Larry’s day started off like any other, just another casual walk through the Portland streets with his owner, Lexi. But neither of them had any idea this ordinary outing would turn into something extraordinary.
As Larry walked past a cute little cat café with Lexi, he suddenly froze. His eyes were glued to something – or rather, someone – behind the café’s glass window.
It was an orange kitty, staring back at him with wide, curious eyes – and that was it. Larry wasn’t going anywhere without her.
The curious little feline seemed even more smitten. She followed him back and forth behind the window as if she had already decided he was her new best friend.
Lexi smiled at the adorable standoff and tried to coax Larry along, telling him to ‘say bye to his little friend.’
But Larry wasn’t moving. His protest was clear: he had found a new pal and he wasn’t about to leave her behind.
Lexi captured the sweet moment and shared it in a TikTok video, asking the question that was already on everyone’s mind:
“I don’t speak cat. Does this mean I’m required to adopt [her]?”
The video’s caption read:
“Seriously though, do I have a cat now?”
It didn’t take long for that question to get answered.
Lexi, a 34-year-old Portlander, couldn’t ignore the bond between her dog and the little orange cat, later named Ruth. Within days, Ruth became the newest member of their family.
Larry’s excitement on adoption day was uncontainable. He was over the moon about his new bestie! On the car ride home, he was eager to play, as Lexi shared in an interview:
“He was trying so hard to be calm and not scare her, but he was whining in the car and wanted to play immediately.”
But as days passed, he learned to understand the need to be gentle around Ruth and showed great patience. It was no surprise, though, considering Larry’s backstory, which added even more sweetness to this all.
The six-year-old black Labrador and golden retriever mix wasn’t just Lexi’s beloved companion – he also played a crucial role in her life.
Larry had actually been a trained service dog who offered Lexi not only his loyalty and love but also helped her manage her physical disability.
Yet, Larry wasn’t the only pal Ruth was getting, as her new home also included another dog and two pigeons.
She was a little wary at first, but her curiosity about her new siblings, especially Larry, kept growing. Lexi shared:
“So far, Ruth is very keen on Larry; she tries to come near him and sniff him when he’s asleep.”
Larry and his younger sibling Prune, a year-old pug rescued as a stray outside an Oregon shelter, were inseparable. They shared games, cuddles, and now, a home with their new feline sister.
Prune was a bit much for Ruth at first. Her enthusiasm seemed a little overwhelming for the kitty, but Lexi was optimistic their bond would blossom in time, sharing:
“Ruth is still unsure about my pug Prune, I think because of all the noises she makes, but I’m sure eventually they will be good friends as well.”
As for Lexi’s feathered pets, they had their own reactions to the newcomer. Bea, the young rescue pigeon seemed to adore Ruth, oblivious to the usual dynamics of cat and bird.
Bertie, the older pigeon rescued from hoarding, was more cautious. But Ruth didn’t display any hunting instincts; she was simply curious, without a trace of aggression, as Lexi shared:
“Ruth is very interested in the pigeons and surprisingly hasn’t tried to hunt them or anything; she mostly just wants to sniff them.”
Lexi’s TikTok video of Larry and Ruth’s first meeting went viral, amassing over 3.9 million views and more than 606,000 likes.
People couldn’t get enough of the story. They had been leaving thousands of heartwarming comments, suggesting that Larry and Ruth were destined to be together. One joked:
“I speak cat. She was saying I can dominate this dog, but must look cute to the human.”
And another added:
“That cat plans on making your dog one of his henchmen.”
As Lexi’s family continues to grow, so does the joy in their household. Every day feels like a new adventure.
Larry and Ruth’s friendship continues to blossom, with Larry gently giving her space and Ruth slowly working up the courage to fully embrace her new family.
Their quirky gang shows that love truly doesn’t care about boundaries – not between species, not between personalities, and certainly not between hearts willing to share their lives with one another.
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