I have 3 cats and 3 shepherds. We have a gate up to keep the shepherds from running over the cats. It gives the cats a "dog free" zone for food, water and litterbox. My shepherd, Zeuss loves the cats and would never hurt them. My other 2 shepherds make too much noise for the cats and it scares them. Zeuss will sit like a statue for hours, just staring at the cats. They touch noses through the gate and sometimes I will open the gate and the cats will come out and rub on Zuess.