Tears as 18-Year-Old Cat Isn't Allowed Inside Family Home but Greets Guests
A video of a senior cat that is no longer allowed inside the family home has broken hearts online.
However, Harry, the orange feline, appears to be in good spirits as he continues to greet visitors, as shown in the TikTok clip from September 17.
Racking up over 116,000 views, the footage, recorded by a woman who runs @almondandcashie—a TikTok account dedicated to her pet cats Cashie and Almond—shows her routine with Harry, who is living in his owner's garage.
Layered over the footage of Harry outside, the text explains that the woman is a home health registered nurse who visits Harry's owner a few times a week and also brings a "special treat" for the cat.
"They love him, but I do wish he could be indoors," the woman told one user. She explained the reason in another comment: "The cats jump on my patient, and it's not safe for [the] patient."
The text says: "He used to be an indoor cat, but the past [five] years, they won't let him back inside. He's a gentleman walking me to the door on this steep hill." The cat is seen walking alongside the woman as she is filming.
She said the patient's family has dedicated the garage to Harry and his brother, Pete, which brought a smile to her face.
The video ends with the nurse and Harry waiting at the door, a scene that has greatly moved viewers. So far, the video, captioned "I think he wants to go in," has 23,900 likes and more than 500 comments.
"This is absolutely tearing me apart! My heart is broken for him, he just wants to be with his owner. He NEEDS to be inside, he's way too old to be outside all the time," wrote one user.
"You know their senses. He's also probably sensing something is wrong with his owner. Poor baby," added another.
Other users are worried about the cat being cold at night, even though he can sleep in the garage.
Cats are nocturnal and can sleep up to 18 hours a day, preferring warm and comfortable places, according to Modern Vet, a multispecialty veterinary hospital in Dubai. Outdoors, they may sleep in quiet, dark and safe spots, like backyards or balconies. It's important to provide them with an environment where they feel secure and aren't startled by noises. In the colder months, an indoor-outdoor cat enclosure can offer additional comfort and safety.
Newsweek reached out to @almondandcashie for comment and could not verify the details of the case.
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.