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Cats are known for being independent, but every once in a while, one comes along who completely rewrites the rules. One Tabby cat named KeKe is doing exactly that after being caught caring for a group of newborn puppies like they belong to her.
And honestly, she seems pretty convinced that they do.
The adorable clip from the TikTok account @amber_nunnally shows KeKe stretched out in the sunshine with five tiny puppies snuggled up against her.
The caption explains the unexpected moment.
“Came out to put puppies back with Mama after giving her a break and found them with their adoptive mama.”
Related: Chihuahua Puppies Use a Calico Cat as a Trampoline and She Does Not Care
In the video, KeKe looks completely relaxed as the puppies cuddle into her, and at one point, she even starts making biscuits on one of them like a proud, slightly confused mom.
In the background, the human can be heard saying, “KeKe, what are you doing? Those aren’t your babies.”
The puppies, however, do not seem to agree.
As soon as the human questions the situation, the little pups start whimpering and snuggling even closer to KeKe.
Viewers in the comments quickly took KeKe’s side.
“If those aren’t her babies, why do they all look like her?” one person joked.
Another commenter imagined the actual dog mom’s reaction.
“The real mama is like… seriously, let the cat babysit.”
Some viewers pointed out that everything seemed perfectly fine until the human stepped in.
“They were fine until you came over.”
Others fully rejected the idea that the puppies did not belong to KeKe.
“You’re the only one saying they’re not hers.”
“She made baby biscuits. They’re her babies.”
One comment noticed how the puppies reacted in the moment.
“The way all the puppies start crying as soon as you say they aren’t hers.”
And one viewer summed up the whole situation perfectly.
“They say it takes a village.”
Another commenter offered a more thoughtful explanation.
“Cats will look after each other’s babies to give mamas a break. KeKe is just doing her friend a solid.”
Why Some Cats Look After Puppies
While it might seem unusual, it’s not unheard of for cats to show motherly behavior toward animals that are not their own kind.
Cats have strong nurturing instincts, especially females who have had kittens before or are naturally maternal. When they encounter small, vulnerable animals like puppies, those instincts can sometimes kick in.
In some cases, cats will groom, cuddle, and even try to “mother” animals who are not their own, simply because the behavior feels natural to them.
As long as the interaction is supervised and both animals are safe, these cross-species bonding moments can be surprisingly gentle and heartwarming.
And in KeKe’s case, it is pretty clear she has already made up her mind.
Those are her babies.
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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Mar 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.