Most sighthounds cannot safely live with cats. This comes down to prey drive – a natural instinct that has nothing to do with aggression or training.
Why cats trigger prey drive
Racing greyhounds spend their lives around other greyhounds and chasing lures. They may never have met a cat up close, so they have had no opportunity to learn that cats are companions, not prey.
Sighthounds were bred to hunt by sight and speed, and for racing greyhounds, this instinct has been deliberately developed and encouraged throughout their lives. When they see something small and fast-moving, their brain says 'chase'.
Cats tick every box: they are small, they move quickly and unpredictably, they often make high-pitched sounds, and the way they move (darting across rooms, climbing or chasing things, flicking their tails) can trigger a chase response. It is not that your hound dislikes cats or wants to hurt them; they just do not recognise them as friends or fellow pets.
Even a friendly, gentle hound can have a strong prey drive towards cats. This is not a reflection of their temperament or how well-trained they are; it's instinct, shaped by generations of breeding and reinforced by their racing background.
For more on how this works, see our article on prey drive in sighthounds.
Exceptions that make the rule
We very occasionally have a hound who would be able to live with a cat. These are usually puppies who are young enough to learn that cats are part of the family, or adults who have lived successfully with cats before.
However, these dogs are rare, and 'cat-friendly' means they can coexist safely – not necessarily that they will be friends or cuddle on the sofa together.
If you have cats and want a sighthound
At Forever Hounds Trust, we rarely have cat-friendly hounds available. While we carefully assess each dog in our care so we can match them with the right new family, cat-testing is difficult and potentially dangerous for both animals, so we prioritise safety and only rehome hounds to cat households when we are completely confident it will work.
If you are a cat owner and would like to adopt a sighthound, you are welcome to make an application, but please only apply if you are prepared to wait. You may want to consider other dog breeds that are naturally better suited to living with cats, rather than waiting for a rare cat-friendly sighthound to become available.
We understand this might be disappointing if you have already had your heart set on a greyhound. However, the welfare and safety of both the hound and your cat must come first. If you do decide to apply and wait for the right match, we will do everything we can to help you find a hound who can share your home safely.