Delight as Cat Helps Medical Staff Massage Dog in Rehab—’A Professional’

A video of a Boxer dog undergoing physical therapy from the unlikeliest of trainers has melted hearts online.

Racking up more than 7 million views, the video posted on March 9 shows a dog receiving a massage from two trained therapists. One is working on his chest and the other on his legs. However, what has captured the attention of viewers was the presence of a tabby cat who stepped in to lend a paw.

Even the dog appears to be surprised as he shoots up to take a closer look at what is going on. But it doesn’t take long for the cat to get bored as it soon leaves the task to the workers, who can be heard laughing at the end of the clip.

It is unclear how this scenario came about but TikTok users are glad it did. At the time of writing, the video shared by @martyna_mua has amassed 1.2 million likes and more than 5,000 comments.

One user said: “The dog is like ‘is he qualified for the job?'”

“He said: wait a minute!!! What the cat doing???!!!!” wrote another.

“Cat—I’m a professional, mate……this is a teaching hospital,” said a third commenter.

Kneading, or making biscuits, is natural behavior for cats. According to the Purina UK website, it can be a sign of contentment, comfort, or even a way for your cat to communicate.

The pet food company has highlighted five reasons why a cat kneads:

1. Nursing Instinct: Kittens knead their mother’s belly to stimulate milk flow while nursing. This behavior may persist into adulthood as a comforting, nostalgic behavior.
2. Marking Territory: Cats have scent glands in the pads of their paws, so kneading can be a way for them to mark their territory with their scent.
3. Stretching and Relaxation: Kneading can be a way for cats to stretch their muscles and relieve tension, similar to how humans might stretch or massage their own muscles for relaxation.
4. Nesting Instinct: In the wild, cats knead to create a comfortable sleeping spot in tall grass or leaves. This behavior may carry over to domestic cats as they knead soft surfaces to create a cozy sleeping area.
5. Seeking Attention: Some cats knead as a way to seek attention or affection from their owners. They may associate kneading with receiving pets, attention, or treats.

Newsweek reached out to @martyna_mua for comment. 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? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to [email protected] and they could appear on our site.