Is it Permissible to Keep Cats and Dogs?

Cats and dogs are most commonly loved pets, and in this article, I will be discussing if they are allowed to keep, according to Hadith.

I am going to start with cats, since they are in fact permissible to keep, and there is nothing wrong with that because they are good and pure animals (not naajis, impure).

They also do not invalidate the prayer, and are said useful by the Prophet:

"Cats do not invalidate the prayer, because they are one of the things that are useful in the house." (1)

As for dogs, they are not permissible to keep, unless they are a watch or hunting dog. This is supported with Hadith:

"Whoever keeps a dog which is neither for hunting, nor for guarding livestock, will get a daily deduction of two Qirat from the reward (for his good deeds)." (2)

This means that every day a person keeps a dog, his rewards and good deeds will get decreased, due to him having a dog.

Conclusion

Now you know the permissibility between these two animals. Cats can be kept freely, and dogs can only be kept as guard or hunting dogs.

May Allah bless you, and shukran.

Sources:

1. Sunan ibn Majah 369 : Sunnah.com

2. Sahih al-Bukhari 5481