A cat raised alongside dogs has captured hearts online with her unexpected—and hilarious—attempts to bark like her canine companions.
The gray-and-white feline, owned by Cathy and featured in a viral TikTok video (@cathyann.9), was seen perched on a windowsill, trying to bark at a passing cat outside. According to the caption, the moment was sparked when the pet spotted another feline and “instantly started barking.”
In the video, the cat lets out a high-pitched sound that mimics a dog’s bark. Her behavior didn’t stop there—she also stood guard at the window like a protective dog, clearly imitating the pack she was raised with.
The video has struck a chord with viewers, amassing over 23.3 million views and 4.5 million likes on TikTok. Thousands of commenters shared their amazement at the cat’s dog-like behavior.
Veterinary surgeon Nick Horniman told Newsweek this isn’t entirely surprising. “It’s not unusual to observe a cat mimicking dog-like behaviors,” he said. “This can include following owners from room to room, playing fetch, responding to their name, or showing a willingness to be trained.”
Horniman explained that cats are highly observant animals. “If they see dogs being rewarded with attention or treats, they may copy those behaviors. Social learning and early experiences shape how pets act, and cats living closely with dogs may adopt some of their habits.”
A 2020 study in Japan also found that cats may be capable of imitation. In the study, a cat named Ebizu was able to repeat demonstrated actions correctly 81 percent of the time after hearing verbal commands, suggesting some level of mimicry and understanding of behavior patterns.
Back on TikTok, users were quick to joke about the bilingual feline. One person wrote: “Cat hardware, dog software.” Another said, “Your cat can put bilingual on her resume.” A third joked, “God forbid a girl wants to learn a different language.”
While most cats stick to meows and purrs, this one has embraced her dog-like roots—and the internet can’t get enough.
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