...
By Soo Kim
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A video showing a crew of cats congregating at the top of a tree for a "neighborhood watch meeting" has gone viral on Instagram.
The clip was posted by @alyra_pet_sitter and has had 6.3 million views since it was shared on February 8. A message overlaid on the video says: "The local cats have a meeting in this tree every day."
The footage shows four cats across the top of a tree. Two orange-haired cats, a white-haired one with an orange patch and another cat behind it are seen sitting together in one area. Another orange-haired cat is sitting alone, perched slightly above the trio.
Read More on Pets
Our feline companions tend to be quite independent, according to a September 2015 study in the online journal PLOS One, which found that "adult cats are typically quite autonomous, even in their social relationships, and not necessarily dependent on others to provide a sense of security and safety."
However, a more recent study, published in September 2019 in Current Biology, said that "research suggests we may be underestimating cats' socio-cognitive abilities."
"Cats, like dogs, can be found living in social groups or solitarily, depending on early developmental factors, resource distribution, and lifetime experiences such as human interaction," the study said.
...
It's not surprising that the cats in the video chose the top of a tree as their meeting point.
"Cats climb trees and leap long distances to move through their territory, avoid danger and find food," Vicki Jo Harrison, president of the International Cat Association, told Newsweek in October 2021, and many domesticated cats try to maintain these instincts, even when they're living indoors.
Pam Johnson-Bennett, the author of several books on cat behavior and training and the former vice president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, previously told Newsweek that some cats prefer being in high places to feel safer.
"Being in an elevated location is natural for cats because it gives them more ability to see around them and it prevents being ambushed from behind," Johnson-Bennett said.
'Neighborhood Watch Meeting'
Users on Instagram were amused by the viral clip, such as jahanzebzxr, who said, "It's the neighborhood watch meeting." And alexitawild described it as a "warrior cats clan meeting."
"Clan leaders meeting, don't disturb them," said lostpaw.
"Illuminati secret meeting," wrote ameiya.clicks, while russgirly84 said, "Secrets are told!"
User dimas_nugrohoi wrote: "Orange cat meeting for next territory invasion," and sufi.na.b said, "They're planning to destroy everyone and take over the world."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via Instagram. This video has not been independently verified.
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.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines