Cat Dad Steps Up To Make Sure His Kittens Are 'Loved' While Mom Recovers

You may want to grab some tissues before watching this video of a cat dad going above and beyond for his newborn kittens.

Owner Aysha Clever, 36, has shared a heartwarming montage of clips showcasing her adult cat's journey to parenthood. The footage mostly focuses on the bond between the dad Moose and his offspring Mango and Karat.

"We had no idea Moose would be so helpful," Clever, from Hilliard, Ohio, told Newsweek. "I was always told that male cats should be kept away from kittens. However, Moose was spayed about a month before Cheeto delivered the kittens and he cuddled her throughout the remainder of her pregnancy and sat bedside while she was in labor. It was amazing to be a part of."

The clip shared on TikTok by @ayshaclever has 3.1 million views and includes text explaining what happened when mother Cheeto, an orange cat, fell ill after giving birth to the kittens.

But she didn't have to worry about the wellbeing of her offspring because three-year-old Moose was more than willing to assist. The text explains he "stepped up" and helped look after them while she recovered.

"He made sure his kittens were loved," and "they made sure he was loved too," states the text that is perfectly paired with shots of the trio cuddling and grooming each other.

Clever explained that she took the three-year-old Cheeto and her kittens to the vets following their birth.

She said: "Cheeto was retaining a placenta. After she was done delivering, she was very weak. Moose was worried sick while we were gone, and searched the entire house for her. When we returned home, he stayed close by and helped out with what he could."

While the video was shared on March 9, the footage itself isn't exactly recent as the kittens were born at the start of August 2023. The video includes the growth of the kittens over time, showing them maturing into adolescence. Despite their growth, it's evident from the video that they never outgrow the need for a cuddle with their mom and dad.

After watching the kittens bond with their parents, Clever decided to keep them and have them all neutered.

"So they could be a happy, healthy family," she wrote.

At the time of writing, the video has racked up over 347,000 likes and over 1,650 comments.

One user said: "A family of cats is a wonderful thing to have in your life."

"I'll never understand how anyone can dislike cats," said another person.

A third commenter said: "I'm bawling this is amazing."

A fourth said: "That's so adorable. I thought male cats were always aggressive towards their babies."

Indeed, male felines aren't known for being paternal, according to Cats Protection. The U.K.-based charity has explained that it is rare for a father cat to act like Moose. The website states that male cats are often portrayed as distant from their offspring, there are anecdotal cases where male cats show paternal instincts by helping to care for kittens. These behaviors include grooming, protecting, and even bringing gifts to the kittens. However, such cases are rare, and the typical behavior of male cats towards kittens tends to be more indifferent.

But this doesn't mean all males are alike as Newsweek has previously shared another article about a proud dad cat who was caught on camera guarding his kittens.

Update 3/14/24 6:56 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from the OP, Aysha Clever.

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