A woman recently took in a Chihuahua that was left behind following its original owner’s passing.Shortly after bringing the tiny pup home,she started picking up on a string of bizarre habits—ones you’d normally only see in house cats,not dogs.

This adorable rescue pooch named Chiwee has recently blown up across social media.Back on June 1,a TikTok posted by the account chiwiwi11945 captured the little Chihuahua settling into a flawless“loaf”pose.This specific resting posture is extremely prevalent among cats but rarely seen within the canine world.In the viral footage,Chiwee positioned himself on a set of stairs,tucking both front paws neatly underneath his torso.

Speaking to Newsweek through TikTok,the dog’s current caretaker shared a plausible reason behind this odd behavioral quirk.The person who initially rehomed Chiwee before he found his forever family sent over old photos dated back to when his previous owner was still alive.One of those snapshots featured the petite dog lounging comfortably on a bed side-by-side with a cat,which likely explains his uncanny feline-esque tendencies.

The unique sitting posture is far from his only cat-like trait,too.

“He was incredibly reserved when we first brought him home,and he’s stayed that way to this day,”the owner recalled.“Even during active play sessions,he never makes any barking or whimpering noises.He creeps around the house almost silently,and what’s even more shocking is how high this little guy can leap.”

One surprising incident fully convinced the family that Chiwee behaved more like a cat than a typical dog.The owner was giving the pup a bath and stepped out of the bathroom for just a few seconds to grab a necessary item.When she came right back,she was stunned to discover Chiwee perched calmly inside the bathroom sink.

“To this day,I still can’t figure out how he climbed up there on his own,”she commented.

Her husband firmly believes the pup’s weird mannerisms stem directly from living alongside a cat in his previous home.

Is Cross-Species Behavioral Learning Possible for Dogs?

There isn’t an extensive amount of targeted research that analyzes whether dogs can directly copy behaviors from cats.Even so,existing behavioral studies have proven that exposing young puppies to other animal species in their early growth stages can greatly mold their social development down the line.

Renowned animal behavior specialist Michael W.Fox launched one of the earliest studies centered on this exact topic.His research focused on young puppies that grew up in constant,close contact with cats during their critical socialization window.The final results confirmed that early exposure to different species would leave a lasting impact on animals’social patterns.Compared to regular puppies,those raised alongside cats displayed noticeable differences,especially in the ways they communicated and interacted with other dogs.

Another comprehensive research review published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior further backed up the theory of cross-species learning.The report validated that dogs possess the ability for heterospecific social learning,a term meaning they can pick up new skills and behavioral patterns simply by observing and engaging with other types of animals.

All these research findings point to a clear conclusion:dogs won’t completely transform into cats or fully mimic every feline habit.That said,spending long periods living together with cats early in life can undoubtedly shape certain parts of a dog’s personality and daily behaviors inside a shared household.