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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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A TikTok video showing the moment a cat tried to put her predatory instincts to good use has gone viral. But rather than stepping foot outside, the cat attempted to hunt the wildlife on a television screen instead.
The hilarious clip was shared by TikTok user @hailormars, showing the black cat perched on top of the television, ready to pounce as soon as she animals moved on the screen. Much to the cat's delight, the wildlife program featured birds, chipmunks and squirrels, and she eagerly moved around the screen and tried to paw each one.
The video has delighted social media users since it was shared on July 13, and it's already amassed over 240,800 views and more than 16,500 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. Newsweek reached out to @hailormars to provide comment.
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The caption alongside the clip jokes: "She may be broken, but I love her."
Cats can usually see what's on a television screen, but they're more likely to engage when it combines red, green, and blue colors, paired with swift movements, according to Hill's Pet Nutrition.
They might be fascinated by the sight of bluebird flapping their wings on screen, but cats don't have the cognitive capacity to process the image they're seeing and the sounds into more complicated thoughts. This means they don't analyze it and realize there isn't in fact a bird in the house, but rather, they just see prey and feel an urge to hunt.
The pet food company's website explains that the most common preys for cats include birds, small mammals and fish. As soon as they see any of those, they're hard-wired to try to catch it—even if it is just on a screen.
While some cats can barely hold themselves back from trying to attack the creatures on TV, other felines will be much calmer and unbothered by the movements. It mostly comes down to their overall temperament, and the depth of their hunting instincts to dictate how they engage.
Indeed, hunting on-screen creatures can also provide a level of enrichment, particularly for cats who don't have access to outdoor spaces. It can give them a sense of mental stimulation or even be calming for some anxious pets.
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How Did TikTok React?
Since the cat's hilarious antics went viral, many TikTokers have commented on the post to laud her behavior and even to share their own similar experiences.
One comment reads: "This is like their version of Call of Duty."
Another TikTok user wrote: "Not her turn with the brain cell I see."
One commenter added: "My cat's exactly same."
While another person responded: "My cat just falls to sleep watching them, I think mine is broken."
Newsweek reached out to @hailormars via TikTok for comment. We could not verify the details in the video.
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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