Livestock Guardian Dog Taking Over Litter of Kittens Really Shows off His Soft Side
Livestock guardian dogs have one job: to protect the livestock. Expansive farms can't always have the human security necessary to keep their herds safe - and honestly, it's better to keep it all natural. Dogs fit in better among the other animals.
Don't let their name fool you, though. Livestock guardian dogs' desire to protect doesn't just stop with the farm animals. They'll lay down their lives to protect each other, their humans, and as we can see in this video from Thursday, April 18th, even a new litter of cats:
I know that Missy Montrose probably knows this already, but I think she might have the best family of pets in the world. How do they all care so much about each other? Who taught them to be this sweet?
This pup's name is Yodin, and according to his mom, he's a Mastiff - specifically, a Presa Canario. They were originally bred to be guard dogs, though it seems like their breed was bred more for herding/home guardianship than livestock. Whatever the case may be, these pups are fiercely loyal, huge, and very intimidating, which are all things you want in a home guardian. They can definitely be trained to guard livestock, though, and they do have farming roots!
As a protector, Yodin saw no other choice than to protect his cat-sister's kittens while she was away. Her name is Sarah, and though she can be wary of her brother at times, this video shows how grateful she was to have him there. Being a mom is hard!
Should You Let Other Pets Near Kittens?
If your cat is having a litter and there are other pets in the home, you can guarantee that they'll be curious. Kittens make a lot of noise, and they smell like new babies! Of course your other animals are going to want to take a look, and that's generally fine.
The idea that a mother will abandon her babies if she senses they've been touched by humans or other animals is just a myth, especially in cases like this: Sarah (the cat) is familiar with her mom's scent as well as Yodin's. Moreover, she knows they would never hurt her kittens and would even be willing to lean on them for a break, like she does in this clip. You're okay to let your other pets come over for a quick sniff, as long as you're supervising.
However, you should still play it by ear: if your mama cat looks like she really doesn't want her kittens to be touched by anyone else, leave them. She'll let you know when she's ready for a break!
🐶 SIGN UP for Parade’s weekly pet newsletter for more inspiring and entertaining stories about our furry and feathered friends 🐾
Trending Stories
