Shelter Kittens' Adorable Reaction to Cage Upgrade Delights Internet

A pair of shelter kittens from Indianapolis have melted hearts online after their reaction to getting a brand new cage went viral on social media.

In the viral clip shared on TikTok earlier in December by Indianapolis shelter Pepper's Pals Cat Rescue, the two kittens can be seen jumping up and down in their freshly upgraded cage as they explore and get familiar with all the new amenities.

The heartwarming video says: "Ruby and Opal are very excited about their cage upgrade. (and Olive is enjoying the entertainment), and adds in the caption, "They've already spilled their food and water everywhere."

Of the 3.2 million cats that are surrendered to shelters every year, about 66 percent get adopted, but sometimes these cats get returned. Returning to the shelter can be very stressful for cats. According to a January study published in the journal Animals, about 82 percent of shelter cats lost weight in their first week in a shelter.

Pet shelters are overwhelmed with the number of strays and surrendered pets that join nationwide shelters day after day.

It is estimated that each year 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 in January, an increase of 1,744 compared to January 2022, 24PetWatch found.

Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

The video quickly went viral on social media, receiving over 1.3 million views and 210,600 likes so far on TikTok.

One user, simp_livez_matter, commented: "Cat downstairs is like what the heck is going on upstairs." And GavOfGavs said: "I wish they had transparent surfaces so at least the cats can see each other. That'd be cool."

TikToker matilda wrote: "It is so cute yet so sad because they deserve to play on the outside or at least a comfy home."

Cat Lady said: "Stopp this is the cutest thing I've ever seen! I hope someone adopts them together."

Cibbal Mo wrote: "They might be in a cage, but for now spirits are high."

Newsweek reached out to Pepper's Pals Cat Rescue for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.

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