A family who fostered a new cat after their dog lost her feline “soul mate,” couldn’t give him away once the two formed an inseparable bond.
John Ash, from Christchurch, New Zealand, shared the touching story of his Bernese mountain dog, Deog, and her new feline friend, Ceat, in a Reddit post on r/AnimalsBeingBros, where it has received 25,000 upvotes.
Deog, who had been grieving the loss of her best friend, a Siamese cat named Mao, found solace in Ceat, a cat rescued from a local colony of abandoned cats.
“Deog grew up with a Siamese cat, they were completely inseparable. The Siamese cat, Mao, and her were attached at the hip.
“Mao was hit by a car a couple of months ago and we all miss her dearly. We thought fostering a kitten or cat would help us all. Ceat and Deog have now decided to adopt each other,” Ash told Newsweek.
In a video shared by Ash, he walks into a bedroom to find Deog and Ceat snuggling on the bed. Deog rests her chin lovingly over Ceat’s back.
@DeogandCo/@DeogandCo
The loss of Mao had left Deog heartbroken and lonely. The two had been inseparable and Mao’s sudden death was deeply felt by the entire family.
“Deog and Ceat were drawn to each other immediately. Ceat was scared of everything, but found comfort in Deog,” Ash, who shares the lives of his pets on his Youtube channel, Deog and Co, explained.
“Deog misses her friend and has been treating Ceat like she did Mao. The other night I couldn’t find either animal and walked into this situation, we knew we couldn’t rehome Ceat so we signed the adoption papers that night.”
Ceat, whose name was humorously inspired by Deog’s new best friend, came from a colony of cats living in an abandoned, earthquake-damaged building.
The family fostered Ceat through a local no-kill organization that specializes in trapping, neutering, vaccinating, and rehoming cats.
Should no home be found, as an absolute last resort, the cats would be returned to their original colony. Fortunately for Ceat, Deog made sure that wouldn’t be the case.
Helping Dogs Through Grief
@DeogandCo/@DeogandCo
Grief in dogs is real, and Deog’s experience highlights the emotional toll that the loss of a close companion can have on a pet.
According to animal charity Blue Cross, one of the most effective ways to help a grieving dog is by maintaining their routine, providing plenty of affection, and offering new companionship if the timing feels right.
Just as fostering Ceat brought comfort to Deog, the presence of another pet can sometimes ease a dog’s emotional pain.
Signs of a Strong Bond Between Dogs and Cats
Though dogs and cats may have a reputation for not getting along, Deog and Ceat’s immediate connection is a testament to how animals can communicate affection across species.
As highlighted by pet website Rover-Time, signs that dogs and cats are bonding include snuggling, grooming each other, and sleeping near one another, all behaviors Deog and Ceat displayed.
Reddit Responds
The story of Deog and Ceat resonated with Redditors, who found the encounter both adorable and heartwarming.
“Oh man, I’m sorry for your loss. It looks like this one came along at just the right time,” commented PugGrumbles.
“But it’s necessary to finalize the special bond! Deog and his best friend Ceat to go on together as partners in crime!” said Suestrong315, celebrating the pair’s blossoming friendship.
One user, reflecting on their own pet experience, wrote, “Deog wanted a cat. You provided a cat. I had a rabbit who died. When I got another rabbit, my cat was absolutely delighted… You could almost see him say, ‘HEY!'”
Another user chimed in with excitement when Ash shared they had officially adopted Ceat, writing, “Yayyyyy!!!! Congrats! It was meant to be.”
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