Watch This Cat Take Over Parenting Duties From a Golden Retriever

It’s not every day that you see a cat stepping in to co-parent with a dog. However, this cute, funny post from pubity shows a Siamese cat taking over parenting duties from a Golden Retriever puppy’s mom. The new mother keeps a watchful eye on her pup for a few seconds before deciding the cat has got this covered. Although TV and movies would have us think dogs and cats are natural enemies, many cats and dogs live together peacefully. Some even form such strong bonds that their offspring are seen as part of the family, too.

Feline vs. Canine Maternal Instincts

Although cats and dogs both have strong maternal instincts, cats are not maternal in the same ways dogs are. Experts believe evolution is responsible for the different ways maternal qualities manifest in cats. While cats can be social, especially Siamese cats, they have evolved to be more solitary. Mother cats are fiercely protective of their young, but they concentrate on teaching the kittens how to be independent. This includes teaching their kittens how to hunt for food, how to defend themselves from predators, how to use the litter box, and how to interact with other cats and humans.

In contrast, canines have evolved as pack animals. Dogs are generally more focused on teaching their offspring survival skills related to living in a pack. The mother dog is very attentive to the pups and tends to keep her young close by longer than mother cats do. Mother dogs teach their puppies how to be properly submissive to the pack leader, as well as how to socialize appropriately. She also teaches the puppies how to play, which includes lessons on bite inhibition and boundaries from both the mother and the puppies’ litter mates.

Is This Normal Cat Behavior?

Despite the differences in maternal instincts, both cats and dogs lick their young. Both species lick their offspring to clean them, facilitate breathing and blood flow, stimulate elimination, and show affection. Cats are well-known for their attention to hygiene, so it’s no surprise that mother cats lick their babies even more than mother dogs. Yet, why would the cat lick a dog?

Cats, dogs, and other mammals secrete a hormone called oxytocin during nursing and licking. This hormone not only promotes social behavior, but it also reduces stress. Cats and dogs have been shown to release oxytocin during positive interactions with others of their species, as well as with their humans. Researchers believe the primary reason why cats groom dogs is to show affection in the same way they would another cat. So, the cat is most likely licking the puppy to bond with it, just as they would a kitten.

One Big Happy Family

Unlike dogs, cats do sometimes nest with other cats and communally nurse their kittens. Experts believe this is one reason why it is actually easier to cross-foster on a mother cat than it is on a mother dog. So, for some cats, nurturing another mother’s babies comes naturally. As it is with all species, some individuals are just more maternal than others. However, the relationship between the mother dog and the cat significantly impacts this behavior as well.

If the mother dog and the cat were raised together, the dog likely views the cat as part of the pack. The mother does not exhibit any aggressive behavior and even walks away, leaving the pup in the care of the cat. This shows that the mother dog does not perceive the cat as a threat. Likewise, the cat probably views the dog as part of its family, and by extension, the puppies are part of the cat’s family, too. So this overworked mama dog can finally take a little break, knowing the pup’s cat “auntie” is on parenting duty.