A video of a cat's ingenious method of crossing a snowy roof without getting his paws wet or cold has became a hit among viewers.
One outdoor cat named Simpson enjoys traveling from neighbor to neighbor across linked roofs in Amsterdam, the Netherlands—as does the cat next door. Both owners know this and leave their windows open so that their pets can go back and forth.
Normally Simpson is free to run along the rooftops as quickly—and comfortably—as he likes. But when the temperature dropped and snow started collecting, the tuxedo cat was faced with a dilemma: walk on the hateful freezing snow or stay put.
But then Simpson figured out a clever tactic. Rather than submit a paw to the icy wetness, the puss shrewdly selected areas free from snow that so he could still waddle wide-legged along the roof, straddling the gutter.
Ungainly it may have been—and taken him twice as long—but it got him to his intended destination without getting his paws wet.
Simpson's owner filmed his genius method and posted it under the user name H3000 to the subreddit channel r/cats on November 28, where the video amassed over 46,000 views and nearly 400 comments within five days.
People immediately fell in love with Simpson and his "spider cat" antics.
"That boy is silly! Lots of work to keep those paws warm and dry. He is lovely though," said a viewer.
Another added: "Simpson is practicing to try out for Cirque du Soleil."
A third person joked: "I can almost hear the 'Mission: Impossible' theme music watching this."
Newsweek reached out to H3000 via Reddit for additional comment.
Protecting Outdoor Cats During Winter
As temperatures drop, people might start to worry about the cats roaming their neighborhood. They are resilient and resourceful animals, but outdoor cats could still use a hand to help protect them during the winter months.
The Humane Society of the United States suggests offering outdoor cats a warm, dry shelter, perhaps built from bins or scrap lumber. The society's website suggests filling it with straw or pillowcases stuffed with newspaper and packing peanuts. It warns to be cautious if the linings get wet as it won't insulate the shelter well.
People can also leave out food and water to help outdoor cats survive the frigid winter. The Humane Society does not advise placing a water bowl inside a cat shelter, as it can spill and cause it to become cold. Instead it mentions considering using a thick plastic water container or solar-heated bowl to prevent water or canned food from freezing.
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.
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