Dogs don't always know what to do when they encounter a litter of kittens. After all, it's not something that many of them experience on a regular basis — and some will never meet brand new kittens! That kind of confusion coupled with a bunch of new babies who are meeting an animal so much larger than they are can sometimes be a recipe for disaster, but in rare situations, it's almost as if some dogs are innately good at interacting with tiny kittens.
Case in point: The pup in this TikTok video. She met a litter of kittens, and it's not just that she knew exactly how to act — the kittens somehow knew that this was a safe dog for them to be around, too.
On Tuesday, June 11, @pearlsragdolls shared this footage of her senior Golden Retriever interacting with a litter of adorable (and very small) Ragdoll kittens in the most gentle way possible!
Lucy knows just how to approach the kittens without scaring them off, laying down near them and gently smelling them as they approach her and figure out that she's not going to hurt them. Before long, they're climbing all over her, and judging by that happy look on her face, it seems like she's loving it. They're all too sweet together!
Of course, in Lucy's case, this is nothing new — since her humans run their own cattery, this dog has spent a lot of time around cats and kittens, and in a comment, her mom explained that this is her fourth litter of kittens, so she's an old pro by now. It still doesn't make the moment any less sweet!
How to Introduce Your Dog to New Kittens
Unfortunately, it's not a given that your dog will immediately get along with new kittens in the house like Lucy does, but there are things you can try to facilitate the most peaceful introduction possible.
The good news? Vets for Pets points out that introducing your dog to a kitten will often be easier than introducing them to an adult cat. But if your dog has a high predatory drive, you'll want to take extra precautions — they may see your kittens as prey at first.
You can start by showing the kittens to your dog while the little ones are in a crate or otherwise contained, and then continue supervised introductions, with your dog on a lead. Remember to reward your dog for positive interactions and impulse control so they continue the behavior.
Eventually, you'll be able to let your kittens and dog be free around each other; it just might take a little time. But if you get to witness cute moments like the one between Lucy and the kittens, it will certainly be worth it!
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