Cocker Spaniel Puppy Tries To Befriend Elderly Cat & It Couldn't Be Sweeter
Anyone who's ever adopted both a cat and a dog knows that the cat inevitably rules the household, regardless of the size of the dog. That's certainly the case with a cocker spaniel puppy named Roma and a senior cat named Stella.
In a sweet TikTok video that's been watched more than 1.1 million times and racked up over 96,000 likes, the 9-week-old puppy tries to approach the almost-16-year-old cat, and the puppy's tail wags furiously the entire time. At first, Stella's arched back and intense stare give off a strong "stay away" vibe, but gradually the cat's body language relaxes, and she allows the polite pup to come right up to her, almost touching noses at one point.
@ehelmai Our 9 week old cocker spaniel really wants to be friends with our almost 16 year old cat. This is their first real interaction, and they're both so sweet ❤️ #cockerspaniel #cockerspanielpuppy #cat #catanddog
Watching the two fur babies trying to figure out how to get along is a heartwarming moment that offers proof that a dog and a cat can live together peacefully, and viewers instantly fell in love with the darling duo. "😳 Ohh geeze, I'll get nothing done cos I'll be way too busy watching these two adorable darlings ❤️❤️❤️," wrote one, while another commented, "Such a polite puppy! I mean, the death stare the cat is giving is enough to make anyone submissive but still 🤣 adorable. Love the queen cat, she knows who's boss!"
Introducing a cat and a dog
If you're attempting to introduce a new pet into your household — and you're hoping that one day your dog and cat will love each other — here are a few tips to help your cat and dog become best friends. The key to any new animal friendship is taking things slowly, and not expecting instant success. One viewer of the TikTok video asked for advice about introducing a cocker spaniel puppy into a house with four resident cats, to which Stella and Roma's owner responded, "Be patient, that's the most important part. Don't force them together, and give the cats attention. Our oldest cat was best friends with our previous dog ❤️."
Always monitor the initial interactions between the animals, watching for signs of fear, stress, or aggression. Keep the introductory sessions short, and reward your pets for good behavior (but don't punish them for any bad behavior). After your pets demonstrate they can remain calm around each other for longer and longer stretches of time, you can start to allow short unsupervised visits between them.
With time, patience, and a little bit of luck, you just might find yourself living with animal BFFs. One viewer of the video expressed exactly this wish for Roma and Stella: "I hope the Royal Floof gives Seal of Besties Approval."