Cats often get a reputation for being independent or standoffish and when compared to dogs, they aren’t as protective. However, one owner wanted to put that theory to the test.
Inspired by others who have done a similar experiment, TikTok user @myra.thelovergirl thought of putting herself in a “dangerous” situation to find out what her cat would do. In an October 11 TikTok video, @myra.thelovergirl grabbed a stuffed animal and pretended it was attacking her. She rolled around on the bed with the stuffed animal on top of her, screaming for help. The owner commented on her video that she was doing that for about 30 seconds when she finally saw her cat come over.
The black cat slowly walked up and hesitated as if she were figuring out where to begin to save her owner. Then she bounced on top of the stuffed animal, grabbed it with her mouth and pulled it off. Speechless, the owner got up with her jaw on the ground. She couldn’t believe her cat stepped up to save her.
The video’s caption reads: “I saw someone doing this and wanted to see if my cat would protect me. I’ve never felt more loved.”
This owner’s feline overturned the theory that cats aren’t protective. She took matters into her own paws to save her human. After all, her human has helped raise and care for her since she was just a four-week-old kitten.
Newsweek reached out to @myra.thelovergirl via TikTok for additional information.
@myra.thelovergirl/TikTok
TikTok Users React
Over 592,800 TikTok users saw the cat’s reaction and as of Friday afternoon, the clip amassed over 140,800 likes and 550 comments.
“She said, ‘Not on my watch,'” one user jokingly wrote.
Another user commented: “I know everyone’s laughing but I can’t help but tear up, she was ready for war for you.”
A third added: “My cat always thinks the vacuum is attacking me, so he swats at it to protect me.”
Are Cats Protective?
While the video looks like proof that cats are protective of their owners, a 2020 article from Hill’s Pets shared that felines might not think of it in that way. Instead, they are likely just following their instincts. They’re used to defending their territory and their humans.
Seeing your cat be protective over you can be sweet, however, sometimes it can become too much. Cats who are overprotective can become aggressive and go into defense mode. Look for the following signs to determine if their protectiveness might be taking it a step too far:
- Dilated eyes
- Point ears that are turned out
- Sharp, quick tail movements
- Crouched stance
- Exposed teeth or claws
- Hissing, growling or screeching
- Biting and scratching
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.
