The adorable friendship between a puppy and a kitten has melted hearts online, leaving internet users in awe of their unlikely bond.
Neli the cocker spaniel may only be young, but she's already developed a budding friendship with her owner's kitten, and the pair have already become inseparable. A video showing how sweet the duo are was shared on Neli's dedicated TikTok account (@neliandfriends) and it has delighted social media users.
Footage from the video shows Neli and the cat gently chasing after each other, tumbling around playfully, and of course, curling up for a nap together. Their ancestors might have once been enemies, but this duo are the total opposite. There's certainly no denying how much they love each other.
In just a matter of days, the clip went viral, with more than 681,500 views and 85,800 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. Alongside the video, the TikTok caption reads: "Watch the love of a friendship blossom."
Newsweek has contacted @neliandfriends via TikTok for comment.
While many of us automatically assume that cats and dogs don't get along, The American Kennel Club (AKC) suggests that isn't always true as they can live together in harmony. It isn't a guarantee that they'll get along, but the AKC says they are most likely to co-exist happily if they're introduced as puppies and kittens.
It's important to take the introductions slowly and be patient, while ensuring that both animals have their own spaces and belongings. They shouldn't have to share litter boxes, toys, food bowls and so on as that can feed into a sense of competition.
It can also be breed dependent, as the AKC says that non-sporting dogs, such as bulldogs, can be better suited to a cat because they're not hunters. Comparatively, some large breeds might not get along with a cat if they have strong hunting instincts and are traditionally used to chase game. If a dog's hunting instinct is triggered by sight, they might react immediately when a cat moves around swiftly, so owners should be cautious.
However, it appears that Neli the spaniel had no problems with her feline friend. It may even be the case that the cat wants to be more like Neli, as her owner joked in a TikTok comment that both her cats "follow us on walks" when she takes the dog out.
Indeed, the spaniel isn't only friends with cats, as her owner has also shared videos of Neli cuddling up to some ducklings and going out to sea to watch some dolphins. She doesn't see different species; she just sees best friends.
How Did TikTok React?
Social media users are full of praise for the adorable friendship.
One comment on the video reads: "What a duo. The dog pulling the string for the cat is just the best."
Another TikTok user wrote: "That's the definition of best friends."
"That's one of the most wholesome things I've ever seen," added another commenter.
One person dubbed it the "start of a lifetime friendship."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
English (US) ·