Hearts have melted at a tiny puppy trying to make friends with a senior cat, who is having none of it.
Owner Emilie told Newsweek that 15-year-old cat Stella had been raised alongside a dog, and that the two were “best friends.”
But when their dog died almost seven years ago, the family had never been ready to get another one—until now, that is.
Enter Roma, a cocker spaniel puppy now bringing chaos to their home, and trying desperately to befriend the senior cat.
In a video shared to Emilie’s TikTok account @ehelmai on March 21, Roma the nine-week-old puppy is desperately trying to approach the large, senior cat, who is standing back and watching her carefully.
The puppy wriggles, whimpers and inches ever closer to Stella, getting as close as she dares before moving back to the safety of her owner—and then trying to get closer to Stella again, her tail wagging in a friendly way the entire time. At one point, she gets close enough to sniff Stella’s nose, but though the cat doesn’t move a muscle, Roma clearly picks up on vibes, and moves far away again.
She captioned the video: “Our 9-week-old cocker spaniel really wants to be friends with our almost 16-year-old cat. This is their first real interaction, and they’re both so sweet.”
Emilie told Newsweek: “I know that Stella will accept our new family member, even though she doesn’t look that way in the video. She’s been with us since she was a kitten, and I know she won’t hurt Roma.
“I trust her as much as you can trust an animal. She’s met many dogs, and has never hurt any of them. Well, maybe their feelings!”
TikTok users had a big reaction, watching the video more than half a million times, as one user pointed out that Roma is “super polite for a 9-week-old,” and another laughed: “Trying to be subtle and discreet whilst wriggling the whole time.”
“Such a polite puppy,” another said. “I mean, the death stare the cat is giving is enough to make anyone submissive but still, adorable. Love the queen cat, she knows who’s boss!”
The family’s younger cat, Happy, is also nonplussed at the newest addition to the family, but both Emilie and her husband grew up alongside animals, and when their daughter “wanted a dog more than anything” for her 7th birthday, the parents agreed “the time was right.”
“I know they will become friends, they just need time,” Emilie told Newsweek, adding that Roma has only been part of the family for a week.
She added: “Roma is an incredibly happy and confident little girl, so I know this will end well.”
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