A Texas couple learned a surprising lesson about pet care after discovering their cat accidentally locked in their dog’s crate—thanks to an unnoticed stowaway.
Heather Schauder, 28, had just come home and, as usual, rushed to let out her miniature dachshund, Ernest. But when she approached the metal crate, she was stunned to find not one, but two animals inside.
“I was surprised to see our cat Louis in there with Ernest,” Schauder told Newsweek. “At first, I was annoyed at my fiancé for not being more careful, but when I saw how relaxed they both were, I couldn’t help but laugh.”
The unexpected crate-sharing moment was captured in a short video Schauder sent to her fiancé, Alex Teti, 30. In the clip, the cat and dog appear calm and content, despite being enclosed together for about five hours. They had access to water, a soft bed, and a blanket—enough to keep them comfortable.
Schauder later posted the video on TikTok under the handle @schaud3r. The clip quickly went viral, racking up over 799,000 views and more than 146,600 likes. The caption joked, “My fiancé left a little something extra in the dog’s crate this morning.”
Luckily, Louis and Ernest are close companions, so the accident didn’t lead to any stress. In fact, Schauder calls Louis Ernest’s “emotional support friend” for his calming effect on the anxious pup.
“I thought Louis would avoid the crate after this,” she said, “but just days later, I had to pull him out again before putting Ernest in. We’ve definitely learned to check the crate more carefully, especially in the back corner where Louis likes to curl up.”
Teti found humor in the situation once he knew both pets were safe. “He also checks the crate more carefully now,” Schauder added.
The video’s popularity has taken Schauder by surprise. While many comments praised the adorable moment, others sparked debate over crate usage. Schauder responded by explaining that Ernest is crate-trained and sees it as a safe space.
“He goes in freely, and we only shut the door when we’ll be away for a while,” she explained. “If we left him out, he’d spend hours pacing and searching for us. The crate tells him it’s time to relax or nap.”
Viewers also chimed in with jokes and support. One commenter quipped, “How could he not see a cat in that size crate? The cat is bigger than the dog.” Another wrote, “Well, he’d be lonely without a friend,” while a third joked, “The cat would also like to know why there is a cat in the crate.”
The viral moment has not only given people a good laugh—it’s also reminded pet owners everywhere to double-check who’s inside before shutting the crate door.
Related Topic:
British Shorthair’s Reaction to Mom Messing Up Its Fur Has People in Stitches
Housebuilder Donates £1,500 to Cat Rescue Center
Headless Cat in Welling Lane Suspected to be Victim of Human Action
