You’ve undoubtedly had the notion that dogs and cats are mortal adversaries, complete opposites, incapable of harmonious coexistence for as long as you can remember with your personal memories. People often make fun of the relationship that cats and dogs have when they share a home, such as this cartoonist who created an absolutely hilarious comic about his cat’s reaction to his dogs barking.
Not only that, but we frequently see photographs of the turmoil that can easily erupt when numerous fur-babies live together on social media, and we often find ourselves amused by the scene presented. However, it’s not an all or nothing situation and there are definitely exceptions to the precedent we believe is set in stone.
Recently, a woman in Turkey caught the heroic rescue of a drowning cat on video… the hero? A dog!
No one knows how the cat ended up in the deep water, but its calls for rescue were both impossible to ignore and much too easy to dismiss.
The cat would have drowned if it hadn’t been for the dog’s intervention.
While the cat struggled to stay alive, the dog paced back and forth, clearly distressed by the dilemma of a fellow creature in desperate need of assistance but unsure how to continue. He finally tries to get close to the cat, as if to say, “climb up.” The befuddled and terrified cat, on the other hand, simply scratched at the unfortunate dog relentlessly.
You’d think the dog would tuck tail and flee, but that’s not the case with our hero. He dove into the water in an attempt to save the cat!
The dog dives into the water, swims beneath the cat, and propels the cat upward! Regardless of how afraid the drenched cat was, she seemed to see that this was her only chance for survival, and thanks to the dog, she was able to make it safely onto land.
After a brief fight, the dog was able to get out of the water as well.
In the end, both animals escape to freedom, alive, albeit soaking wet.
The woman posted the video to Twitter, and it rapidly went viral, but not before it drew some severe (and, to be honest, well-deserved) criticism for her lack of action.
People reasoned that the woman’s impulse was to record the animals battling to survive such a horrible occurrence, when she might have easily… assisted them??
Although, apparently, not everyone agreed she should have helped. So, there’s that.
Well, I’m not sure about that, but I’m delighted the dog and the cat both made it to the next day. It’s also incredible to witness what animals are willing to do for one another. They truly do have a level of empathy that we don’t give them enough credit for.