Viewers on TikTok have been moved by the strong impression a shelter cat had left on a visitor searching for a new pet.
The male cat, who has been described as a “brown tabby,” was captured reaching out of his kennel desperate to make contact with the passing woman. The woman, who is known as @spring.brewzz on TikTok, had shared the moment to the platform on June 11 to significant online attention.
To date, the short clip has been viewed more than 6.2 million times, amassing more than 1.3 million likes and a flurry of heartfelt comments in the process.
Viewers were able to see the feline energetically jumping up their kennel bars while trying to extend its paws out through the small gaps to make contact with the woman. She filmed herself reaching out to take his paw, while he meowed loudly. The woman shared in the post’s caption that despite setting out to adopt a different type of cat, she ended up taking this very vocal feline home.
“I went to the animal shelter looking for a black cat, and this brown tabby had other plans to steal our hearts,” an overlaid text on the video read, while the caption added: “Needless to say I made the best choice picking him, he was in there with like six kittens and he was ready to leave with us. My Rey Rey’s.”
The woman’s bio indicates that the feline, now named, Reyno, has turned 1.
The tear-jerking post has led to more than 4,000 comments from moved viewers on TikTok, many of whom gushed over Reyno and applauded how he tried to connect with his soon-to-be owner from inside his kennel. Several have poked fun at the feline’s theatrical way of grabbing the woman’s attention, while other viewers have mentioned had saddened they feel by the sheer number of pets in care.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 5.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues in 2024.
“That’s not the purpose of an animal shelter, you don’t get to choose a cat, the cats get to choose you,” one viewer said.
“He’s so desperate,” another added. “He was doing tricks for you,” a third viewer shared.
“That’s how my baby picked me too,” one said. “You’ve been chosen human,” another added.
“I would be so sad that I couldn’t take every cat home,” one viewer commented.
“The cats just know who their person is,” another said. “I would’ve been sold,” another added.
Newsweek reached out to @spring.brewzz for more information via TikTok.
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.
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