A video of two cats appearing inseparable has delighted users on TikTok.
The viral footage, shared by @jadeincyprus on April 9, has had 14 million views. It shows two cats lying down while facing each other. One cat has its hind legs placed between the other cat's hind legs, and the other cat has its front legs draped around it.
A message overlaid on the clip says: "Are you kidding me."
A caption shared with the post says, " How are they even real?!? Omg, this is the cutest thing I've ever seen."
@jadeincyprus how are they even real?!? omg this is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen 😭🥹 #catsoftiktok #cuddlycat #cutecats #kittens #cattok #kittensoftiktok #cutekitten
♬ So this is Love from Cinderella - Bella Grimes
The bonding moment between the two felines in the viral post is not surprising.
The results of a September 2015 study in PLOS One were "consistent with the view that adult cats are typically quite autonomous, even in their social relationships, and not necessarily dependent on others to provide a sense of security and safety."
However, a September 2019 study in Current Biology found evidence that "cats display distinct attachment styles toward human caregivers." The study noted: "Research suggests we may be underestimating cats' socio-cognitive abilities."
"Cats, like dogs, can be found living in social groups or solitarily, depending on early developmental factors, resource distribution, and lifetime experiences such as human interaction," the study said.
A Japanese study published in April 2022 in Scientific Reports, which examined household cats and cats belonging to cat cafés where many cats live together, found that felines learn the names of their "friend cats" in their daily lives.
The study showed that "cats expect a specific face upon hearing the specific name of a companion" through the "spontaneous learning of relationships between names and faces in their everyday experiences, similar to what human children do."
'Cats in Love'
TikTok users were smitten with the cat duo.
"Oh to be cats in love, TikToker Kalk wrote.
User @sarah_10777 noted "THE HAND PLACEMENT..." and @evelynn_beverly34 also swooned over "THE PAW PLACEMENT."
"HOW CAN CATS HAVE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS THAN ALL OF US," asked @girl.editxr.
"Why are cats living better than me," said @thesoaps_.
"How does a cat have a better love life than me," @lesbiahanmartyn commented.
User @_julianaz_ wrote: "i never thought i would be jealous of a cat."
Newsweek reached out to the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.
Soo ... Read more
