A ginger tomcat from Minnesota is winning hearts—and laughs—across the internet for his dramatic responses to his owner’s meals.
Milo, now known as “Milo the Critic,” has become a viral sensation on TikTok, where his owner Tammy Smith shares videos of his hilarious reactions to different foods. The 40-year-old started posting clips under the handle @milothecritic after friends urged her to share his antics beyond her personal Facebook.
In most of the videos, Smith offers Milo a bite of her meal. Instead of eating it, the cat usually sniffs the food, recoils, and then gags in exaggerated disgust. His reactions to dishes like enchiladas, mac and cheese, and even McDonald’s chicken burgers have amused thousands. One compilation, posted on February 5, has been viewed over 63,000 times.
“The gag at the McChicken was instant,” one viewer commented. Another wrote, “I’m 16 weeks pregnant and react the same way as Milo.”
But Milo’s theatrics don’t always mean rejection. In one clip, after gagging at multiple foods, he happily devours a piece of roast beef placed nearby.
Smith explained that Milo’s odd behavior is caused by a natural reaction called the flehmen response. This response allows cats to better detect scents using a special organ in the roof of their mouths. According to PetMD, it’s a voluntary and harmless behavior that some cats display when processing unfamiliar smells.
“The funniest thing is he’ll often eat what he just gagged at,” Smith told Newsweek. “He usually eats most things I offer, but only after a little ritual—smelling it, batting it around, and licking his paw.”
Since gaining popularity, Smith has expanded Milo’s presence to YouTube and Facebook and even started selling merchandise featuring the cat’s iconic gagging face.
“He brings people so much joy,” Smith said. “I love when someone tells me a Milo video made their day better or made them laugh after a tough time. That means the world to me.”
From sniffing soup to turning up his nose at pasta, Milo’s over-the-top critiques have made him an unexpected internet darling—and a comforting source of laughter for his growing fanbase.
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