‘Love at First Sight’: Grieving Dog Gives Hugs and Kisses to Rescued Kitten at Their First Encounter

‘Love at First Sight’: Grieving Dog Gives Hugs and Kisses to Rescued Kitten at Their First Encounter
Courtesy of Emilia Ivan
Updated:

A grief-stricken dog who lost his Labrador sister received a wonderful surprise when his owner brought home a tiny rescued kitten. To the owner’s shock and delight, the pup’s first reaction was heartwarming.

When Emilia Ivan heard from a friend about a tiny kitten alone in a field in May, with no mother or siblings nearby, she didn’t hesitate to take her in and give her a home. The vulnerable kitten was only 3 to 4 weeks old and needed bottle feeding.

(Courtesy of Emilia Ivan)
Courtesy of Emilia Ivan

Furthermore, if Emilia was going to keep the kitten, she needed to introduce her to her rescued dog, Martin, who lost his beloved sister, a Labrador named Alma, in 2021. However, she was unsure at first how Martin would react to the feline.

Emilia carefully set the scene, filmed the pair’s first interaction, and shared it on TikTok.
(Courtesy of Emilia Ivan)

As the tiny kitten stumbles toward Martin, who is lying on the ground by Emilia’s feet, the pup slowly embraces the kitten with his front paws and licks her on the face. Emilia’s jaw drops as she looks toward her partner in shock.

“Love at first sight,” she posted, adding in the caption, “She’s his new toy!”

(Courtesy of Emilia Ivan)
Courtesy of Emilia Ivan

Emilia’s clip has since amassed over 1.2 million likes and thousands of comments, including, “It was like the kitten was always there, he just accepted her,” and, “The little meow she made, my heart can’t take it!”

Weeks later, the kitten was thriving and it seems like Martin got another companion in June. Emilia and her partner found another homeless kitten, this time abandoned in their yard, and the pair took her in.

“We think she was left there by someone because they saw that we had another kitten,” Emilia told The Dodo. “She was alone and scared.”

When the kitten was introduced to Martin, he bonded with her quickly too.

(Courtesy of Emilia Ivan)
Courtesy of Emilia Ivan
Emilia also shared footage of the two cats tangled in a friendly scrap on TikTok, with Martin watching them as he wags his tail.
(Courtesy of Emilia Ivan)
She told The Dodo that Martin had been “really lonely and sad” after losing his Labrador sister, Alma. But becoming protector and playmate for the two new kittens has changed his world for the better and Emilia and her partner feel that he is grateful for their presence.
(Courtesy of Emilia Ivan)
Courtesy of Emilia Ivan

“He pays a lot of attention to them and takes care of them,” said Emilia. “I’ve always loved Martin, but now when I see him taking care of the kittens, how careful and playful he is with them, it’s magical.”

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