A kitten caught in the act of playing in a baby’s crib has melted hearts after a video captured viral attention.
With more than two million views, the video by TikToker charleyellis94 shows the small gray tabby sitting inside the nursery playing with the mobile above the crib with the word: “Busted” in the text overlay.
Pet advice site Vetstreet highlights the importance of playtime for our feline friends. While we may think of cats as laid-back nap-loving creatures, they’re also fond of fun and games.
“For cats in the wild, the act of play is actually a serious business that helps kittens learn important survival skills like stalking, chasing, and trapping prayer,” explained Vetstreet: “Even if your cat never ventures outside your home, the basic instinct to hunt can remain strong, which is why it is important to give our feline family members the opportunity to express this natural behavior through play.”
Commenters rushed to share their reaction to the kitten’s playtime. With one TikTok user imagining what the cat might be thinking: “I’m, ummm, just checking the baby equipment is up to standard. I wasn’t playing with it just for fun or anything,” they wrote.
“My cat had to test ALL the baby stuff first,” shared one commenter, prompting the video’s poster to reply: “Yes! She does this.”
In the video, the kitten is seen inside the baby’s crib playing with the mobile toys as though they are made just for him.
When it comes to picking the right toys for your pets, studies have found that “cats play best and most often with toys which also use human interaction,” according to the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Research also shows that rotating toys or providing new toys frequently can also help to hold your cat’s interest for longer.
Interactive play with toys like wands or playing fetch with a ball are great ways to engage your cat and teach them to hone their instinctual skills, including hunting, pouncing, and jumping. Providing physical exercise, emotional satisfaction, and mental stimulation is important for your pet—just like walking a dog, our cats also require attention and stimulation every day.
“He’s a baby too, needs baby toys,” said one commenter on the now-viral TikTok video.
Another viewer wrote: “Give the room to the kitten,” and one commenter said: “Cute little baby.”
To avoid any concern, poster charleyellis94 later clarified that the nursery where the cat was playing is not currently being used by the new baby: “The baby is not in the bedroom yet,” she wrote.
Far from the only cat to delight the internet with playtime antics, a senior kitty bringing toys to its owner’s desk during the work day delighted viewers. Meanwhile, a cat waiting for its dog companion to return from a walk to play melted hearts.
Newsweek has reached out to charleyellis94 for comment. We were unable to verify the details of this case.
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