Cocker Spaniel Puppy Puts In Hours Of Work To Win Over His Cat Sister

Sometimes, it just takes time to win over a girl. That's what a cocker Spaniel puppy named Winston learned when introduced to his much older sister, Bindi, a rescue cat from Sydney, Australia. The two of them live in New Zealand and were introduced to the world in a YouTube video posted in June 2021.

From day one, Winston wanted to play and interact, but Bindi? Not so much. For every attempt Winston made to get close to Bindi, she responded by jumping over gates to escape him, running away, and finding places to hide. A lesser dog may have given up, but not Winston! It wouldn't be easy, but Winston was determined to win the affection of Bindi and to secure a permanent play partner and nap buddy. Dogs out there who may be looking for tips on how to turn a disinterested cat into a BFF may wonder how Winston did it. His playbook was simple: Chase Bindi and bark at her until she warms up to him.  

As one commenter put it, "The cat's expression is like a senior citizen watching a crazy new gen kid." But things are different today for the pair. Videos of them playing together, sharing toys, and napping next to each other show that sometimes it's worth it to keep trying when your feline sibling is playing hard to get. You may just end up a dog and cat who actually love each other!

Winston's methods may not be right for everyone, though. When introducing new pets, proper introductions are important. It's not a good idea to just put them in a room together and hope for the best. This can lead to stress and anxiety and could even be dangerous in some cases. Instead, gradual, well-supervised introductions are recommended. Experts recommend letting pets get used to one another's scent before letting them spend a lot of time together. Then, move to short leashed hangout sessions. If all goes well, gradually increase the time the pets have together. 

Sometimes, pets of different species become the very best of friends, such as one beagle who became an honorary feline after living with cats. Whether your pets become buddies or just learn to tolerate each other, starting off with proper introductions provides the best chance for success. Curious for more? Check out another surprising result in the form of a pit bull who was nearly euthanized and has helped foster more than 70 kittens since being rescued.