Devoted Dog Rey Welcomes Foster Kittens With Morning Kisses and Bedside Care

The bedroom door unlatched with a soft click, and Rey didn’t hesitate for a single second.

Tail wagging with steady, quiet rhythm, the dog padded straight across the room toward the edge of the bed. Resting on the floor were tiny bundles of fur: orphaned foster kittens who had only recently started finding their footing in the world. Rather than bounding in with boisterous puppy energy, Rey lowered her head, dropped to her paws, and went right to work delivering gentle, measured morning licks.

A devoted bedside wash for tiny paws

In the viral clip shared by their foster family at @littlehouseofcrazies, Rey approaches her self-appointed duties with solemn tenderness. She presses her muzzle against one tiny kitten, giving its ears and head a slow, warm grooming session before turning to greet its sibling with the same reassuring sniffs. Once the second kitten received its morning check-in, Rey pivoted back to the first baby to finish the wash.

The family noted on social media that “Rey sure does love her babies,” a sentiment that quickly resonated across the internet after DogTime highlighted the cross-species affection. For Rey, who stepped into the role of surrogate guardian, the kittens are not just curious housemates—they are family that requires steady affection and constant companionship.

The heartwarming clip struck an immediate chord with animal lovers, who marveled at Rey’s motherly devotion and quiet gentleness:

Stepping into the role of a missing mother

Behind the sweet bedtime and morning rituals lies an incredible resilience. According to updates shared by their caregiver, the three surviving kittens—including a feisty little survivor named Frodo—tragically lost their mother and littermates to panleukopenia early on. Facing daunting odds, the trio pulled through with round-the-clock supportive nursing, and Rey immediately stepped in to fill the emotional void left behind.

Canine behaviorists often observe that many dogs, particularly intuitive mixed breed companions, exhibit strong maternal and caregiving instincts toward small vulnerable animals. When orphan kittens miss out on the vital tactile warmth and grooming normally provided by their feline mother, having a calm, attentive canine protector provides essential comfort and emotional security. Rey’s soft body language—lowered postures, gentle tail wags, and careful tongue strokes—demonstrates how remarkably attuned dogs can be to fragile lives.

In this home, Rey’s patience has created a safe haven where fragile orphans can grow up feeling thoroughly cherished. For anyone following their rescue journey, the touching bedside wash is a quiet, powerful reminder of how naturally dogs offer heartwarming empathy across species boundaries.