A feline’s dramatic reaction to his sibling’s new haircut has delighted social-media users after going viral on TikTok.
In the hilarious clip shared earlier in June under the username @_kita00, a gray tabby cat can be seen walking slowly into his owner’s living room before abruptly freezing at the sight of his brother, after getting a new lion cut.
While his sibling is just hanging around unbothered, the tabby cat appears confused and startled, arching his back in fear, as if he has seen a stranger.
“When your brother comes back with the whackest haircut you’ve ever seen,” reads layover text in the clip.
Experts at Beverly Hills Veterinary Associates say that shaving your cat, in most cases, is not really necessary. Their fur helps them regulate their temperature, and shaving it may cause them to feel too hot or too cold.
On a few occasions, some felines may benefit from having their fur shaved, but you should consult your veterinarian if you think that is the case, and have them groomed by a professional instead of trying to do it at home.
Common reasons veterinarians might recommend shaving your cat include mats that can’t be combed out; flea infestations; applying medications; and frequent hairballs or excessive shedding, which are usually tamed with a lion cut or other partially shaved style.
Felines with physical challenges, such as senior or obese cats, who may have trouble grooming themselves properly, may also need shaving.
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The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 1.2 million views and almost 200,000 likes on the platform.
One user, Cookie, commented: “Excuse me! That’s an adorable style. My extra spicy long fur cat gets that exact cut, under sedation, of course! It has surprised me that the other cats never react strangely when he comes home.”
EmmaNorman535 posted: “My kitten was like that when my other fluffy black cat got that exact hair cut. but fun fact that hair cut made my fluffy cat more sociable now he talks to humans and let’s them see him and pat him.”
KHFairy added: “We had to give one our cats a cut like that once. my other cat hissed and swiped at him for over a week! he was so sad she wouldn’t go near him lol [laugh out loud].”
Newsweek reached out to @_kita00 for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
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