A pair of large dogs from the United Kingdom were caught on camera trying to overcome their biggest fear, their tiny new feline brother, in a viral video that has left internet users in stitches.
The hilarious footage shared on TikTok on Sunday by their owner, under the username @eynonsamantha, shows the two pups, Jeff and Lenny, working up the courage to get close to their new brother, Nigel, whom they are terrified of.
The pups slowly try to smell the orange kitten and playfully interact with him, but the small feline claps back with violence, making the dogs even more scared than they were before trying to befriend him.
It’s not uncommon for dogs to be afraid of cats, especially those they live with, even if they are a lot bigger than the felines. But what makes these tiny creatures so scary to our pups?
Dr. Harunur Rashid says in a Vet Advises article that dogs are often afraid of cats because of their predatory nature. The feline’s movement can trigger instinctive responses in dogs as a natural self-preservation mechanism.
However, it’s not always the cat’s fault! These two species have distinct and often contrasting body language cues, which can lead to misinterpretation.
Rashid explains that while dogs typically rely on dominant and submissive body language signals, cats tend to be more subtle, using behaviors that dogs may perceive as a threat even though they aren’t.
Misinterpreting a cat’s signals can lead to fear and anxiety, causing dogs to react fearfully or defensively.
But this is not the case for all felines and canines living together. In fact, a study by Italian scientists published in 2020 in the journal PLOS ONE found that the two can easily cohabit without much conflict.
Findings from the study showed that over 64 percent of the cats and dogs living together also played together, 58 percent chased each other and 41 percent fought. Almost two-thirds of the pets sometimes playfully “ambushed” each other.
The most important step in a dog and a cat’s relationship is their first introduction, which must be carried out slowly and mindfully. You can read more about introducing your pets here.
A stock image shows a small orange kitten attacking a big dog.
getty images
The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 5.6 million views and 915,500 likes on the platform.
One user, Katie, commented: “No one will ever convince me that ginger cats aren’t the most powerful animals in the world.”
MooUwU said: “Our Doberman desperately wants to be friends with our cat who only mildly tolerates being around each other.”
BOJANA added: “Everybody’s flinching except the kitten. strongest boss.”
Newsweek reached out to @eynonsamantha for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
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.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
