A mischievous cat has gone viral in a video of it's hilarious attempt to go unnoticed while sneaking a taste of forbidden food.

TikTok user Caitlyn Davis (@caitlyn_davis34) posted the amusing clip of her orange cat sprawled out on the table, trying to grab the lid of a food container nearby. The cunning cat pretends to be asleep to avoid arousing suspicion, as it makes painfully slow movements toward the treat.

At first, the cat looks as if he is just stretching out. He opens his eyes for a millisecond before closing them again to feign sleep. Once his paw is firmly planted on the lid, he gradually slides it toward him until it is close enough to finally get a taste.

The hungry cat's antics delighted social media users, and in just a week the video has generated over 24.9 million views and 4.1 million likes on TikTok at the time of writing.

Alongside the clip, the caption jokes: "If I pretend to be asleep and move REAL slow, she won't notice."

For many owners, it can be tempting to feed their cat a little something extra. The website PetMD explains that, if a cat is going to have any human food, it should be meat because it's the safest and most nutritious. Owners should avoid raw meat as it can make them sick, and nothing that contains bones either.

Chicken, turkey, and fish specifically are high in protein and low in calories. Plus, PetMD adds that they are favorite flavors among cats too.

But dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, should be avoided as most cats are lactose intolerant. Other items on PetMD's banned list include chocolate, onion, garlic, nuts, grapes, coffee, tea, and alcohol.

Ultimately, when a cat is given any human food, it should be as a high-value reward, rather than becoming a regularity. It should also fit into their diet and complement what they eat normally, instead of adding extra calories they don't necessarily need.

How Did TikTok React?

TikTok users can't get enough of the ginger cat's moves. But despite his best efforts, it certainly wasn't enough to best his owner, who saw through his antics straight away.

The viral video has already amassed over 31,700 comments so far, as one TikToker wrote: "the plan, the execution, the patience. very convincing, very demure."

Another person responded: "I as if how he keeps reminding himself to keep his eyes closed lol."

"I'm so glad you let him enjoy that after all his hard work," added one TikTok user.

While another comment reads: "What a performance! 10/10."

Newsweek reached out to @caitlyn_davis34 via TikTok for comment. We could not verify the details of the video.

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