A video of a stray cat and her four kittens appearing to “just move in” to a stranger’s house, as if she’s saying, “This is my home now,” has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was shared by @gingerroots_ and has had 2.1 million views since it was first posted on March 22.
A message overlaid on the video reads: “When you feed a stray cat and she brings you her kittens.”
The footage shows a cat walking across a wooden deck while holding a kitten in her mouth. A hand is shown opening a glass sliding door to let the cat inside a home. The feline is seen bringing another kitten over before the clip later shows a bundle of kittens curled up together on a blanket.
A message across the clip reads: “2 orange and white & 2 gray and white…4 kittens total.”
What To Do if You Find a Stray Cat or Kittens
The homeowner’s reaction to the stray cat in the viral clip is understandable because “the temptation to rescue a stray cat can be strong,” Jose Arce, the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, told Newsweek in May 2022.
Before you step in to take care of potentially stray kittens, Arce recommends contacting your local animal care and control office or shelter for advice.
The veterinarian advised that one must be cautious when approaching an unknown cat, as the feline may be fearful and attempts to capture it could lead to injuries to you or the animal.
Stray kittens can be “especially tempting to bring home,” Arce said. However, “this may not always be best for the kitten,” as they may be still nursing and their mother may be nearby, but hiding or searching for food.
If you try to move the kittens, the mother may reject or even kill her offspring, warned the U.K.-based Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Action should be taken only if you don’t see the mother within a few hours or the kittens seem to be in distress or in an unsafe location, says the Humane Society of the United States.
‘The Way She Marches In’
TikTok users loved the stray cat’s confident stance in the latest viral post.
User jen.misfit.toy said: “She’s like, ‘We moving in, get out of the way.'”
Another wrote: “God, I love how cats just assert themselves. They find a kind human and go ‘This will do.’ and just move in.”
MelEllaBoo noted “The way she marches in without a backward glance” and deathbyhair said, “She acted like she knew exactly where she was going!”
Alyse Mary wrote the cat must have been saying, “This is my home now, deal with it.”
User @susieru412 said: “She trusts you. That is so precious” and @.cm02 agreed, noting, “Awww, she feels safe at your house, she trusts you.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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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.