Birds Have 'Learned' Something Important About Cat, Decide to Surround Him

Birds and cats are well-known enemies, but one feline spends plenty of time surrounded by birds for an unexpected reason.

In a video shared by Jaz, known as @basicfakegoth on TikTok, Sooty the black cat is sitting peacefully in the backyard, surrounded by pigeons. The text overlay read: "Sooty is blind. The birds have learned Sooty is blind. They know he isn't a threat. He gets to sit and hear them fly around."

As the camera pans up, it revealed the charming sight—a selection of pigeons calmly perched on a nearby shed and fence, perfectly at ease in Sooty's presence.

@basicfakegoth

the most precious boy to ever live #cat #blackcat #disabledcat #blindcat #catsoftiktok

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Eyesight is a particularly importance sense for cats, who can see in lower light and a wider field of view than humans—perfect for catching prey and navigating.

Losing sight is undoubtedly a difficult experience for a cat, but felines are also incredibly adaptable, and are able to learn to live without eyesight pretty quickly.

The best way to help a cat with vision loss is to make a few simple adjustments. Keeping a consistent home layout and food and water bowls in the same place is useful, while blocking potential hazards and supervising outdoor time prevents them from getting into trouble.

Sooty the cat surrounded by the birds in the back yard. In a viral video, viewers saw that they have figured out he can't see them. Sooty the cat surrounded by the birds in the back yard. In a viral video, viewers saw that they have figured out he can't see them. @basicfakegoth/TikTok

With more than 1 million views on TikTok, Sooty and the birds quickly gained viral attention, prompting animal lovers to share their reactions in the comments.

"My cat used to be so slow she couldn't catch anything so she would bring us back sticks instead," viewer Mitchell posted, while another commenter added: "They're his friends."

"He's just enjoying life and I love it," wrote Frank. TikTok user Migz described the scene as "a peaceful void," while user J said: "Maybe they don't know he's blind and just think he's super friendly."

Meanwhile, plenty of love for Sooty himself flooded in, such as the comment from Marie Gildea that read: "Sooty deserves the world."

Earlier this week, a cat owner shared how he was concerned that his cat was going blind. But after spending over $700 on vet trips, Trey Yates was stunned to discover the truth—Niles the cat was just eating too many treats.

Newsweek reached out to @basicfakegoth via TikTok for comment.

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.