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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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Social media users have been delighted by how seriously one cat is taking his paternal role, but there's just one small problem—they aren't actually his babies.
As a dog breeder, Chantel McLeod has grown accustomed to the ins and outs of caring for a dog and her litter, but thankfully she gets plenty of help from her 12-year-old rescue cat, Alex. The three Yorkshire terrier puppies may belong to Dazzle, an American Kennel Club champion parent, but that doesn't mean Alex isn't happy to treat them as his own.
McLeod, 53, from Stafford, Virginia, said Alex is usually at his happiest when he's with the puppies, telling Newsweek that "he was born to be a baby lover." The cat will happily lay with the Yorkie puppies at every possible chance, even cleaning them sometimes as though they're his own.
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"Years and years ago when he first started showing interest in the babies, I was a little nervous but that didn't last long," McLeod said. "He purrs so loudly in his happiest moments, and some of those moments are when he's with the babies. He just loves them so much and can't get enough of the puppies."
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Despite popular opinion, cats and dogs don't always play the roles of sworn enemies and they can actually cohabit harmoniously. The Animal Humane Society suggests that owners should take the introduction process slowly and it's important to consider the animals' individual personalities. Each animal should have its own room that can be a sanctuary, and any interactions should be carefully managed and supervised by owners.
Don't expect them to become the best of friends instantly, but if they're gradually integrated with short face-to-face sessions, it will make the goal much more attainable.
After witnessing the adorable bond that Alex shares with the puppies, McLeod shared a video of "Uncle Alex the nanny cat" on her TikTok account (@chantaillylaceyorkies) to delight her followers. The clip of Alex after he was "caught kidnapping puppies" has melted millions of hearts online, as the post has been viewed more than 6.9 million times and gained more than 772,500 likes in a matter of days.
In the clip, McLeod found Alex cuddling up to the puppies "in his happy place." As Alex appears to believe the cats are truly his own, she had to prize them all away from him one at a time.
McLeod has been amazed by the response to her video, saying: "We had no idea that a simple video of Alex doing what he loves most would be loved by so many people.
It's safe to say that Alex now has a huge fan club online, as social media users just can't get enough of him. Since the video went viral on TikTok, more than 9,500 people have commented on the post, with many praising Alex for being so sweet with the dogs. One comment reads: "Alex teaching us all the meaning of unconditional love."
Another person wrote: "His purring! Going to be amazing when the puppies start purring thanks to Uncle Alex's influence."
While one TikTok user joked: "Alex is the funcle and you are ruining it for him."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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