A woman was left stunned when she took her dog for a walk, only to turn around 10 minutes and 1.6 kilometers later to find she was being followed by an unexpected guest.
Emma Burton, 42, took her dachshund named Rory out for his regular walk on March 24 in her hometown of Essex, UK. However, as she walked along the trail, she noticed that they weren’t the only ones around.
As it turned out, they were followed all the way from the house by Burton’s cat, Snowball. The 20-month-old feline couldn’t resist tagging along for some extra family time, so she gate-crashed Rory’s dog walk.
By the time Burton noticed her cat 10 minutes into the dog walk, she was “about a mile away” from her home. She told Newsweek that Snowball had “crossed a main road” and gone through the field and forest to catch up with them.
Thankfully, Snowball didn’t sustain any injuries, but Burton said she was “a bit scared.” The horrified owner had to turn around straight away and get both pets home safely.
@emzyb38 / TikTok
Burton said: “She followed me all the way back home after that. I had to carry her across the main road, which was not easy as I also had Rory on the leash. I’ve not let it happen again since this. I always make sure Snowball stays inside before I leave for a dog walk.”
When she noticed Snowball walking along the path, Burton couldn’t resist capturing a video of the surprise moment. She shared the clip on TikTok (@emzyb38) to share it with her followers, and the post went viral with over 204,200 views and more than 9,700 likes at the time of writing.
While she isn’t sure why Snowball chose to follow her so far from the house, it’s certainly something she won’t forget.
But Burton also doesn’t want to stop her cat from exploring the outside world altogether, since she isn’t just a house cat. Although, this one-off experience was undoubtedly “a nightmare” for her owner.
There are many ways for pet owners to ensure their cats are safe, whether it’s with a microchip, GPS trackers, or just pet cameras in the house. When working out the best option, veterinarian Dr. Maggie Placer, a feline health advocate, owners should think like their cat and consider their temperament and living situation.
If owners have a rather adventurous feline, Dr. Placer, of EveryCat Health Foundation, told Newsweek that there is “a multitude of ways to provide enrichment” while still keeping them safely indoors.
“An indoor cat seeking to go outdoors can sometimes be appeased by stepping up enrichment opportunities in the home,” Dr. Placer said. “Consider the cat’s size and senses. What could be new to them through sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell? You can consider hiding their food or treats to create a hunt for sustenance.”
Other examples include playing with toys that are on a wand, or introducing them to new textures with crinkly toys. In other words, think about what could be considered “new and cool” for your feline.
If owners are willing to let their cat explore the great outdoors, they should be aware of the risks, from wild animals to dangerous temperatures.
“Consider what plants are in your environment, an what wildlife or other domestic pets they might encounter. An outside cat is at a higher risk for exposure to parasites such as fleas, ticks, heartworms, and gastrointestinal worms. If your cat is a hunter, consider the risk of their exposure to things like avian influenza if around wild birds, or rat bait,” Dr. Placer continued.
The Social Media Reaction
The response to the video on TikTok is beyond anything Burton has expected. She never imagined that her mischievous cat would amass so much attention.
“I can’t believe the number of views, likes and the level of support from I’ve received from people on TikTok,” Burton told Newsweek.
With over 290 comments on the TikTok post so far, many people lauded the cat’s hilarious behavior and for keeping her owner guessing.
One comment reads: “buy a harness and a lead, clearly she wants to go for a walk with you.”
Another person wrote: “My cat does this. She’ll follow you to the end of the earth and she doesn’t like harnesses.”
While another TikTok user added: “Typical cat, follows you all that way and then pretends she doesn’t know you.”
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