Best Dogs for Families With Kids and Cats

The best dogs for families with kids and cats are gentle, sociable breeds with a low prey drive, such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever.

Breed is only a starting point, though. The individual dog’s history and a slow, well-planned introduction matter more than any breed label.

Below is a shortlist of family breeds that usually cope well with cats, a comparison table, the breeds that need extra care, and a step-by-step plan for introducing a new dog to your cat and children.

What Makes a Dog Good With Both Kids and Cats?

A dog that suits both children and cats has a low prey drive, calm energy, a high tolerance for handling and a willingness to learn.

Prey drive is the instinct to chase, catch and sometimes grab small moving animals. Sighthounds, many terriers and some herding breeds were developed for exactly these jobs, so a running cat can set them off. Companion breeds such as the gentle Cavalier King Charles Spaniel were bred mainly to keep people company.

• Low prey drive: watches the cat with interest but does not fixate, stalk or chase.
• Calm energy: settles indoors, so cats and children are not constantly bowled over.
• Handling tolerance: copes with clumsy pats, hugs and crowding from kids.
• Trainability: learns “leave it” and settle cues quickly with reward-based training.
• Sensible size: sturdy enough for toddlers, gentle enough not to hurt a cat in play.

Temperament varies within every breed. A calm adult Labrador may suit a cat household better than an excitable puppy of a supposedly cat-friendly breed, so meet the actual dog wherever possible.

The cat matters too. A confident, dog-savvy cat often adjusts faster than a nervous older cat, and every cat needs high places and dog-free rooms to retreat to.

Best Dogs for Families With Kids and Cats

These breeds generally combine patience with children and a modest chase instinct, although each dog still needs a careful introduction to the household cat.

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavaliers are affectionate, gentle and usually happy to share a couch with a cat. Their small size suits most homes, and they tend to be tolerant of children. Owners should be aware the breed may be prone to heart conditions, so ask breeders about health testing.

2. Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever

Labrador Retrievers raised around cats often become reliable, gentle housemates. The patient Golden Retriever is similar. Both are bouncy as puppies, so teach calm behaviour around the cat early and supervise play.

3. Bichon Frise and Poodle

Bichons and Poodles are sociable, trainable and quick to learn house rules, and both have low-shedding coats. Miniature and Standard Poodles suit families with young children. Poodles can be lively, so give them enough exercise to stay settled indoors around the cat.

4. Basset Hound

The easy-going Basset Hound is slow-moving, sociable and generally relaxed with children and cats. As a scent hound it follows its nose outdoors and may wander after interesting smells, but indoors it is usually calm.

5. Cavoodle

One of Australia’s most popular family crosses, the Cavoodle often inherits the Cavalier’s gentle nature. Temperament depends on the parents, so ask whether the parent dogs live with cats and meet them if you can.

6. Bernese Mountain Dog and Newfoundland

Both are gentle giants known for patience with children. Their sheer size means they can knock over toddlers or corner a cat by accident, so they suit larger homes and families ready to train calm manners early.

7. Pug

Pugs are affectionate, low-energy companions that rarely chase. They are a flat-faced breed, and brachycephalic dogs face a higher risk of heat-related illness, so keep them cool during Australian summers.

Comparison Table: Kid and Cat Suitability

This table gives a quick guide to how each breed generally rates with children and cats, although individual dogs always vary.

Breed	Size	Energy	Prey drive	Kid suitability	Cat suitability	Grooming
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	Small	Moderate	Low	High	High	Weekly brushing
Labrador Retriever	Large	High	Low to moderate	High	High when raised with cats	Weekly brushing, seasonal shedding
Golden Retriever	Large	High	Low to moderate	High	High when raised with cats	Brushing several times a week
Bichon Frise	Small	Moderate	Low	High	High	Professional grooming
Poodle (Miniature or Standard)	Small to large	Moderate to high	Low to moderate	High	Good	Professional grooming
Basset Hound	Medium	Low	Low, scent driven	High	High	Weekly brushing
Cavoodle	Small to medium	Moderate	Low	High	High	Professional grooming
Bernese Mountain Dog or Newfoundland	Giant	Low to moderate	Low	High, with supervision	Good	Frequent brushing, heavy shedding
Pug	Small	Low	Low	Good	High	Weekly brushing, sheds

Breeds That Need Extra Care Around Cats

Sighthounds, many terriers, Siberian Huskies and some herding breeds can live with cats, but they are rarely the easiest choice for a busy family home.

Sighthounds like the Greyhound and the Whippet were bred to chase fast-moving prey. Many retired Greyhounds live happily with cats, but each one needs individual assessment, and adoption programs such as Victoria’s Greyhound Adoption Program assess every dog’s behaviour and sociability before rehoming.

Terriers such as the Jack Russell were bred to hunt vermin, and their quick reactions can turn play into a chase. Siberian Huskies often have a strong prey drive as well.

Herding breeds like the Border Collie and Australian Kelpie may try to round up or nip at a moving cat. This is instinct rather than aggression, but it can stress a cat badly.

None of these breeds is ruled out. An adult dog with a proven history of living calmly with cats, plus solid training and careful management, can work well. If your heart is set on one of these breeds, look for a dog that has already been tested with cats.

Puppy or Adult Dog: Which Is Better With a Cat?

A puppy raised alongside a cat often accepts it as family, but an adult dog with a known, calm history around cats is the more predictable choice.

Puppies learn fastest during their early socialisation period, so gentle, positive time with a cat while young can shape lifelong behaviour. Your resident cat is part of socialising a puppy before full vaccination, because those meetings happen safely at home.

The trade-off is energy. Puppies chase, pounce and nip, and many cats find that stressful, so expect months of management, training and supervision before the household settles.

Adult dogs offer a clearer picture. Rescue groups and foster carers can often tell you exactly how a dog behaves with cats, which makes rescue dogs with a known history around cats a strong option for families.

Whichever you choose, ask whether the dog has lived with or been socialised with cats before you commit.

How to Introduce a New Dog to Your Cat and Kids

Introduce a new dog to your cat slowly, over at least a week and often several weeks, keeping the animals apart at first and the children calm throughout.

The steps below follow RSPCA guidance on introducing a new dog to a resident cat, with additions for homes with young children.

1. Set up a cat-only room with food, water, litter and high resting spots before the dog arrives.
2. Swap bedding or cloths between the animals for a few days so each learns the other’s scent.
3. Let each animal explore the house while the other rests behind a closed door with a treat.
4. Hold short sessions of five minutes or less with a baby gate between them and the dog on a loose lead.
5. Move to supervised meetings in the same room with the dog on lead, stopping if either animal shows stress.
6. Feed the dog and cat in separate areas, with the cat’s food and litter out of the dog’s reach.

Children should stay seated and quiet during early meetings and never carry the cat towards the dog. Giving them a simple job, such as rewarding the dog for looking away from the cat, keeps everyone calm.

Never leave the two alone together until you are certain they tolerate each other. Many families keep cats indoors, an approach RSPCA Australia supports through voluntary cat containment, so the cat needs dog-free high spaces it can always reach.

Choosing a Dog Your Kids and Cat Will Both Love

The best dogs for families with kids and cats are gentle, low prey drive breeds, but the individual dog matters more than the label.

Plan a slow introduction, keep children calm, and give your cat safe spaces from day one.

When you are ready, browse Golden Retriever puppies for sale from Australian breeders. Ask each breeder how their puppies have been raised around cats and children.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best dog breed for a family with kids and cats?

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is often the easiest choice because it is gentle, affectionate and usually has a low chase instinct. Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Bichons and Basset Hounds also suit many homes, provided the introduction to the cat is slow and supervised.

2. Which dog breeds are not good with cats?

Breeds with a strong prey drive need extra care, including sighthounds such as Greyhounds and Whippets, terriers such as Jack Russells, Siberian Huskies and some herding breeds. Individual dogs within these breeds can live with cats, but they need assessment, training and careful management first.

3. Is it better to get a puppy or an adult dog if we have a cat?

A puppy raised with a cat often accepts it as family, but puppies chase and pounce, which stresses many cats. An adult dog with a known, calm history around cats is more predictable, making it a sound choice for busy family homes.

4. Are small dogs better with cats than big dogs?

Not always. Temperament and prey drive matter more than size. Some small terriers chase cats eagerly, while many large retrievers and gentle giants live peacefully with them. Large dogs can accidentally hurt a cat in play, so supervise early interactions whatever the size.

5. How long does it take a dog and cat to get along?

RSPCA guidance suggests introductions take at least a week and often a few weeks, moving forward only when both animals are relaxed. Some pairs take months to settle fully, and a small number never become comfortable sharing a home.

6. Can a Greyhound live with cats and children?

Many retired Greyhounds are calm, gentle family dogs, and some live happily with cats. Because they were bred to chase, each dog needs individual assessment for cat compatibility. Ask the adoption group whether the dog has been tested with cats before you commit.