While many cats do not like being told what to do, they have no problem dictating where everyone else can go, and two cats in one household have one very unusual spot that is off-limits.
The cats, Stella and Mufasa, are a father-daughter duo who are known as the "shower guardians" as they like to be in the shower. Well, not while the water is running. They'll just be there whenever someone in the house wants to shower.
"Stella always loved to go in the tub, especially if someone is trying to shower," owner Blaise told Newsweek on Reddit. "Mufasa tends to follow her around and go wherever Stella goes. He needs to be a part of the action."
A post shared to Reddit on Wednesday by user StellaCoconut on the subreddit channel /r/aww showed a photo of the two Neva Masquerade Siberians sitting in the tub, with no room for anyone to step foot inside. The Reddit caption reads: "Every time someone needs to take a shower in our house they need to deal with the two 'shower guardians' first."
In the photo, the two cats are seen looking up at the camera with a serious look on their faces. Luckily, it doesn't take much negotiating with the two felines to eventually be granted permission to use the shower.
"Usually, you have to 'pay the tax' and pet them both before they are willing to get out of the shower," Blaise said.
A "pet tax" is small in comparison to other taxes pets demand from their owners. However, Blaise said he and his girlfriend also have to pay the "treat tax," which happens when one of them starts to open the kitchen cabinets.
"Now they think every time we open a cabinet it must mean we are getting them a snack," he said.
Reddit Users React
The "shower guardians" have quickly grabbed the attention of Reddit users, bringing in over 6,700 likes and 135 comments in the first two days of being posted.
"They're just trying to keep you safe, protecting you from the scary shower," a user commented.
While these two shower guardians seem intimidating, one Reddit user made an excellent point: "Better than finding spiders in the bathtub."
Another added: "Your shower Guardians are adorable. Our Guardians want nothing to do with the shower."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Liz O'Connell is a Newsweek Reporter based in North Carolina. Her focus is on pet news and videos. Liz joined ... Read more
