A video of a cat's reaction to a dog attempting to "terrorize" him has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was posted by @silvertheaussie and has had over 855,000 views since it was first shared on April 25.
A message overlaid on the video reads: "When you pick the wrong cat to terrorize." The footage shows a dog inside a home barking at what appears to be a cat tunnel.
"She thinks she's safe because he's in the tunnel. She usually never bothers Timber but she wanted to press her luck this morning I guess," another caption reads as the dog is shown crouching down to the floor while continuing to bark at the tunnel.
Dogs and cats are often portrayed as "mortal enemies," noted an August 2020 study in the journal PLOS One. However, an increasing number of our canine and feline companions have been living under the same roof, and "most cohabitations are peaceful," the study said.
Most dogs and cats sharing a home sleep together "at least occasionally" and play together, the study found.
"Although some body postures, such as the tail's position, are interpreted differently by the two species, the greater proportions of dogs and cats show a relaxed response to several kinds of approaches of their roommate," according to the study.
"It is true that they speak different languages, but they seem to understand each other well and interpret each other's approaches in the right way," the study said.
'You Picked the Wrong Kitty'
The latest viral clip shows the dog barking at another end of the tunnel while continuing to wag her tail.
A note across the video warns "instant regret" before a cat is seen coming out of the tunnel, while the canine moves away. The pup runs across to the other side of the room, hiding behind a toy slide, with the cat following and later staring back at her.
"You picked the wrong kitty," a voice says in the clip, as the feline swats his paw at the dog's face.
"I told you not to mess with that one," the voice states, as the dog crawls into the cat tunnel before the clip ends.
The interaction between the dog and cat in the latest post has left TikTok users in stitches.
Dakota Cherry said: "I was not expecting a cat the size of the dog. I love this so much."
The original poster replied: "he weighs about 16lbs and Silver is 22lbs so they are close for sure."
User fry said "I wasn't expecting full pursuit" and the original poster replied: "he meant business."
TxSwtness87 wrote: "Kitty wasn't even running just a brisk walk."
RayRay noted: "We know who's in charge!"
Everqueen944 noted the feline must have been thinking, "Had it up to HERE with you BOI!"
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.
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