TikToker Jenni recently brought home two tiny black kittens to care for, which she kept separated from her dog, Gunner. Gunner could smell the kittens (who were kept in a separate room he wasn’t allowed to go into) under the door and was very curious about them. When it was finally time to meet him, his reaction was priceless!
Gunner was instantly smitten by the kittens, but the feeling was not mutual. Watch on to see how the adorable kittens react to the dog. He was so excited to meet them, but they’re not sure what to make of him!
@hey_itsjenni
Gunner’s tail wags totally made my day! He was so happy and excited, but the kittens wanted nothing to do with him. I hope they all become friends once the kittens get used to the big dog! Commenter @A day in the life agreed, “I need to come back when they are BFFs!”
Viewers of Jenni’s video had a lot to say. @Joi Sinclair made us laugh when she joked, “He is so excited he can’t contain himself and they’re like ‘Oh heck no’ LOL!”
@Camp Kitten swooned, “Oh, he loves them SO MUCH!! LOL!” @WitchyWoman said what Gunner was thinking, “He’s like omg I’m a triplet?!” @Melissa weber made us smile when she added, “It’s reported that Gunner absolutely did NOT stay calm, cool or collected.”
Related: Parents Introduce German Shepherd to New Kitten and Her Terrified Reaction Is Priceless
Why the Kittens Didn’t Like Gunner
It was clear that the kittens were frightened, hissing and arching their backs to try to scare Gunner away. Vet Explains shares why they reacted the way they did, “Cats are solitary hunters by nature, and they are often wary of animals that are larger and more powerful than them. Dogs, with their size and boisterous behavior, can be intimidating to cats, triggering their flight response. On the other hand, humans are generally much less threatening to cats, as we are not seen as predators.”
Experts agree that introducing cats and dogs should be a slow process. Introduce them in a controlled environment on neutral territory or in separate rooms, giving them time to check each other out from a distance.
Make sure the cat has places they can escape to and hide or get away from the dog if they’re anxious or afraid (or vice versa!). Vet Explains also suggests, “Pet owners can use positive reinforcement techniques to reward their cat for calm behavior around the dog, helping to build trust and reduce fear.” Hopefully, they’ll be friends before you know it!