Published Mar 17, 2025
When Gunner the dog began spending time around their new litter of kittens, his humans were understandably hesitant. After seeing the unwavering trust that mama cat had in him, they allowed him to stick around–and he ended up helping to raise the kittens. He responded to their cries, tried to feed them dog food, and even stimulated them to go potty.
A gentle giant
Gunner is a bully breed, the type of dog that many people fear based on harmful stereotypes. But his parents, who adopted him at five months old, say he’s always been a gentle giant.
He’s very tolerant of cats in particular, and will even offer his own food to their other pets. When their mama cat became pregnant, he took a special interest in her. He spent more time cuddling with her and following her around, being even more gentle with her than usual.
His parents say it’s like he knew she was pregnant–and he probably did! Dogs and cats are known for their ability to sense pregnancy, sometimes even before humans know that they themselves are pregnant!
Despite his gentle nature, Gunner’s parents were hesitant to let any of their pets interact with the newborn kittens. They were told it was best to keep them separated, and they knew that problems could occur with Gunner being such a large dog. Even stepping on them accidentally or playing a little too rough could end with the tiny kittens getting hurt.
Unwavering trust
Mama cat didn’t have the same hesitancy, and happily allowed Gunner to interact with her kittens. She allowed him close and didn’t try to protect them, knowing that there was no need.
Gunner loved checking in on each kitten, sleeping with them, and watching over them. Before long, he started helping out in more direct ways, too.
He learned from watching mama cat how to stimulate the kittens to help them potty. Since newborn kittens cannot potty on their own, their mother licks their genitals to help them go.
When Gunner’s parents saw him mimicking this behavior, they were surprised. They never expected him to take an active parenting role in the kittens’ lives!
Adorably, Gunner also tried to share his dog food with the kittens. Of course, they were too little to eat any kind of kibble. Newborn kittens drink their mama’s milk for sustenance before moving on to wet kitten food as they’re being weaned. But, we give Gunner props for trying his best!
Gunner was also very attentive. When he heard a kitten crying, he’d rush over to lick them. They seemed to find this soothing and would stop meowing–maybe they were just calling out to their dog dad!
Gunner’s parents say that while they knew he was a compassionate pup, it was incredible to witness him raising the kittens like his own. He became a part of their little family, and the kittens loved and trusted him in return. What a special bond they all share!
