The Adorable Story of the Cheetah and Labrador That Grew Up Together at Busch Gardens

Quick Take

• A cheetah cub needed a puppy for a serious reason, and it wasn't just cuteness.
• One of them took a surprising plunge on a public visit while the other stayed unimpressed.
• Kasi and Mtani weren't the first of their kind. Why do some zoos pair predators with pets?
• Their story didn't end the way caretakers planned.

Cats and dogs aren’t exactly famous for getting along. But nobody bothered telling Kasi the cheetah and Mtani the Labrador. When these two youngsters met at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 2011, they were about to begin one of the most adorable friendships the animal world has ever seen.

Kasi was an eight-week-old cheetah cub with a spotted coat, oversized paws, and a whole lot of growing to do. Mtani was a 16-week-old yellow Labrador puppy who didn’t seem particularly concerned that her new playmate would eventually become one of the fastest land animals on Earth. To her, he was simply another youngster who wanted to play.

Their first meeting reportedly began with the two animals touching noses. Before long, they were wrestling, napping together, sharing toys, and exploring their surroundings like a couple of siblings. The photos and videos of their early adventures are almost impossibly cute, but there’s a surprisingly important reason these two were brought together.

Why Did a Cheetah Cub Need a Labrador Puppy?

Kasi was born at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on February 19, 2011. Unfortunately, his mother couldn’t produce enough milk to properly nurse him, so animal-care specialists stepped in to raise the tiny cub.

When Kasi arrived at Busch Gardens a few weeks later, the staff faced another challenge. Cheetahs need opportunities for social interaction, particularly when they’re young. Male cheetahs often form close-knit groups called coalitions in the wild, but the park didn’t have another young cub that could safely serve as Kasi’s companion.

That’s where Mtani came in.

The young Labrador was brought in from an Orlando-area shelter, chosen partly because of the breed’s friendly, easygoing temperament. Her job was simple enough: be a companion to a growing cheetah.

And she took to it beautifully.

Two Unlikely Friends Who Did Everything Together

The friendship quickly developed beyond occasional play sessions. By their first anniversary in April 2012, Kasi and Mtani were spending their days together at Busch Gardens’ Cheetah Run habitat.

According to the animal-care team, their relationship looked remarkably similar to that of two playful siblings.

Mtani would prod Kasi with a stuffed cheetah toy until he agreed to play tug-of-war. Kasi sometimes returned the favor by pouncing on his canine friend while she was sleeping. And when the two weren’t wrestling or chasing one another, they could often be found relaxing together.

There were some entertaining differences in their personalities, too.

During one visit to their habitat, Kasi surprised everyone by jumping into a pool for the first time. While guests cheered the cheetah’s unexpected swim, Mtani was apparently more interested in sniffing around the enclosure.

The pair eventually became animal ambassadors, visiting schools and helping Busch Gardens educate visitors about cheetahs and wildlife conservation.

Why Do Some Zoos Raise Cheetahs With Dogs?

Although the arrangement might seem unusual, Kasi and Mtani weren’t the first cheetah-and-dog pairing.

Cheetahs can be cautious animals, particularly when encountering unfamiliar situations. Some accredited wildlife facilities have introduced carefully selected dogs to young cheetahs to provide companionship and reassurance.

Dogs tend to be comfortable around people and new environments, and a confident canine companion may help a nervous cheetah feel more secure.

That doesn’t mean every cheetah needs a dog. Some are better suited to living with other cheetahs, and introductions between different species require careful planning and professional supervision.

For Kasi, though, having Mtani around during his early development gave him a consistent companion when he didn’t have another young cheetah to grow up alongside.

What Happened to Kasi and Mtani?

As the two animals grew older, something began to change.

By 2013, Kasi was showing increasing interest in the other cheetahs at Busch Gardens. His caretakers gradually introduced him to a female cheetah named Jenna, and the pair began developing their own relationship.

Mtani, meanwhile, was approaching a different stage of life.

In March 2014, Busch Gardens announced that the Labrador had been adopted by one of its animal-care employees. She would enjoy life as a family pet, while Kasi remained at the park with Jenna.

1. Feb 2011 Kasi is born Kasi is born at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on February 19, 2011; his mother couldn’t produce enough milk to nurse him.
2. 2011 Kasi meets Mtani The eight-week-old cheetah cub meets a 16-week-old Labrador puppy at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
3. Apr 2012 First anniversary Kasi and Mtani spend their days together at the Cheetah Run habitat.
4. 2013 Kasi meets Jenna Kasi shows increasing interest in the other cheetahs and is introduced to a female named Jenna.
5. Mar 2014 Mtani is adopted Busch Gardens announces the Labrador has been adopted by one of its animal-care employees.

It’s a different ending from the lifelong partnership their caretakers originally envisioned. But that doesn’t make their friendship any less remarkable.

For several formative years, a cheetah cub and a shelter puppy helped each other grow, play, and experience the world. Their relationship gave Kasi companionship during a critical part of his development and helped introduce countless people to the importance of cheetah conservation.

And somewhere along the way, they gave us some of the sweetest animal friendship photos you’ll ever see.

Not bad for a Labrador whose first job was simply being a good friend.