Two energetic kittens are winning hearts online with their dramatic mealtime antics, especially when salmon is on the menu.
In a viral TikTok video shared by user @soba_and_yaki, kittens Soba and Yabi are seen following their owner around the kitchen, loudly demanding a taste of the salmon she is cooking. The video, posted in early April, captures the duo meowing persistently while their owner pleads with them to wait until the fish is fully cooked.
“When you cook salmon and your kittens want some,” the overlay reads, while she narrates their impatience in real time. In the caption, she added: “They want the salmon so bad.”
Hannah Katagi, the kittens’ owner, told Newsweek that Soba and Yabi were adopted just three weeks ago. While they often meow at the smell of food, salmon is the only dish that triggers such a dramatic reaction.
At the end of the video, Katagi gives in, offering each kitten a small piece of cooked salmon using her chopsticks. Their enthusiastic response confirmed what viewers suspected—they’re salmon fanatics.
But can cats safely eat human food like salmon? Experts say it depends. According to British animal charity Battersea, foods such as onions, garlic, dairy, chocolate, and anything with alcohol should be kept far away from cats, as they can be harmful or even fatal.
Still, there are safe options. Sploot Vets recommends plain, cooked, unseasoned meats such as chicken, turkey, beef, fish, and eggs. Cooked vegetables like pumpkin, spinach, and carrots may also be safe, though cats—being obligate carnivores—might not be interested.
The video has struck a chord with cat lovers online, racking up over 330,000 views and more than 80,000 likes. TikTok users have flooded the comments with laughter and relatable stories.
“They’re like ‘we’re hungry, starving, withering away,’” one user joked. Another added, “Just wait until they can jump up onto counters. That’ll be fun. I have to lock down my entire kitchen to cook so my cats leave me alone.”
Katagi’s viral clip is a relatable moment for many pet owners—and a reminder that when it comes to food, cats have strong opinions.
