Ex-feral cat who doesn't know how to cat and senior ex-fighting dog who hates cats get adopted by the same person and build an unlikely but beautiful friendship: 'They're both odd, and have had a wild ride to get here, but look how friggin cute they are.'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Apr 7, 2026 6:15 AM EDT

An ex-feral cat and a senior ex-fighting dog who hates cats… you would think that would never work. But somehow, the opposite is true, and these two became best friends. 

Opposites attract. That is what people say. And maybe that is why, despite the fact that cats and dogs are so, so different, they sometimes end up becoming best friends. Cats will bond with the dogs they grew up with. Dogs will bond with cats who are patient and open. There are enough differences for them to overcome in normal circumstances. 

In today's story, there was a lot more for these animals to overcome. The dog came from a complicated background and hates cats. The cat doesn't quite understand how to act like a cat, how to purr, how to show affection in ways that normal cats do. And yet, the two of them became best friends. How? We don't quite know. They just got adopted by the same person and somehow became each other's safe and comfort. 

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  • 01

    "My (formerly) feral cat is finally reaĺlllyyyy cuddling with my rescue pup."

    BE THE HE GOE
    via ohhmybochts
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10621452800
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  • 03
    Fiedor She looks mad about it!
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  • 04
    ohhmybochts OP Her face is just kind of like that, lol. She has some scarring from being torn up pretty badly before she came inside.
    via ohhmybochts
  • 05
    Aside from like headbutting/rubbing, she doesnt really have normal cat mannerisms. She doesnt know how to purr, either, so she just makes like growling gremlin noises with some squeaks thrown in. So when she seeks affection/pets, shell head boop you, and either leave her head pressed on, or headbutt and state at you like this until you give her what she wants. And then the sounds she makes trying to purr sound like a very quiet rabid dog.
    via ohhmybochts
  • 06
    Figured out its kind of her happy/content face, because she stays, but when shes actually mad, or you reach towards, step towards, or even look towards her when she doesnt want affection, she'll run and hide. Heres her happy as can be, sitting under the skylight sunbathing.
    via ohhmybochts

  • Some kitty's faces really do just look like that, and that's okay. The only thing that matters is that she is happy, and as long as she is not actively trying to push away and leave that pupper's side, then that is a happy kitty. If she wanted to leave, she would leave. She could be begrudging about accepting his love as much as she wants, but that doesn't take away from the simple fact that she is actually accepting it. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10621452032
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  • 08
    Cassette Meower Why do beagles like cats so much? All of my beagles have absolutely loved cats! Poppy especially loves kitties, she cuddles with my cat Divina all the time. I have so many pictures of them together!
    via CassetteMeower
  • 09
    Edit: is your dog a beagle? I thought it was at first but then I noticed the ears are a bit short, sorry if I misidentified him! I just LOVE beagles and I'm always happy to see other beagle loving cats!
    via CassetteMeower
  • 10
    ohhmybochts OP Lol nooo not at all. Hes 95lbs. Thibk its just the way his face is sagging as he ages, and he can curl up suppppeerrrr tight. And he doesnt really like cats, he ignores them usually, unless they run. When she runs away from him, he still has moments where he just instinctively takes off after her, but he just nose boops her when he catches her.
    via ohhmybochts
  • 11
    Did his embark a couple years after i got him, and hes mostly boxer, with some cane corso, and sharpei, then a sh load of other breeds. Edited to add a picture of younger him not, curled into a ball.
    via ohhmybochts

  • Knowing this about the doggo somehow makes this already cute story even cuter. The fact that he hates cats, and this is the one and only cat that he has bonded to, this strange kitty who doesn't quite understand how to cat. We agree - they are both a little weird, but that doesn't matter as long as they have each other, as long as they have someone to bask in the weirdness with. In fact, we wish friendships like this for every single one of us. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10621454336
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    ohhmybochts OP And before anyone says she was a stray, not feral, no. she was legitimately feral. She had zero socialization before me, i fed her for almost a year before i could touch her. Shes been inside for almost 4 years now, and she still isnt a normal cat, but shes perfect.
    via ohhmybochts
  • 14
    And thats not an annoyed face, she has a wonky eye. She came inside for the first time after she was attacked and torn up pretty bad, then didnt leave after she healed.
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  • 15
    I rescued tyson, (the dog)a little over 7 years ago now, he was chipped by a rescue that handles former fighting dogs, which js where we guess the scars on his face (and legs, neck, chest, etc) are from. He was found as a stray shortly after his first adoption, then brought back to the shelter for being aggressive. He sat for 6 months with no applications, and i met him when i went to look at another dog, who had multiple.
    via ohhmybochts
  • 16
    It took 6 months, and he has literally been the best dog ever since then, and everyone whose spent time with him think so too.
    via ohhmybochts
  • 17
    Theyre both odd, and have had a wild ride to get here, but look how friggin cute they are.
    via ohhmybochts
  • 18
    psychedeloser "I'm not happy about it!" settles in a little further "I'm ped off, guys!"
    via psychedeloser
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    Nintenuendo_ Awwww she's had a hard life, thank you so much for loving and socializing her. You changed her life in an extreme way for the better and you're an amazing soul for that. I wish you and the whole family a lifetime of cuddles, mischief and adventure.
    via Nintenuendo_
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    roolb I appreciate the gently resistant look on the cat's face. "Fine, but I still don't like you."
    via roolb

  • She has to maintain her reputation, and we will respect it to her face while awwing very loudly and passionately behind her back. Also pictures. We would be taking endless pictures of these moments, of her and her grumpy little face. We would hang these pictures on our walls, and she's a cat, so she will not understand what it means. She will continue holding onto the facade and being loved at the same time. 

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    u_r_succulent "This is... acceptable."
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    Pitforsofts She's doing it under protest.
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    Ok_Fig7692 "I do this under protest."
    via Ok_Fig7692

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aww wholesome cat dogs cute dogs adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted doggo story Cats rescue
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