A woman was worried about how her new cat would coexist alongside their dog, until one moment changed everything.
Ashley Fong’s dog Jayce has been part of the family for nine years and had gotten used to having free run of the house.
That was until Tyson the kitten came on the scene. “We got our kitty almost a year ago, and, at first, they were always very curious but refrained from interaction,” Fong told Newsweek.
There is a perception that cats and dogs struggle to coexist and simply tolerate rather than enjoy each other’s company in the home.
However, research suggests otherwise. In 2020, a study published in the journal PLOS One saw 1,270 people with both cats and dogs quizzed on their pets’ behavior.
The findings threw up some interesting results. For example, 62.4 percent of pet owners said their cats and dogs played together, while 68.5 percent replied that their canines and felines sleep alongside one another at least occasionally.
Fong always hoped Tyson and Jayce would become close but, after a year together, had given up on it ever happening.
“My hubby and I have always wished for that but thought them tolerating each other was enough and that that was going to be their limit,” she said. “We were OK with that.”
In truth, Fong was eager to avoid any flare-ups between her two favorite animal companions. “I was so hesitant at first because of the bad reputation of relationships between cats and dogs,” she said.
That all changed one night. “We were having dinner and suddenly heard them playing around,” Fong said. “To our surprise, we looked over and we were both in awe, excited and felt so much love.”
It was only when Fong checked the footage captured on a nearby pet cam that she realized the extent of their playtime together. That was the moment she knew that this was a friendship that was “meant to be.”
Fong ended up sharing that footage to TikTok under the handle @ashley.mco. It captures the adorable moment something changed between Tyson and Jayce.
Suddenly, the reservations that were once there have disappeared. with the two pets playing alongside each other with joyous, wild abandon.
It was a magical moment. “It was actually their first time ever playing together,” Fong said. “Now they are best buds.”
That single breakthrough has proven to be the start of a beautiful friendship. Everything has changed since then. “Now they play around, long car rides and sometimes sleep relatively close to each other,” Fong said.
So, while some may doubt the idea of cats and dogs living side by side, Tyson and Jayce are living proof that it is truly possible.
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