First published February 13, 2019.
The viral clip shows a dog gripping a cat and pulling it across fresh snow toward a doghouse, and it was shared in February 2019 with a caption saying the dog was rescuing a freezing, abandoned cat. That explanation may be true, but nobody has traced the original filmer, and the footage on its own cannot tell us why the dog did it or how the cat was doing. What it does offer is a good starting point for two useful questions: how do dogs and cats really get along, and what should you do if you find a cat out in the cold?
The clip and where it came from
The version that spread widely was posted on 6 February 2019 by a Twitter account called WILD LIFE PICS, whose handle uses a lowercase "l" in place of a capital "I". Accounts like this collect and repost animal videos without naming the people who filmed them. Its caption said the cat had been left on the street and was freezing, and invited viewers to watch what the dog did.
The cat was freezing in snow, since it had been left on the street. And look what the dog does.. ❄️💐 pic.twitter.com/wRHmDTzOUH
— ♤WILD LIFE PICS♤ (@WILDLIFEPlCS) February 6, 2019
(This post is no longer available on X.)
Because the post has since disappeared and no original uploader has been identified, the location, the animals' relationship and what happened after the clip ended are all unknown. The still above shows the key moment: a dark dog bent over a smaller animal on a snowy path, with tracks leading toward the camera.
What the footage can and cannot show
Some viewers saw a heroic rescue; others worried that the cat was being dragged roughly. Both readings come from the same few seconds of video. Dogs do sometimes carry or pull objects and animals they are attached to, much as they carry toys or puppies, and some dogs that live with cats are gentle and protective with them. But a dog can also grab a cat in play, in confusion or with less friendly intent.
A limp cat being moved without resistance could be calm and trusting, could be stiff with cold, or could be injured. None of these can be ruled in or out from a short clip. The fairest description is the visible one: a dog moved a cat across the snow toward shelter. Anything beyond that is the caption's story, not the camera's.
Can cats and dogs really be friends?
The old idea that cats and dogs are natural enemies is only partly true. Dogs have a chase instinct and cats a strong flight response, so strangers often start badly. Animals that are introduced carefully, especially when young, frequently learn to live together peacefully, and many share beds, groom each other and play. Their body language differs, though: a wagging tail means something different to a dog than a swishing tail does to a cat, which is one reason early meetings go wrong.
If you are introducing a dog and a cat at home, go slowly. Keep them apart at first, let them get used to each other's scent, use a lead or a baby gate for early meetings, and make sure the cat always has a high place or a room it can retreat to.
How to help a cat you find in the cold
Domestic cats tolerate cold better than many people expect, but they can still develop hypothermia and frostbite, particularly on the ears, tail and paws. Kittens, elderly cats, sick cats and wet cats are most at risk. Signs of trouble include shivering, sluggishness, cold ears and paws, and, in serious cases, weakness or collapse.
- If the cat is weak or limp, wrap it gently in a dry towel and get it to a vet or animal shelter as soon as you can. Warm it gradually; do not use hot water or a heater directly against its body.
- If the cat seems healthy but has nowhere to go, contact a local shelter or rescue group. It may be someone's pet, so a vet can check for a microchip.
- If you care for outdoor or community cats, a simple insulated shelter with straw bedding (not blankets, which hold moisture) gives them a dry, wind-free place to sleep.
- In freezing weather, knock on the bonnet of your car before starting it. Cats sometimes crawl into engine compartments for warmth.
Sharing animal videos responsibly
Clips like this one travel fast because they promise a simple emotional story. Before passing one on, it helps to separate what you can see from what the caption tells you, look for the original source, and be cautious about details such as "abandoned" or "freezing" that the video cannot confirm. If a clip shows an animal that may be in danger, the most useful response is to report it to a local animal welfare organisation, not to share it further. That way the story you share stays honest, and the animals behind it get help when they need it.
Sources: Video as posted by the Twitter account @WILDLIFEPlCS (6 February 2019, no longer available; original filmer unknown); Wikipedia: Cat; Wikipedia: Hypothermia; Wikipedia: Feral cat.
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