Cat Has Identity Crisis After Owner Adopts Puppy: 'Broke Her'

Newsweek

a day ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A confused kitty has gone viral after seemingly having an identity crisis when introduced to a new puppy, in a video that has left internet users in stitches.
The clip, shared on Instagram by @catpowercouple in July, shows a blue-eyed kitten reacting to his first meeting with a canine. Initially curious about the pup, the kitty begins by smelling him, only to end up panting just like him.
"I introduced my kitten to a doggo. I think he broke her..." the poster writes in the clip. She adds in the caption: "Slight identity crisis (or more likely, she's mocking him).
"On a serious note, cats don't usually pant—so if they do, it's often a sign they're overheated, stressed, or something might be wrong. Keep an eye out, especially after playing or in hot weather! Make sure you give your fluffy children big hugs all the time [because] they need to feel loved always."
The poster, Robin Abboud, 22, from Edmonton, Canada, told Newsweek that while they were thinking of adopting the little pup in the clip, they ended up not taking him because she turned out to be gravely allergic to his breed.
Screenshots of the viral video show the cat imitating the puppy.
Screenshots of the viral video show the cat imitating the puppy.
@catpowercouple
"In the video, the dog starts panting excitedly to get home, my cat and him meet and she watches him curiously (and definitely she was scared as she doesn't have much experience with dogs and cats usually aren't a fan of change), and then surprisingly starts panting too," she said.
"Cats can pant for a few reasons, in this case, it was most likely heat from the hot summer day and stress from meeting a new furry friend. I included cat panting explanations in my caption because a lot of people don't realize panting in cats is possible.
"It's been really fun seeing the reactions—many people are both amused and learning something new about cats."
Cats may pant for several reasons, though it's less common than in dogs, according to Pet MD. Normal causes include intense exercise, stress, or overheating—situations where the cat may need to cool down or calm.
More serious causes include severe pain, heart disease, heartworms, and respiratory illnesses like asthma or pneumonia. Anemia, where the body lacks red blood cells to carry oxygen, can also lead to panting.
If panting is persistent, occurs at rest, or is accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, or difficulty breathing, it could signal a medical emergency and should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
Abboud said that beyond just posting cute or funny moments, her account has a deeper purpose.
"I'm building a community that spreads happiness and love toward animals. I grew up in Lebanon during the revolution, the economic crash, and later the Beirut explosion. A lot of people had to abandon their pets during that time—either in panic or because they simply couldn't afford to feed them. There were so many strays, and it really stuck with me," she said.
"When I moved to Canada alone at 18, having my animals made me feel loved and gave me a sense of family. I want to replicate that feeling that make people smile and remind them how much joy pets can bring, even in tough times. It is a special feeling interacting with animals!"
The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 1.9 million views and 272,000 likes.
One user, Halloween_queen_x3, commented: "My cat used to do this when she was stressed in the car."
Younosyesil said: "Catto has turned into a doggo."
Josephbassemyoussef added: "She looks happier with the dog software."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [e-mail] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.