The story of how a cat became a dog's "emotional support animal" has gone viral on social media, and internet users can't cope with how cute the two are together.
A TikTok video shared in October by @kesi_li, shows a black Labrador retriever from North Carolina eating a can of wet food from the floor as her feline sister watches over her. The pup can even be seen moving her head every now and then to check that the cat is still there.
"Our dog refused to eat out of her bowl and would only eat if the cat was sitting right next to her. The cat is now her emotional support animal," reads layover text in the clip. A caption says: "I think my dog is broken."
The poster, 28-year-old Kacey who lives in the Raleigh-Durham area, told Newsweek that, in the clip, they had just come back from a vacation where the pup, Marlee, was around other dogs, and she loved being part of the "pack."
"During the vacation, Marlee would only eat her food when she was around the other dogs. When we got back home, Marlee was missing the 'pack mentality' and being around their cat Peekaboo helped her eat her food since they are now a bonded pair," Kacey said.
Kacey said that she and her boyfriend rescued Peekaboo in August 2021, and later adopted Marlee from Love Mutts Rescue in Raleigh.
"Marlee and Peekaboo quickly got along with one another, and they are often seen sitting together and enjoying each other's company at home," Kacey added. "Peekaboo likes to relax on her back, fully stretched out, which is an indicator that she feels safe and confident in her surroundings; she will even let Marlee sniff her stomach in this position."
Whether they stick by you, the cat, or another dog, seeking companionship for our canines is a totally normal behavior as pack animals.
Dr. Harunur Rashid says on Vet Advises that, as descendants of wolves, dogs have an instinctual need for companionship and social interaction. They also need a structured hierarchy within their pack to feel secure and fulfilled.
Wolves used to hunt to survive, so being in a pack helped them maximize their potential. But, even though domesticated dogs don't need to hunt to live, they still need a leader to keep their life in order, like an alpha would do with a pack of wolves.
That's why, usually in a family setting, dogs identify one person as their alpha and look up to them for guidance.
Moreover, as social creatures, dogs need companionship to thrive. Socialization, according to Vet Advises, plays a pivotal role in their overall well-being.
"When we first adopted Marlee, we slowly introduced her to Peekaboo. We kept Peekaboo in a separate space, and they slowly got to know one another by their smells through the door. After a few days, they would play with each other's paws from underneath the door," Kacey said.
"While Peekaboo likes her many cat trees, she does like sleeping in Marlee's bed in the living-room area. and we have seen them occasionally sleep in the same pet bed," Kacey added.
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 214,500 views and more than 33,500 likes on the platform.
One user, Chigrl, commented: "He doesn't like to eat alone he likes family style with large plates everyone eats from. He may be Italian?"
Dmidnights posted: "That's his emotional support kitty."
Judy K215 wrote: "That's a really loyal friend!!"
Laverasimpson added: "Too cute."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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