Cat 'Playing Dead' To Fool Golden Retriever Leaves Internet in Stitches

An amusing video of a cat and dog duo has gone viral on TikTok. In the video, a lively golden retriever called Q can be seen desperately trying to "resuscitate" his cat friend while the cat "plays dead."

Q nudges, pushes and nips, but to no avail. Despite his best efforts, the grey tabby cat continues to play dead, to the extent that one user commented, "very convincing !!!!". The retriever eventually gives up and walks over to the camera, while the cat immediately gets up, stretches and walks off.

The adorable clip, posted by Leonie, @Leonie_und_q, has been viewed over 1.6 million times. The bio describes Q the golden retriever as a "certified search and rescue, hunting, and therapy dog."

Search and rescue and working dogs can be an indispensable resource in many crises. Within hours of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, approximately 300 rescue dogs were deployed to Ground Zero to help find both bodies and survivors. Therapy dogs were also employed to provide comfort to those on the ground.

According to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, "search and rescue dogs specialize in disaster response skills. Trained to detect the scent of living humans, their mission was to help find survivors buried in the rubble."

The website reports that one of the search and rescue dogs found the last living person, 27 hours after the towers collapsed. Cadaver dogs, trained to find human remains, were also used.

According to Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States, "Training a search and rescue dog is a process that takes up to two years of weekly training."

If you want your dog to become a search and rescue dog, you have to train alongside your dog, the organization says.

"SAR dogs are owner-trained-and-operated. It takes a team to train a dog, and a mentor is absolutely necessary to assist you on your journey. This means you also must meet the requirements for being a searcher. You first must find a local SAR dog and begin to volunteer," it says, noting that "dogs that have been trained for professional service can cost about $10,000."

The cat's acting skills and Q's concern for the cat's wellbeing both won praise online.

User Liquor equipment wrote, "That looks worrying... Nope, big stretch and the cats away."

Tara Reid said, "emotional damage."

User barny1611 commented, "pooch was really concerned bless, good acting tho."

User clm commented, "The dog is giving the cat CPR. He's like not under my watch!"

Newsweek has contacted @Leonie_und_q for comment.