A video of a "sneaky" cat and "clever" dog in a hilarious heist to "outsmart the security camera" while their owner is away has captivated viewers on TikTok.
The clip was shared by @ruby_thelabrador, a TikTok account tracking the adventures of Ruby the Labrador and her feline "sidekick" Pearl. It has amassed over 558,000 views since it was shared on December 11.
The video begins with a scene of Pearl sitting on a table while Ruby stands on the floor. A man is seen teaching them a spinning trick. He instructs them to spin around, and after they both comply, he leaves a bowl of food on the table for Pearl as a reward. The man then tells the dog "Ruby, don't try to get any of it, I got a surveillance camera set up."
The footage later switches to the viewpoint of the security camera, showing Ruby sitting dutifully on the floor, staring longingly at the bowl of food on the table. In a cunning move, Ruby faces the camera and then nudges it aside, leaving the table out of the frame. With the camera now conveniently misaligned, Pearl descends from a cat tree and turns the camera back to show the table, where Ruby begins helping herself to the food.
As Ruby indulges, Pearl joins her on the table, standing beside her canine accomplice and tucking into the food. In a final surprise move, Pearl knocks the bowl off the table onto the floor, and Ruby eagerly devours the scattered food while Pearl remains on the table. The clip ends with both pets contentedly feasting on their ill-gotten gains.
Ruby's defiant behavior is not surprising because while humans are less likely to "carry out risky behavior in general" when they're being watched, "dogs, despite being highly sensitive to human eyes, do not show the watching-eye effect," according to a January 2020 study in Scientific Reports.
'Hilarious' and 'Too Smart'
The viral clip has delighted viewers on TikTok, showcasing the impressive teamwork and intelligence of the furry pair.
User normajeanoneal commented "Very smart animals that was hilarious."
User macii707 said "THAT CAT SET UP THE WHOLE CRIME SCENE EVEN DOWN TO THE BOWL," while another added "cat is an evil genius."
Elisabeth noted the feline's indifference to potential consequences, saying "Cat doesn't even care if its busted as long as the dog is caught too," while zkittlez pointed out "dog is clever but the cat is sneaky."
Elijah Elight appreciated the collaborative effort, writing "They know exactly what they were doing, teamwork." User Kng_Kaan humorously asked "What are you feeding them? They're both too smart."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email. This video has not been independently verified.
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