A 10-year-old dog named Nellie has captured hearts online after being caught gently watching over a foster kitten brought into her California home.
Lindsey Miller, who lives in California, shared the touching moment on TikTok after noticing Nellie keeping a close eye on 3-month-old Crush, a kitten she took in as a foster after the Los Angeles fires.
“Crush was brought into our home after I reached out to help foster cats after the LA fires,” Miller told Newsweek. “Once Crush was in the house, Nellie was on watchdog duty—which felt more motherly than anything. I think Nellie always wanted puppies but got stuck with an orange kitten instead.”
Miller’s video, posted under the TikTok account @crushandnellie, shows Nellie watching over Crush as he naps. The caption reads: “File it under ‘things my heart absolutely cannot handle.’” Miller later shared that Nellie had been watching the kitten for about 15 minutes before falling asleep herself.
Since the moment Crush arrived, Nellie has stayed by his side. “Where Crush went, Nellie went. Where Crush slept, Nellie slept,” Miller said. “She’s always just watched over him since he came into the house. I’ve caught her a few times just staring at Crush sleeping—in his crate or on the bed—just making sure he feels safe and at home.”
This gentle bond reflects findings from a 2018 study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, which surveyed around 750 pet owners with both cats and dogs. The study showed that dogs are often the peacemakers in multi-pet households. More than 80 percent of owners said their pets got along well, with dogs more likely to initiate play and show affection than cats.
For Miller, the growing connection between Nellie and Crush made the idea of letting the kitten go impossible. “Once I saw how infatuated she was with him, I could never break them up,” she said. “They also matched colors.”
The feeling is clearly mutual. “Crush equally loves her too,” Miller said. “He likes to clean her ears and her paws in his spare time.”
What began as a temporary foster situation has become a lasting friendship—one that continues to warm the hearts of viewers around the world.
