A cat owner has recorded the moment her pet stood on his hind legs and embraced her in a hug.
Last week, TikTok user @emiarr posted a video showing the cat reaching his paws up to her neck so she could embrace him in a hug. The clip has received more than 3 million views and 770,000 likes.
"Can't believe i caught that on camera," the poster wrote in the video's caption. "He's so grateful, and so am i."
In the clip, which has also received more than 5,000 comments, the owner can be seen kissing her cat's forehead. Newsweek contacted @emiarr for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
According to PetMD, an online pet care resource, cats show love and trust through actions such as kneading, purring, slow blinking, head bunting and following their owners around. These behaviors indicate a bond of trust and affection, which can be especially profound in cats that have overcome challenges.
The owner said in the video's comments section that the black cat was diagnosed with feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) at 6 weeks old. His entire litter died, and he had a 2 percent chance of survival.
FPV is a severe and highly contagious viral disease affecting cats, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, a charity in the U.K., said on its website.
The disease primarily targets kittens and unvaccinated cats, causing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite. Survival rates are low, especially without immediate veterinary care. Vaccination is crucial in preventing this often fatal illness.
"We fought for him. I think he's grateful, and knows how to show it," the poster said in a comment.
The interaction brought many TikTok users to tears, with one writing: "Crying. This is the side many people don't understand about cats."
"Affection from a cat just hits different," another added.
"I have such a soft spot for black boy cats," a commenter said. "They are the sweetest! I had one called Sooty and he was so cuddly!"
"The way he gently placed his paws to not hurt you," a user wrote.
"This healed me," a commenter added. "I had a black cat for 20 years and I miss feeling her little arms stretching out to hug me. What a precious moment."
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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