A video of a man who comes across some unexpected followers—a couple of kittens—while walking along a dirt road has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was posted by @bull_chit and has amassed 1.6 million views since it was shared on October 12. A note overlaid on the video says: "2 abandoned kittys on an Arkansas dirt road 1 mile from my place."
Addressing one of the tiny felines, the man says in the clip: "Hello, little one. You have a home? You have a mommy?" as the kitten meows constantly while looking up at the camera.
The clip later shows the two kittens walking behind the man. "They're still behind me, they won't leave me alone. So I guess I'll lead them back to my place and give them something to eat," he says.
According to later comments by the poster, the man took care of the kittens, who were later named Brandi and Karen, and says "they are my best friends."
What to Do if You Find a Stray Kitten
The man's reaction to the kittens is understandable because "the temptation to rescue a stray cat can be strong," veterinarian José Arce, a former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, told Newsweek in May 2022.
"Should an unknown, uncollared cat find its way into your heart and home, it's important to remember that someone else might be missing that cat," he said.
You need to verify whether the animal is "truly a stray or simply a neighborhood resident making the rounds, Arce added.
Before deciding to take care of potentially stray kittens, he recommends contacting your local animal care and control office or shelter for advice.
Stray kittens can be "especially tempting to bring home," he said. However, "this may not always be best for the kitten" because they may be still nursing and their mother may be nearby but hiding or searching for food.
For those who come across a stray cat or are concerned about the animal's health or welfare, Arce advises:
- Post a message about the cat on your neighborhood social networking platform, such as Nextdoor.
- Check out any websites that reunite lost pets with their owners, such as Lost.petcolove.org.
- Get the cat scanned for a microchip that holds the owner's information. You can get this done at a local veterinary clinic, animal care and control office or a shelter.
'That Kitten Chose You'
Viewers on TikTok were delighted by the kitten encounter in the viral clip.
User __amandawallace__ said: "How could he just walk away from those babies?"
The original poster replied: "I tried running for a minute but they kept up so I had to walk the rest of the way."
DarkRose0523 said: "That kitten chose you bro," and deeko85 agreed, saying, "You sir have been chosen, it is an honor!"
User brokentwig0 wrote: "You are mama, congrats on your new babies!"
MiLLENNiAL_GOBLiN wrote: "You're theirs now," and Bas79saM said: "Aaaaand the 2 kittens just adopted you!"
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. The video has not been independently verified.
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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