to see if they are violent or friendly. When they are the kind who can live in peace with other animals, they are less likely to start a world war in the house.

Present them when young.

Since puppies and kittens do well, this is the perfect way to raise all when you’re worried about the house becoming a pet war zone. That will ensure that they both grow accustomed and prevent extreme struggles between them. They should become good pets.

Slowly add them.

It’s not a smart idea to introduce a cat unexpectedly and push your Yorkie to come along. This just leads to aggressive behavior and actions against one another. Never leave them at home unattended in the initial days as they still step on each other’s eggshells. You should first let them smell each other’s fragrances and then get them back together gradually.

Offer them a place for themselves.

It is also essential to separate all their things, such as bowls and animal beds. This will keep them from searching again and again for food or a decent place to sleep. 

Animals also consider others as a hazard when it comes to things like litter boxes, so specific ones should be given to them. Yorkshire terriers and cats are incredibly aggressive, and you can prevent any conflict triggered by the invasion of personal spaces. They should also have escape routes.

Give them ample attention.

The key to raising both of them without any problems is to give them the same attention, so they don’t feel threatened.

What You Should When They Do Not Get Along

Yorkies

During the initial 2-3 weeks in which animals slowly become accustomed, if there are severe problems in chasing and battling, and indeed if one suffers any injuries, that’s an enormous red flag where the two won’t get along.

Although most Yorkies do fantastic things with cats, there will always be times when it doesn’t work. Of course, it would be safer if you are planning on these unusual yet possible situations in which the only solution is to keep them at all times apart or to find a new home for one of them.

It’s not unusual for a dog and a cat to play well, but one of the other pulses while one is still strong. There can also be issues where there are broad age gaps, and an older animal does not forgive for a young animal’s hyper play.

If your Yorkie ever gets upset by the cat or the two start fighting, you’ll want to give a firm ‘no’ and break them up, giving each other an ‘out time.’ While this training temporarily solves the issue, it will lead to a better understanding of what will and will not be accepted as this is repeated each time.

When people don’t discuss whether cats or dogs are smarter, they equate them as deadly enemies.

Cats are usually remote and easily shocked, whereas dogs are gregarious and territorial. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t share the same space — they’ll just need your support. When cats and dogs are brought together in a positive, affectionate, and encouraging home environment, they will at least be friends getting along. They will tolerate one another and be less of a problem.

1. Consider the personality.

Unlike popular belief, some breeds of cats and dogs are usually not much better than others. It is more important to take into account their personalities and energy levels, the feline perspective, and the Yorkies perspective. A household with a skittish cat does not suit very well when a dog is violent and defensive. An old dog, by comparison, would have to share his home with a wild kitten.

When two animals don’t end up being a match for personality, have a contingency plan, or try forming a family arrangement that will hold them apart for the long term. And before you take a pet, do your diligence and ask previous owners or shelters whether they have worked with or are getting along with other animals before.

2. Train your dog.

To make your dog competitive with cats, Sandor says, teach it to control its impulses. Does it run around the kitchen when someone drops a cookie, or a squeaky toy goes on high alert? If so, it’ll probably not be perfect for cats right off the bat because it will probably pop up when a feline is found.

3. Give your cat territory.

House Cats need a secure area in the home— a kind of “base camp”—or the nest that’s theirs. Make this refuge in the home unlimited for the dog, but also build safe areas around the house. In this way, the cat can sail safely from his canine sibling through the shared territory.

Buy big cat trees, put shelves, or put a cat bed on top of a bookcase. It helps the cat from a safe distance to watch the dog or to enter a space without hitting the floor.

And keep your dogs away from the litter box while you’re there. You could use baby gates as Yorkies can’t jump over the baby gate. Cats should feel protected, and have escape routes and occasionally dogs tend to feed on cat food and feces, a bad habit that can cause your pooch to get worms. Such worms can lead to several health problems, including vomiting, diarrhea, loss of weight, and anemia.

Baby gates work in a pinch, but since some dogs are escaping artists, prepare themselves in the worst-case scenarios by uncovering and opening a litter box. The cat would not be cornered in a stressful situation and stuck in the middle of squatting in that way.

4. Exercise your dog.

Owners usually exercise their dogs 20 percent of what they really can do. Your energy needs to be released somewhere else to calm down your mind and control yourself while you are around kitties.

Dogs need a lot of stimulation, as well. The controlled reception of it makes them less likely to satisfy it by chasing a cat.

Instead of just walking, stopping, and sitting on every block five times. And change direction three times on each line, or change speed two times. It’s about unleashing your instincts and the drive of prey suitably.

5. Encourage them both.

It’s a wise idea to encourage cats and dogs to sniff each other’s bedding and toys before meeting each other. We will, therefore, satisfy their curiosity and stop future turf wars, get along well, and eventually become a peaceful family unit in the home.

6. Plan the encounter carefully.

Unlike humans, cats and dogs have only one decent chance to have a perfect first impression. Thankfully, both of them enjoy food that might potentially make them enjoy one another.

Plan the first-time cat-dog meeting for lunch but keep the Yorkshire terrier dog on a leash, as well as both animals on the other side of a closed door. You will not see each other, but you can smell each other as you chow down. You will start combining this smell situation with food, making it a good thing.

Are Yorkshire Terriers Good With Cats?

are yorkshire terriers good with cats

Yes, Yorkshire terriers can generally be good with cats if they are raised together and introduced properly. The key is to make sure both animals get along well and become comfortable with each other. It is important to give the Yorkshire terrier plenty of positive reinforcement when it is around the cat, praising them when they show good behavior towards the cat. This helps teach the Yorkshire terrier that the cat is a friend and not a threat. Additionally, it is important to provide plenty of toys and other activities for each animal to keep them both occupied and happy. By providing an environment where both animals can feel safe and comfortable and by giving them ample opportunities for playtime and socialization, you can ensure that your Yorkshire terrier and cats will live in harmony.

Final Words

Yorkshire terriers are more intimate than other pint-size animals per ounce. However, they can be very aggressive and excessively territorial if they are socialized inappropriately and sometimes bark, threaten, or even assault cats. If your Yorkie is too energetic to family felines, evaluate their health and your training. With this, you can make sure that Yorkies are good with cats!

Marcus

Marcus

Hi, I'm Marcus, here at YorkshireTerrier.Dog, we aim to help you solve common Yorkie problems, concerns, and issues. Additionally, we provide you with reviews and product recommendations so you can raise your Yorkie safely and healthily.