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I’m a complete sucker for a big dog who desperately wants a little cat friend. All those hopeful sniffs and careful approaches, just waiting for somebody with whiskers to approve the application. A sweet German Shepherd named Zero knows that struggle, and his eventual bestie arrived in a very small orange package.

Before meeting his tiny foster kitten friend, Zero tried befriending the household’s black and white cat. The video shows her responding with a paw against his nose, which is a fairly direct response from the feline admissions department. Then three foster kittens arrived, and Zero’s social calendar took a wonderful turn.

Shared by @zero.theshepherd, the video explains that the family hadn’t planned to keep any of the foster kittens. “But Zero had other plans,” the on-screen text reads.

Soon, the German Shepherd is pictured licking a tiny orange kitten and resting with the baby tucked between his front legs. In another moment, he brings his enormous face close to the kitten’s perch.

“He had finally made a friend,” the video says.

Related: German Shepherd and Emu Bestie Play the Cutest Game of Zoomie Tag

The little orange bestie is Frito, and the family reveals that he stayed. Apparently, Zero’s adoption recommendation carried considerable weight.

One commenter summed it up: “HE JUST WANTED A KITTY.”

Another wrote, “He’s clearly a cat person.”

He certainly seems to have found his people. They’re just considerably smaller and more orange than he is.

Zero’s Love for a Foster Kitten Turned Into a Forever Friendship

This is pretty much how we ended up with Elvis. She was a rescue kitten, and our Pomeranian, Kingston, fell in love with her, so we kept her.

Now she weighs three times as much as he does. He ordered a tiny best friend and received the deluxe expansion pack.

Watching Zero with Frito brings that right back. Sometimes you make plans for your household, and then your dog develops a deeply personal interest in the outcome.

Of course, every dog and cat relationship is different. Introductions should be gradual and supervised, with somewhere safe for the kitten to retreat.

If you’re interested in fostering, contact your local animal shelter or rescue to ask about its program, supplies, and support.

You might help a kitten on the way to a new home. Or, like Zero’s family and mine, discover that someone already living in your house has cast the deciding vote.

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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Oct 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.