A hilarious video of a well-meaning cat trying to rescue his owner from an open window has taken the internet by storm.
Shared on Wednesday on reddit by user hunting idea, the mail now has over 28,000 upvotes. The beautiful video is accompanied by a caption: “Every time I open the first floor window and try to reach my hand out, my cat tries to protect me from falling and pushes me back.”
In the video, the user repeatedly puts his hand in the direction of the open window before the cat grabs it with its paws and bares its teeth – concerned for the owner’s safety.
Redditors were thrilled with the adorable video. One user wrote, “This is the cutest thing ever,” while another said, “Your cat is worried about future meals/treats.”
Another user said, “The cat adores you,” before adding a reply, “And thinks you’re very stupid.”
Although we often associate dogs with more loyalty than cats, survey conducted in 2019 by Oregon State University found that cats bond with people and feel safe in their presence in the same way that dogs and children do, so it’s no surprise that this cat is concerned about her owner.
Other users were shocked that the cat hadn’t jumped out of the window itself. One user said “My cat would chase herself out that window” while another said “Take my cat to the balcony on a harness and keep a close eye on her. We’ve done this many times before. She launched herself literally for nothing for whatever reason.”
Another user suggested there could be another reason for the cat’s behavior, saying, “Maybe she thinks you’re going to close the window and doesn’t want to?”
Cat training and behavior consultant LeeAnna Buis told news week: “Cats have an amazing ability to be complicated and simple at the same time. This is a great example. It is possible that the cat reacts in a protective way.
“It could also be that this cat is either feeling a little overstimulated by the sights, sounds and smells she’s getting through the open window or doesn’t want that hand to close the window or take her away from it.”
One commenter said, “Your guardian angel,” while another wrote, “She protects!”
“I think cats can worry about their owners,” Buis said, “But a cat’s form of worry may not be the same as a human’s. When we’re worried about someone, it’s often about analyzing of possible future scenarios.
“Cats, on the other hand, live in the moment. They are influenced by our emotions. They can be protective. This can be seen as forms of worrying about their people. It’s just the cat version and may not be as elaborate as our human definition of worrying.”
another cat hilarious reaction when she heard her “test drive” at her new home was extended went viral this week†
news week has contacted jageenidee for comment.
Vera Aksionava/Getty Images