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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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Cats are territorial creatures, so it may not come as a surprise to see this one losing his temper with a plumber working near his cupboard.
The 15-year-old cat, named Arthur, can be seen sitting on the floor next to the worker's feet, meowing continuously—but to TikTok's delight, it seems the plumber speaks cat too.
The video of Arthur meowing—only to be answered with a "meow" from the plumber—quickly went viral, racking up 2.7 million views since it was posted on May 28.
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"He loves a good moan," the owner commented, noting that this kind of behavior isn't unusual for the tuxedo cat, known as @mrmeowsalot on TikTok.
The clip, captioned: "Telling the plumber to get out of his cupboard," has been a huge hit online, racking up 610,900 likes and over 1,200 comments.
"I LOVE that he was responding to the cat," said one comment with 147,900 likes.
"Nice to see a plumber who can speak fluent cat," joked another user.
A third commenter shared their theory: "I love that they don't care which human is in the kitchen, if there's a human in the kitchen [and] they're not being fed, time to complain."
Like humans, some cats are more talkative than others. It's their way of communicating, and there are many reasons why they may meow, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Common Reasons Why Cats Meow
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The ASPCA has provided the following reasons:
- Greeting: Cats often meow to say hello when you arrive home or interact with them.
- Seeking Attention: They may vocalize to request affection, play, or conversation—especially if left alone for long stretches.
- Requesting Food: Meowing around mealtimes or in the kitchen is common; some even wake owners up for food.
- Wanting In or Out: Meowing at doors or windows can signal a desire to go in or out, especially during transitions to indoor-only living.
- Age-Related Confusion: Senior cats with cognitive dysfunction may meow when disoriented, similar to symptoms of dementia.
- Mating Behavior: Unneutered or unspayed cats may yowl to attract or access mates.
While some breeds are known for being naturally chatty, there is a chance that frequent meowing is a sign of a medical condition.
The ASPCA encourages owners to visit a veterinarian to ensure a medical condition is not the cause of the cat's distress.
Even if a cat has always meowed for food, their health changes as they age, and they are prone to developing an overactive thyroid and kidney disease—either of which may result in excessive meowing.
Newsweek reached out to @mrmeowsalot for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
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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