A rescue cat called Salem has left the internet in stitches after his owner caught him wearing one of her slippers, in a video that has gone viral on social media.
In the clip, shared on TikTok on Sunday by his owner, under the username @nattnaomi, the 8-month-old black rescue kitty can be seen wearing one of his owner’s fur-covered slippers on his front paw, touring the entire living room while wearing it. The hilarious post comes with a caption that reads: “He’s my daily therapy.”
Cats are known for being quirky creatures with odd and sometimes questionable behaviors, one of them being their love for shoes/slippers. But where does their passion for footwear comes from?
The pet-wellness experts at Rover say there are many possible reasons behind this behavior, and it’s surely not about fashion.
One possible explanation is that the cats are trying to mark their territory because it smells like you, or that they are intrigued by the smell of the shoe and/or the laces. It may also be that the felines just find your shoes a comfortable place to sleep in. This behavior could also be a sign that they are trying to get your attention and they feel bored and need more enrichment.
“If your cat keeps chewing or playing with your shoes, they might be bored. So if your kitty can’t stop chewing on your shoes, you may want to provide some better outlets for play, including puzzle toys or other interactive activities,” the Rover website says.
The video quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across TikTok. It has so far received over 294,000 views and more than 45,000 likes on the platform.
One user, lim, commented: “Boots with the fur.” And binjuice posted: “The way they’re just accepting their new life with the big foot.” Hannah15mini added: “Me putting on my partners footwear to pop outside.”
Another user, Helen Tingle, wrote: “He needs some little slippers of his own.” And enzythebengal8_backupacc commented: “He’s slaying in them.” Ria Jade added: “This made my day I’m crying.”
Newsweek reached out to @nattnaomi for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.