Golden Retriever Makes Cat 'Fall in Love' Again After Loss of Family Dog: 'She Healed' Him (Exclusive)

A cat named Fred has found new companionship after grieving the loss of his longtime friend.

When owner Dayshun Stevens got Fred in 2019, she already had a 7-year-old golden retriever named Arthur, and the pair of pets became “inseparable” within days, she tells PEOPLE.

“He just followed Arthur everywhere and they did everything together side by side for the next four years,” says Stevens.

Then, last August, the family suddenly lost Arthur after he developed a tumor that spread aggressively and burst.

Fred the cat and Sunny the golden retriever.

Dayshun Stevens

“Fred didn’t really look for Arthur after he died, but I could tell he was grieving,” Stevens recalls. – He slept much, much more than usual.

Stevens says she and her husband were devastated by the loss of their beloved dog.

“Arthur was our whole life,” she says. “It has been part of our daily routine for the last decade.”

Fred the cat and Sunny the golden retriever.

Dayshun Stevens

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Three days after Arthur died, Stevens’ husband showed her a picture of “this little fluffy golden retriever” and said he was on his way to get her.

“We just couldn’t bear not having a golden in our home,” she says. “We had a feeling Fred felt the same, so bring in Sunny.”

Fred warmed to the new dog a few weeks after the family brought Sunny to their home in Colorado.

Arthur the golden retriever and Fred the cat.

Dayshun Stevens

“Fred was very curious,” says Stevens. “At first he stayed away unless she was asleep, then he would come up to her, sniff her and get to know each other.”

“That’s when wrestling and chasing started,” she adds. “Fred has really perked up and is having fun again. I think Sunny’s puppy was full of energy at first, but Fred also has a ton of energy.”

She says that Fred always wanted to wrestle Arthur, but Arthur was “very gentle” with Fred and refused.

“Fred has finally found his match because Sunny is more than willing to roll and tumble with him,” she says. – They have a lot of fun together.

Last month, Stevens shared an Instagram Reel featuring some of the duo’s cutest moments.

Golden retriever Sunny and cat Fred.

Dayshun Stevens

“POV: Watching your cat fall in love with a new golden friend after losing his first golden friend,” reads the text on the video.

“I’m so thankful for Sunny and the way she healed Fred’s heart after he lost Arthur,” Stevens wrote in the caption of the post. “Their friendship blossoms in the rays of Sunny’s light! It’s so wonderful to see Fred loving each other again.”

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Stevens says he can tell that Fred has gotten “really close” with Sunny because they follow each other and play all the time.

Golden retriever Sunny and cat Fred.

Dayshun Stevens

“I think Fred really understands now that Sunny is our family,” she says. “As Sunny matures, she calms down more and becomes much gentler with Fred. Fred is really protective of Sunny. If she cries or gets alarmed by something outside and barks, Fred runs over to see if she’s okay.”

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“We’re really excited to see how much their relationship grows,” she adds.

Stevens says she’s noticed Fred staring at Sunny and often wonders if he’s thinking about Arthur since she’s “identical” to the late dog.

“He’s used to going on adventures with golden and being at home with golden, so I think he’s at home with Sunny,” she says. “I think he’s finally feeling normal again in his routine with his dog.”

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Source: HIS Education