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By Leonie Helm
Life Reporter
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Cats, you either love them or you hate them. They're often not known for their overly cuddly nature, but one cat on TikTok is proving everyone wrong with his adorable antics.
The viral video was posted to the account @paquito_thecat on June 14 and has received 15.3 million views. In it, Paquito the 1-year-old Siberian Maine Coon mix gray cat can be seen cuddling with his owner in bed. "The way he hugs me and smiles," reads the caption.
At one point, she pulls the comforter over them both, and Paquito wraps his paws around her arm and rests his head in her hand, clearly loving every second. Paquito's owner, Andrea Sosa, describes him as "the cuddliest cat on the planet."
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Sosa, 30, from Washington, D.C., told Newsweek, "I got Paquito about a year ago at an adoption event, he was rescued along with his mother and his siblings."
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In a second viral clip, Paquito can be seen being extra-cuddly with his owner after she returned from a short trip.
"He's always been extremely cuddly and affectionate, especially when I come back from vacation," Sosa said. "I love to cuddle just as much as he does. However, it's not always ideal when I'm trying to work and he insists on sitting on my lap or on my computer."
"Aggression is the second most-common feline behavior problem seen by animal behaviorists," according to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Although unlikely to be fatal, a cat attack can be savage, and potentially cause infections. "They can also cause cat scratch fever, a usually benign but potentially serious infectious disease that causes flu-like symptoms," says the ASPCA.
It's a good idea to get to know your cat's warning signs of attack so you can get out of the way or counter it. "A rule of thumb is to not touch, attempt to reassure, or punish cats showing these postures," reports the ASPCA.
Offensive postures include:
- A stiff, straight-legged upright stance.
- Stiffened rear legs, with the rear end raised and the back sloped downward toward the head.
- Tail is stiff and lowered or held straight down to the ground.
- Direct stare.
- Upright ears, with the backs rotated slightly forward. Piloerection (hackles up), including fur on the tail.
- Constricted pupils.
- Directly facing opponent, possibly moving toward him. Might be growling, howling or yowling.
While not ideal, there may be a reason why your cat is acting aggressively toward you or others. Painful medical conditions can increase aggression, and geriatric cats can suffer from confusion and fear, which may make them lash out. Equally certain medications can affect mood, and even diet can be a contributing factor, according to the ASPCA.
"Every cat has a different personality, and they all deserve our love and care," said Sosa, "I feel extremely lucky to have a cat like Paquito who is cuddly and affectionate, however, I would love him the same if his personality were different."
Users in the comments loved the cuddly cat. "Oh my God's that's adorable. you're cuddling him and he's cuddling your arm omg [oh my god] so cute," wrote one user on TikTok. "I'm gunna force my cat to do this tonight ... I might die... totally worth it!!!!" posted another.
One user commented, "why is my cat the devils spawn," which highlights the fact that while adorable, this video is not what all people think of when picturing felines.
Update 06/21/2023 5:52 a.m. ET: This article was updated with quotes from the cat's owner, Andrea Sosa.
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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