Moment Kitten Reunites With Sister After Owner Goes Back To Adopt Sibling
A video capturing the adorable reunion of two sibling kittens has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip, shared by @shannyyriee, has amassed 1.6 million views since it was posted on August 30.
The video, shot in a cozy living room, shows the emotional moment when a newly adopted kitten is surprised on seeing her sister from the same litter.
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A note overlaid on the video says, "When you adopt a kitten and surprise her a few days later with her sister."
The footage begins with a soft meow, followed by the sight of the two kittens meeting for the first time since their adoption.
Initially cautious, the felines are seen gently touching noses before one of the kittens hides under a cupboard. As the other kitten stands nearby, watching, the sibling under the cupboard peeks out cautiously, before eventually crawling back out into the open.
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A caption shared with the post reads, "The meow of relief in the beginning."
While the kittens in the viral clip may have felt a closer bond from recognizing each other as siblings, even cats who are not related to each other could end up learning each other's names, according to one study published in April 2022 in Scientific Reports.
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The Japanese study, which observed household cats and those belonging to cat cafés where many live together, found that they learn the names of their "friend cats" in their daily lives.
The study found 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."
'They Found Each Other'
TikTok users were quick to express their joy and admiration for the touching reunion.
User Phantom commented, "They recognize each other!!!" Another viewer, User.666., wrote, "Awe, they found each other." The video's cuteness sparked a wave of positive reactions, with mixxy exclaiming, "They are absolutely adorable omgggg."
Many TikTok users also chimed in with their support for adopting kittens in pairs. "Kittens are always best in pairs! (Or more), even if it's not from the same litter!" commented @malloryjane7, emphasizing the benefits of companionship for cats. Chips and beans lad echoed this sentiment, saying, "Kittens should never be adopted alone, this is lovely."
The reunion also touched on the emotional bond between siblings, with Malibu.Persia remarking, "Sisters just belong together," and P D2550 humorously adding the kittens must have been thinking. "Is that u?? Is that really u???"
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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