Getting accepted by your in-laws is not always easy, especially if they are cats. In a viral TikTok video, a pair of cats from Portland, Oregon, loudly express their disappointment in their sister’s new “man,” and internet users can’t cope with the hilarious footage.
As their sister’s date, a big orange cat, shows up at their door, the felines immediately start meowing at him, probably telling him to go away. One of the cats, Mango, even goes as far as yelling at him through the door.
“Mango does not approve of Peaches’ choice in a man,” the poster writes in the clip shared on Friday under the username @tianalenos. In the caption, she continues: “He’s so nosy and rude about it.”
This behavior is not unusual for cats. As territorial creatures, felines aren’t always comfortable sharing their home, especially with cats they don’t know. So, in the case of Peaches’ brothers, the orange cat may have triggered territorial instincts.
But there can be many other reasons your cat doesn’t get along with other felines. It is often due to a lack of socialization growing up.
In an article reviewed and fact-checked by Dr. Marta Vidal-Abarca, Catster says that, when cats don’t receive proper socialization before their seventh week of age, they can exhibit behaviors that other felines may perceive as aggressive.
Routine disruption and resource competition are also major factors that contribute to cat aggression.
Ideally, kittens should be socialized during their sensitive period, which spans from 2 to 7 weeks old, and it is usually something that their mom and siblings take care of, when they are taken away at the right age.
However, don’t panic if your kitty was never socialized, or if they were taken from their mom too young. You can still enhance their social skills as adult cats.
To socialize your cat, find some people, family or friends, and later animals, and get them to spend time with your feline. Beware, it may take several visits, says a Hepper article with tips approved by Dr. Paola Cuevas.
Reward the good behavior with treats and do not rush the process. Remember to invite only one or two people, or pets, around at a time, to avoid overwhelming your cat, and make sure they always have a safe space to hide when needed.
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 378,200 views and more than 83,500 likes on the platform.
One user, Seli, commented: “Oh he’s jealoussssss.”
Baomalala posted: “Oh this is a telenovela.”
Another user, Humaira, wrote: “He’s OUTSIDE and yelling that much.”
User4583181902827 added: “I am invested in this kitty drama.”
Newsweek reached out to @tianalenos for comment via email. 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 life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.
Read the full article here
