The bond between a senior cat and a kitten has tugged at the heartstrings of viewers online.

The pair were filmed cuddling on a windowsill at their home, with the older cat captured wrapping his paws around his younger sibling. Their owner, who is known online as @realitydaydream, had shared the moment to Instagram on June 22, where it has since been viewed almost 4 million times and liked 387,000-plus times. The video follows a long line of others on social media that aim to show how introducing an old pet to a new pet can go better than expected.

"This is your sign to get your own cat his/her own baby," their owner, Bethany, said. "Their love is so special, and we had no idea that our old man cat was still so playful! The little guy has brought out his frisky side and made him young again. We're so glad they have each other."

Veterinarian Marty Becker had told the pet-care firm Vetstreet that, in his experience, bringing a new pet into a household with a senior pet can breathe new life into that animal and boost both their mood and energy levels. The vet, who is known for appearing on Good Morning America, said that living with another, younger, member of the same species can provide social, mental and physical benefits.

The Internet's Reaction

Viewers online have spotted some of these benefits, with many leaving positive messages, or their own similar experiences, in the comments section.

"We tried this [but] my cat hated the kitten so much, we had to get a kitten for the kitten. They love each other so much it's adorable and my grumpy girl continues to wish death upon them," one user, @beastieboysbongwater, posted.

Another, @candybonesheart, added: "I didn't give my cat her own baby. She found her own baby. She literally escaped for two hours came back with a little kitten. I don't know whose mama she stole that kitten from but she's got a baby."

"My cat is 18 and we call her mama cat because she's had so many kittens, sadly though she had some gene that made her milk poisonous so every litter died. About a year ago we thought she was dying so we got her a baby so she could be a mama again before she went, turns out that saved her, she acts like a kitten now and loves her baby pepperoni," a third user, @_.porcelain._.doll._, added.

Newsweek reached out to @realitydaydream for more information via email.

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This story was originally published July 1, 2024, 11:46 AM.