Great Pyrenees are often good with cats, but success depends heavily on the individual dog and on careful introductions and socialization.

Typical temperament with cats

Great Pyrenees are livestock guardian dogs, bred to protect smaller and more vulnerable animals rather than chase them, so they generally have a low prey drive toward cats and other small household animals. Many owners and rescues report that most Pyrs either ignore cats or treat them as part of their “flock” to watch over.

When they do best

They tend to do especially well with cats when:

• The Pyr is socialized with cats from a young age, so cats are “normal” to them.

• Introductions are gradual, supervised, and positive, with safe escape routes and high perches for the cat.

• The dog is well trained with clear rules (no chasing, no rough play) and reinforced for calm behavior around the cat.

Risks and precautions

Because of their large size, even a gentle or playful Pyr can accidentally injure a cat, so close supervision is important at first. A small minority of Great Pyrenees have higher prey drive or past bad experiences with cats, and those individuals may never be safe with cats, so temperament testing and slow, careful introductions are essential.

Practical tips if you have cats

• Start with scent swapping and separation, then progress to visual contact through a barrier before any off‑leash interaction.

• Always give the cat vertical spaces and safe rooms that the dog cannot access, and manage feeding separately to avoid resource guarding.

• If adopting an adult Pyr, look for one specifically evaluated as “cat‑friendly” by a rescue or shelter.