My Yorkie Is Not Good With Cats
You brought a cat into the home — or your Yorkie into a home with cats — and it is not working. The chasing, the stress, the constant vigilance. You have tried slow introductions, separation, and hoping they would adjust. If the situation is not improving and your Yorkie or the cat is living in a state of tension, rehoming may be the kindest path.
Complete the surrender form with details about the behaviour: chasing, fixating, aggression, or stress. The team will use this to find a cat-free home where your Yorkie can settle without conflict.
Yorkies and cats: why it sometimes does not work
Yorkshire Terriers were originally bred to catch rats in textile mills. That prey drive is still present in many Yorkies today — and to a Yorkie, a quick-moving cat can look a lot like something to chase. Some Yorkies coexist peacefully with cats. Others never adjust, no matter how patient the introduction.
If your Yorkie is:
- Constantly chasing or fixating on the cat
- Showing aggressive body language — stiff posture, growling, lunging
- Living in a state of high arousal whenever the cat is visible
- Causing the cat to hide, stop eating, or show signs of chronic stress
Then the situation is affecting both animals' welfare. Keeping them together when one or both are suffering is not kindness — it is avoidance of a hard decision.
What NOT to do
- Do not let them “sort it out.” A Yorkie who chases and a cat who fights back can result in injuries to both — and a scratched eye on a small dog is a serious veterinary emergency.
- Do not rehome the cat to “solve” the Yorkie problem. If the cat was there first and the Yorkie is the one who cannot adjust, rehoming the dog through a rescue is fairer than displacing the resident cat.
- Do not hide the behaviour from the rescue. SAYR needs to know if the dog cannot live with cats so the new home is cat-free. Hiding this leads to failed placements.
How SAYR helps
Describe the behaviour: chasing, aggression, stress. Include whether the dog has ever caught or injured a cat.
The team notes that this dog must go to a home without cats — a firm requirement, not a preference.
In a calm foster home without cats, the team can observe the Yorkie's true temperament — often much calmer than in the stressful home environment.
Adopters are screened to confirm they have no cats and do not plan to get one.
Frequently asked questions
Will SAYR take a Yorkie that has injured a cat?
Yes. The team needs to know the details — severity, circumstances, whether it was a one-off. This helps plan safe placement. Honesty is essential.
What if the problem is only with one specific cat?
Mention this. Some dogs react to one cat's behaviour. But if the dog has a strong prey drive, the safest assumption is that any cat could trigger it. SAYR will place accordingly.
Should I try a cat-dog behaviourist first?
If the situation is recent and there have been no injuries, consulting a behaviourist is worth considering. But if the chasing has been ongoing for months or involves aggression, do not feel obligated to keep trying indefinitely.
Give both animals the peace they deserve
Complete the surrender form. SAYR will find a cat-free home where your Yorkie can relax — and your cat can too.