A video of an elderly cat being "a good girl" while getting her nails trimmed has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was shared by @seniorcatmk10 and has had over 480,000 views since it was posted two days ago.
A message overlaid on the clip says: "When you adopted a senior cat who purrs when you give her a manicure."
The footage shows a woman holding a cat while clipping the feline's claws. A caption shared with the post reads: "She's such a good girl."
Felines are typically considered to be senior cats from between around 7 and 10 years of age. According to Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, a year-old cat is physiologically similar to a 16-year-old human, while a 2-year-old cat is like a person at 21. "For every year thereafter, each cat year is worth about four human years," the college says.
Therefore, a 10-year-old cat is similar in age to a 53-year-old human, while a 15-year-old cat is akin to a person aged 73, the college notes.
In the last decade, North America has seen a 15 percent increase in the number of cats aged over 10 years old and a 14 percent rise in ones aged over 15, veterinarians Malcolm Weir, Krista Williams and Ernest Ward noted in an article of VCA, one of North America's largest animal hospital chains.
"Improved nutrition, infectious disease prevention, and advances in veterinary medicine have resulted in our cats living longer and healthier lives," the veterinarians said.
Taking Care of Your Senior Cat
According to Weir, Williams and Ward, most of our feline companions "age gracefully and require very little." But there are ways you can help optimize their quality of life.
"Since older cats do not generally respond well to change, any changes must be introduced slowly," the veterinarians noted.
Senior cats should have easy access to a warm, comfortable bed, where they can "sleep safely without fearing disturbances," as well as easy access to fresh drinking water, they said.
Elderly cats should only be fed high-quality, easily digestible food that's recommended by your veterinarian.
"Although specific nutrient requirements are not yet determined for senior cats, it should be assumed that any older cat has some degree of subclinical or underlying disease, particularly of the kidneys and liver. Hence, a diet with moderate phosphorus restriction is usually recommended," Weir, Williams and Ward advised.
'Meownicure'
TikTokers were delighted by the senior cat in the latest viral clip.
Mimi said: "She's there for her meownicure."
User wifeytypexoxo noted: "Omgggg her little belly and the purring."
Jennifer said: "She trusts you so much."
User @spotdastar said: "senior cat prefers bed than weapons, ready to settle down lol."
Spinelli noted: "There is truly nothing like having a senior cat, They are the sweetest little creatures."
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.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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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