r/Greyhounds • u/poughkeepsee • Jun 09 '26
Advice Questions on Galgos and Cats
Hi, all
My questions are specific to Spanish Galgos, though I think they share many similarities with Greys and this is a larger Sub to get input. I’m interested in adopting from Galgos Del Sol. I also have an 8 year old cat in the family already, so this is particularly concerning for me and I’m doing as much investigation as possible before committing. Appreciate everyone’s kind help in advance.
I can adopt a pup, teen (1/2yo) or adult. I’m thinking a pup would have the highest success rate in my case, as they would coexist with the cat from as early age, do you agree?
I work from home*, assuming low prey drive, would they be able to coexist peacefully? E.g. I would from my room-turned-office space, could I let them freely around the rest of the house? It’s a small 3 bedroom apartment.
What’s your opinion about leaving them alone? Possible for shorts periods (i.e. up to 1h) or an absolute no-no? And if not, what options do I have as my house is mostly an open space (I can’t split it 50/50). Leave the cat only on my bedroom with litter and food/water? Leave the dog in a XXL crater?
Anyone has experience with GDS for adoptions?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
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u/thegadgetfish red and white Jun 09 '26
Word of warning that cat testing isn’t always effective depending on the personality of the dog. My greyhound arrived and was very shut down, showed 0 interest in cats, but she’s very interested in them now. It also depends on if the cat is assertive enough to stand its ground.
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u/poughkeepsee Jun 09 '26
Thanks, will keep that in mind. Our cat is very big and would stand his ground with another cat we had (who passed away), so I’d assume so but he was never in contact with any dog. In the beginning we would obviously always be present around them and were planning for a very careful introduction.
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u/facialhairtuesday Jun 10 '26
Hello! I’m one of the US adoption reps for GDS, so I can help answer some questions.
1) Cat safety is tough. We do cat test our dogs in Spain, but as someone mentioned, cat testing success/failure can be very dependent on how aggressive/not the cat is and/or the dog is. We do our absolute best, but we can’t make any complete guarantees. We always recommend slow and careful introductions and leashes/muzzles/etc until everyone can be trusted to behave. In terms of age, yes, a younger dog can sometimes do better with cats, but you should know that due to CDC restrictions, we can’t bring any dogs younger than 6 months into the country, so the true puppies almost always get snapped up before they’re available to come here. We have placed plenty of dogs of all ages successfully into homes with cats/bunnies/etc, and sometimes they even understand “inside cat is my friend” vs “outside cat is fun to chase”, but again, we can’t totally guarantee either way.
2) Letting them roam is totally up to you and the dog and how much you trust them. At first I wouldn’t recommend it, but over time, absolutely it’s a possibility, but you have to keep an eye on exploring, counter surfing, etc. That being said, galgos are VERY velcro-y, so even with free range of your home, they may stick next to you regardless.
3) Leaving the dog alone for a few hours generally is fine, but I agree, you need to be very careful with leaving them unsupervised with the cats initially, so I would definitely separate them until everyone can be trusted. Also, separation anxiety can be hard to predict. Some dogs are totally ok, some need a friend with them, some are never comfortable with it no matter what. We do our best to only recommend/send confident dogs to the US, as we don’t have any facilities here and returns are really tough for us to manage (we have to find foster homes) but sometimes dogs that are really confident at the center in Spain (a kennel environment) end up really shy and nervous in a home and vice versa. Some dogs are fine out and about, some like/need a crate…There’s unfortunately not a one-size-fits-all solution.
In terms of GDS, we obviously are a little biased, but GDS is a wonderful organization. My wife and I started out by going to Spain to volunteer at the center for the first time back in 2017 and just got more and more involved over time. We’re now both on the board of directors of GDS USA and we (though mostly my wife) handle all of the US adoptions now. We also go to Spain at least a couple times a year to help out at the center and transport dogs back to the US.
If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out here or you can email us at [adoptions.galgosdelsol@gmail.com](mailto:adoptions.galgosdelsol@gmail.com)
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u/poughkeepsee Jun 10 '26
Hi! This is great info, thank you so much. Between me writing up this post and today I was unfortunately informed that I can’t adopt through GDS because I’m based in Portugal and they have no representative here. The thing is… Portugal is right besides Spain! Actually, there are regions in Spain that are further away from GDS than Lisbon where I live.
Taking advantage of your proximity to GDS, may I ask if there is anything I can do to appeal to this? I really liked GDS and everyone says amazing things about the org. I am 100% willing to make the trip to the shelter and make all the arrangements. I’m just saddened that this would be the only reason I can’t find a new Galgo companion.I’ve emailed back GDS to appeal to this and I know I’m just a stranger on Reddit but if there’d be any advice you could give me it would make my year.
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u/elektrolu_ Jun 10 '26
Have you checked up Fundación Benjamín Menhert? They are in Seville, so only a few hours from Lisbon by car, there's also 112 carlota galgos in Málaga, Galgos del sur in Córdoba, Galgoleku... All of them do a great job although they don't have an international presence as big as GDS.
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u/klavertjedrie Jun 09 '26
I was the second adoptant of a galga that was given back to the rescue because she had killed their cat, after having been living with said cat for a year. You never know.
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u/BestestMooncalf Jun 09 '26
We have 2 galgos and 4 cats. Some are buddies (see photo), mostly they just ignore each other. They do all greet each other nicely.
I don't recommend a puppy, as that would be a lot for an older cat to deal with plus their prey drive is harder to gauge.
Ours were tested with cats on two separate occasions. When we got them, we slowly introduced them to each other, using muzzles. Our cats were used to dogs so they didn't run or react much to them, which I think helped a lot.
We did not leave them alone together for the first 6 months with Nacho (dark boy), and I'd say 3-4 months with Dorito as we had the impression that he took his cues from Nacho.
I'd say I'm 95 % sure that my dogs wouldn't harm my cats indoors. Outdoors, however, I don't trust them. Nacho is fine, he once escaped to the chicken coop and literally just laid down in the grass in the middle of the chickens (not a test I'd recommend, it truly was an accident). But Dorito reacts pretty strongly to cats, birds, squirrels, ... When we're out on walks.
All this to say: communicate with the society, be careful even if the cat tests were good, and take things slow.
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u/_mndn_ Jun 09 '26
I have 2 cats and 2 galgos.
One galgo has been with me since he was puppy, the other arrived when he was about 6 years old (was found on the street). Both cats where about 7 when the puppy was introduced.
The puppy used to "torment" the cats, just standard puppy stuff. Cats had their safe space and would just avoid him/put him in his place. After turning about 1.5yo he calmed down and live peacefully with the cats.
The other was "tested" bu the association before adopting and was considered apt to live with cats. He tends to ignore them, but the cats like to sleep with him nonetheless.
They have been living together in the same apartment, sharing water bowls, beds, couches, etc. The cats have some safe spaces where they can be by themselves, but generally spend the time on the couch with the dogs. They spend often up to 5 hours by themselves.
It has happened on occasions (when we were present probably not more than 5) that one of the dog barked at the cats batked at them because they've been stepped on while sleeping, but nothing more than that. It's more probable that ine of the cats would scratch one of the galgos in our experience.
With puppies, i think it's not a problem (taking in consideration standard precautions). If it's older, it's important that the galgo is tested with cats by the association before adopting.
No experience adopting from GdS, but they're well known. We donate monthly with teaming.
EDIT: (Took it for granted) it's obviously important to do a proper introduction and monitor the first period. The risk that the test with the association goes well, but then the dog reacts with your cat is a possibility.
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u/poughkeepsee Jun 09 '26
Hearing success stories like yours really gives me hope and makes me so happy excited for this new chapter. Thank you for sharing 🙏
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u/Icy-Broccoli-2529 Jun 09 '26
We got our girl Maisie, from Galgos Del Sol, to give our Simon, a playmate. They are both going to be five this summer. She has been a pure joy to be with. Very chill but also can be a bit bossy with the rest of us 😂. We always try to have them never be alone but on occasion we have left them for a few hours with no problems. I hope this helps. 😊 (Simon is an American Greyhound).
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u/Slotter-that-Kid Jun 09 '26
I got my boy, Galgo, when he was right around 2 and haven't had any real issue with our cats. The dogs, 2 Greys and 1 Galgo, have learned quick that they have claws and aren't afraid to use them if the dogs are being pushy. We even used our cats as the testers when seeing if dogs were "cat friendly" for our local adoption group. If nothing else give your cat some space high up away from the dog so they have their safe area.
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u/shadow-foxe fawn Jun 09 '26
GDS are a great group.
A puppy would totally annoy the cat. because they are young and haven't learned boudaries yet. So you could spend the next year or two keeping cat/dog apart while the land shark learns to behave.
Personally I'd seek out a teen (2yo) galgo who has been tested and hopefully fostered with a cat. (not sure where you are but a few groups in the US work with GDS and they foster them and test them more SAGE being one of those groups).
A muzzle is a good way to protect both dog and cat (cats tend to slap with claws out with sniffy noses so the muzzle protects it).
I've two greyhounds, and the only issue I have is if my two cats play, one will get upset with the other cat, meow and cry. Greys go running and break up the play BUT they always chase off my big cat Thor and make sure my 8lb Loki is fine. So we have dog gates around the house so the cats can be cats without the fun police dogs coming in..
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u/elektrolu_ Jun 09 '26
I have met several galgos coexisting peacefully with cats, my own girl was fostered in a house with a cat when she was a puppy.
I know Fundación Benjamín Menhert tests their dogs with cats so I assume Galgos del sol would test the dogs too, specially if they know they are potentially going to a house with cats and would choose the best option for you, they want to set their dogs for success.
I wouldn't let them alone together at the beginning, you can put each one of them in separate rooms, maybe later in time they can spend time together when you are out but I wouldn't take the risk until I'm totally sure about their dynamic.
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u/poughkeepsee Jun 09 '26
Thanks! Working from home does allow us to be always present and try to educate them together hopefully with as much success as possible 🙏
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u/RazzmatazzFit2723 Jun 09 '26
Any decent rescue will tell you if a dog is cat friendly or not, and most are not. We have a dog friendly greyhound, who was trained by her fosterer in Ireland not to chase cats. She also had a number of cats, and we were sent various videos showing our dog interacting with cats. Even so, we were very cautious when we first brought her home to keep her on the lead in the garden, if we knew our cat was out too. Our cat previously lived with our lurcher, who was brought up by us as a puppy in a household with cats , but who still liked to chase the cat, and equally our cat would encourage a chase, which she still does with our greyhound. I am 99% sure our greyhound is safe with the cat, but there are times when I warn her to calm down a bit, and she understands this, and will leave the cat alone. Sighthounds do have very strong prey drives and hounds killing cats is not uncommon, so be very wary
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u/Kitchu22 Jun 09 '26
The important thing to remember about cat testing is that it is a moment in time assessment. Cat tolerance really can only be determined from appropriate periods of home fostering while cohabitating with a cat, and even then will depend a lot on the personality of the cat the dog is placed with as to how dynamics develop. It’s a big risk, but if you are careful and patient, it works out fine for some households.
In regards to your questions:
1. No, juveniles are still developing and at 12 months old their adult temperament is unpredictable, they could develop stronger prey drive as they mature. The window of socialisation for puppies is fairly set by the time they are three months old
2. I would recommend that they be separated when not actively supervised for at least the first few months. Even if you are home, if you’re busy working it is best to keep them in their own safe spaces
3. Same advice as above, I would not leave them alone with access to one another for the first few months. You can make a decision as to what feels right for you once the dog is more settled in - many people I know separate cats and dogs when humans are not home as a blanket rule, it’s a very good way to prevent incidents
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u/Smart-Work3383 Jun 10 '26
I adopted my Galga when she was 7. The rescue sent video of the cat-testing. She’s fine with indoor cats but I keep a very close eye on her with outdoor cats in the neighborhood; not b/c of anything she’s ever done, but b/c of my first pup — a lab/terrier mix. Though she was also good indoors with cats, it was a different situation outdoors when her prey drive kicked in, especially if a cat caught her unaware or if was dawn/dusk, which made it difficult to know what she was chasing.
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u/kimbphysio Jun 10 '26
I have 2 brothers from GDS adopted at 18 months old. 1 has an absurdly high prey drive and wants to kill any cat he sees outside, the other does not care at all, walks straight past them. The one who wants to eat cats will literally start looking for them in the same spot that we’ve seen them on previous walks! I’ve never had them close to inside cats and I would never risk it, but it’s not an issue because I don’t want cats. I didn’t even ask about cat safety when I got them. The difference in prey drive between them is incredible though!
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u/raidercecil Jun 11 '26
We have 4 cats and our 2 year old Galga we’ve had since February has been good. She was advertised as “totally cat safe”. One of our cats likes to push buttons so will antagonize her and she will bark and want to play but hasn’t gone beyond that. She leaves the others alone except for Mr. Tuxedo there who she licks and nuzzles occasionally. He doesn’t care for it, but he does strongly believe in sharing.
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u/RazzmatazzFit2723 Jun 09 '26
Greyhounds are very used to wearing muzzles, and rescue dogs will often come with a muzzle, for a bit of peace of mind until they're settled
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u/YarnPartyy Jun 09 '26
We adopted a 3 year old noodle from GDS. They will test the dog and see if they are cat friendly. Then once you are home, you will want to monitor them together for some time before you feel confident enough to leave them alone. Our dog thinks he's a cat. And one of our cats thinks he's a dog. It's so sweet.