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Cat owner puts a mic on her 'stompy,' sassy kitty and it's accidental ASMR

"Warning: sass levels dangerously high 🎤💅🏼"

@bambi.jerrythepanda/Instagram

May we all feel this level of confidence at least once in our lives.

Cat owners can tell you that on any given day, felines perform a symphony of gentle purrs, pleading mews, alien-like chirps…all of which play like music to our ears. Okay, maybe not all, but most.

If you’re in the mood for some of the best kitty ASMR ever, look no further than Bambi, the feisty feline “diva” who got mic’d up for the day (thanks to her mom Emily) and didn't hesitate to step into the spotlight.

In a now-viral video with the caption, “Warning: sass levels dangerously high 🎤💅🏼,” viewers got up close and personal not only with the cat sounds you might expect (including some hissing and growling at the foster kitty named Walter, who Bambi hasn’t quite taken to yet), but also Bambi’s signature stomp, stomp, stomp. Dear God, it’s adorable.

Watch:

Bambi was quickly dubbed the “professional upstairs neighbor," referring to an Internet meme that often uses the phrase sarcastically to describe a lead-footed person living above, and got a lot of praise for her main character stomps.

“She’s got places to be,” joked one viewer.

Another wrote, “that stompy walk is model material."”

Still another pleaded, “A two hour long ASMR video of this so that I can listen to it when I’m stressed? Please?”

That stomp is more than just Bambi having a flair for the dramatic—it’s a symptom of Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH), also known as wobbly cat syndrome. CH happens most often when mamma cats contract the Panleukopenia virus while pregnant, then pass it to their offspring, leaving the part of their brain that governs balance and coordination underdeveloped. The result can be jerky movement, tremors, or, as in Bambi’s case, stompy walks.

@bambi.jerrythepanda We’ve had a lot of new followers lately and tons of questions about why Bambi stomps. CH (Cerebellar Hypoplasia) is a neurological condition she was born with. It affects her balance, so she walks like she means business. It doesn’t cause her any pain. She can’t jump up to high places like other cats can. But she’s learned her own way of getting around, and she does it with confidence. She’s sassy, wobbly, and totally unbothered. You'll also see here Jerry our goodest boy and total mama’s boy. And Bella, the queen of the house at 16 years old. #BambiStomps #CHCat #SpecialNeedsCat #CatCrew #QueenBella #SweetJerry #WobblyCat ♬ original sound - bambi.jerrythepanda

While many might think this condition involves pain or a low quality of life, Bethany Hsia, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Co-Founder at CodaPet, tells Upworthy that their unique neurological makeup often makes them “happy and affectionate pets” that can “thrive” when pet parents give them a safe environment, such as providing low-sided litter boxes, elevated food and water bowls, soft surfaces to cushion falls, and keep them indoors is crucial to prevent accidents.

Similarly, pet expert and CEO/Founder at Boxiecat Josh Wiesenfeld notes that besides their "peculiar gait,” most CH cats are “otherwise very healthy,” and so long as pet owners provide a bit of safety measures, can live just as long as regular cats.

“In fact, their willfulness and tenacity make them very endearing friends, and many owners comment that their CH cat's personality contributes to their lives in special ways,” he says.

Bambi herself seems to be proof of that. It’s certainly done nothing to quell her cat-titude. And people wouldn’t have it any other way. She currently boasts a following of 246,000 on Instagram, and even recently launched her own plushie! That’s how you know you’ve made it to the big time.

@bambi.jerrythepanda Diva mode: ON 💅🏼 Only a week left to purchase your limited edition Bambi Plushie! Check my bio for the link to purchase! #DivaMode #CatwalkQueen #Bambi #StompyCat #LimitedEdition #PlushieDrop #PetInfluencer #BambiPlushie #BambiSass #ItGirl #catwalk #ChCat ♬ My Addiction - Alex Guesta

Keep stomping, queen.

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Obsessed cat dad builds an entirely feline-friendly miniature subway system with all the frills

Next stop, "Moonwatch Terrace.” 😻

Xing's World/Youtube

Can I go live in Cat Town, please?

We’ve all seen a lot of ingenuity come out of humans who wish to give their feline friends the best life possible—from custom aquariums to Wes Anderson-esque bedrooms to mini hotels. But a kitty subway? Now we’ve seen everything.

Astonishingly, it only took YouTube creator, cat dad, and DIY extraordinaire Xing Zhilei to build an entirely functioning, eerily realistic-looking subway system—complete with a working train, synchronized platform doors, signage with directions to places like “Moonwatch Terrace,” tunnels, and even a miniature escalator. Everything was meticulously designed to give his kitties as much of an authentic city experience as possible…save for maybe the constant train delays.

Watch below as a cat named Mr. Nice and his family set aboard as the subway’s first passengers. It truly feels like something out of a whimsical kid’s book.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Perhaps this amazing build shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. After all, Zhilei has built an entire Cat Town, one that features a Cybertruck, a spa, a supermarket, garage, bank, cinema, billiards hall, theater…just to name a few amenities.

@xings.world Mr Nice drives a CyberTruck. #catspa #cute #cutepets #可愛 #可愛いペット #cats #catsoftiktok ♬ original sound - Xing’s World


@xings.world I built a billiards room for my Cat! #xingsworld #xingzhilei #catsoftiktok #mrnice #可愛いペット #cutecat #cute #poolhall #billiards #catsubway ♬ original sound - Xing’s World


@xings.world #CatTheater ! Thank you to all the new followers! Please enjoy more of my recent projects. #cutecat #kawaii #xingzhilei #xingsworld #可愛いペット #catsubway ♬ original sound - Xing’s World

This feline-centric passion project all began with creating a cat-size condo that offered his fur babies a taste of “luxury” that he never had. Considering that that initial home boasted an elevator that actually goes up and down, a light-up video doorbell, a sink with actual flowing water, and swanky interior decor, we’d say that mission is certainly accomplished.

@xings.world Why did i make the mini home for pets? #可愛 #可愛いペット #cute #cutecat #cutepet ♬ original sound - Xing’s World

A lifelong tinkerer, Zhilei still had to learn many new skills to make this one-man dream a reality, from 3D modeling and printing to carpentry, welding, sewing, and painting, not to mention video editing skills in order to share his journey with all of us.

We all know the importance of pet enrichment, which provides a stimulating environment and activities that fulfill an animal's physical, behavioral, and emotional needs. Without it, our pets often aim to quell their anxiety and boredom with destructive behaviors. It goes without saying that Zhilei’s Cat Town takes it to the next level, and 99.9% don’t have the time, skills, resources, or space to accomplish such an impressive feat.

However (and luckily for us all), animals don’t need miniature subways in order to gain enrichment. There’s a whole wide world out there on the interwebs filled with simple, clever ideas. Adding in some cat-friendly greenery, DIY food puzzles, the whole “cat concrete” thing. It's real.

Still, next time we pet owners are getting a bit lazy and tossing a cat toy in a corner, maybe we’ll use these videos as inspiration to kick it up a notch.

To stay abreast of all the latest Cat Town updates, give Zhilei a follow on TikTok and YouTube.

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A meteorologist's cat crashed his at-home forecast and became his beloved co-host

Betty the Weathercat brought smiles and comfort to millions during the pandemic.

Jeff Lyons 14 News/Facebook

A meteorologist's cat bombed his at-home forecast and became his beloved co-host.

2020 was a weird one. While we were all doing our best to stay safe during a global pandemic, institutions that had been in our lives for decades were forced to evolve. School was hosted virtually, restaurants got rid of paper menus, and even the news was being broadcast from living rooms and home offices all over the country.

During the early days of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Indiana's 14 First Alert Chief Meteorologist Jeff Lyons set up a green screen in his living room and gave weather forecasts from home during the lockdown. Soon, he gained a surprising costar.

Although Lyons was used to broadcasting alone, he quickly gained a new partner to share the weather with—his cat, Betty.

Betty made her debut when she wanted some attention during a weather broadcast. Lyons picked up the fluffy feline and cradled her in his arms while he talked about the weather. The response was so great, the station shared a little behind-the-scenes green screen fun with Betty and the clip that ended up airing on television.

Over a million people watched the clip in April of 2020, with Lyons' forecast reaching far, far beyond his usual Indiana audience.


"I vote for all future weather reports to have Betty in them" one commenter on Facebook wrote.

"My new favorite weather guy.... and I don't even live anywhere near the area (from NJ) but how can anyone not love Betty" another added.

Betty soon became a regular on Lyons' television appearances. Sometimes, she'd just hang out and watch her human do his professional human thing.

However, like all cats, Betty didn't always like to perform when requested. (Like how they only want to sit on your lap when you're trying to work. Cats gonna be cats.)



People fell in love with Betty's cameos in Lyons' from-home forecasts. Viewers started sharing photos of their own cats on Lyons' Facebook page, and fans began tuning in from around the world to see Betty being Betty.

Pets were such a huge piece of everyone's lives during the pandemic, as people found themselves spending more time at home and less time with other living, breathing beings. Lyons' relationship with his cat personified the connection we all craved at the time, and it made people feel a little less lonely.

Sadly, Betty the Weathercat, as she came to be known, passed away in 2023. Viewers were heartbroken:


"We will love and remember Betty forever. She brought such brightness into the Covid gloom…appropriate for a Weather Cat!" wrote a viewer on instagram.

"Her onscreen joy lives on. Rest well beautiful girl" said another.

"She was quite the personality & your stories of her were such fun. Wow, 16 years is a great life. Thank you for sharing her," someone added.

Betty had been with these viewers through one of the darkest times in many of their lives, so saying goodbye wasn't easy.

But Lyons has adopted two new cats since (Bobby and Cissy), and together, they're doing their best to honor Betty's legacy. Although they don't join Lyons on broadcasts nearly as often.



"Everybody knows I'm a softie ! We couldn't resist this brother and sister team of Bobby (black cat) and Cissy (tuxedo cat) at the Vanderburgh Humane Society ! They are 4 months old orphans who have come to live with us. I'm sure they sense Betty's spirit (and a few furs) around the house," Lyons wrote in a post from December 2023.

To this day, he shares photos and videos of his new Weathercats reacting to heat waves, thunderstorms, and dry spells. Even though Betty is longer with him, she helped propel Lyons to a new level of fame and he will always be known as the Weathercat guy: a role he seems to be more than OK with.

This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.


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Woman saved an 'aggressive, unadoptable' cat from euthanasia. It was clearly a good call.

"Grumpy Barbara" had been found with her owner a week after he died.

Photo credit: Canva

Cats can be aggressive for many reasons, but this one was heartbreaking.

Just as you can't judge a book by its cover, you can't judge an animal by their behavior at an animal shelter. Barbara the cat (also known as "Grumpy Barbara") had been through a traumatic experience before she was surrendered to a local shelter. Her long-time owner had died and she was found with his body a week later. She and her human dad had had a strong bond—it had been just the two of them living together her whole life—and clearly losing him affected her behavior. The man's family brought her to the shelter because they couldn't handle her, and the shelter workers didn't have much luck with her, either.

Barbara was aggressive with everyone and deemed "unadoptable." When an animal is brought to an open intake shelter and thought to be a danger to humans and other animals, euthanasia is often seen as the only option. But animal rescue advocate Beth Stern felt like Barbara deserved a chance, so she took her in as a foster.

cat, aggressive cat, angry cat, rescue cat, hissing cat Aggressive cats can be scary.Photo credit: Canva

"It was a challenge I wasn't necessarily prepared for," Stern told GeoBeats Animals. "She did not want to see me or talk to me."

Barbara hid in Stern's floorboard in her closet for a week, only coming out at night to eat, drink and use the litter box. It took about a month before Stern was able to touch the volatile kitty, and then she went through several phases of Barbara chasing and attacking her.

"We were both scared of each other," Stern said. "I had to wear knee-high boots to protect myself from her." But she didn't give up on Barbara.

Finally, one night at around 3:00 a.m., Stern woke up to find Barbara purring beside her ear and then nuzzling into her chin. Like flipping a switch, Barbara went from fearful and aggressive to cuddly and affectionate with Stern.

"She became almost suffocatingly affectionate," Stern said. "She follows me around. She will sit with me when I'm working. If I'm on my phone, she wants me to get off my phone."

Barbara had a complete turnaround with Stern, leading commenters to the conclusion that she was traumatized and grieving the loss of her owner. She needed time to be able to trust and feel safe to bond with a human again, which Stern gave her.

"The most valuable lesson I learned from a cat like Barbara is that humans impose their own needs on animals," said Stern, "and understandably they want to feel a bond, but it's much more important to give them the space to tell you what they need first and adapt around that."

People shared their own Barbara-like stories of aggressive animals they adopted who took varying lengths of time to come around:

"My grandfather passed away and I was told his cat Lucy escaped his house. She was in the house hiding and was alone for two weeks without food or a litter box. I brought her home and it took a year for her to come out of my room and be social with her cat sibling and my two cats. She was traumatized. She used to only let me pet her while she was eating. We can pet her more now. It just takes time. ❤️❤️"

"Sounds like our Pearly Pearl. Her momma had to enter care when she was 13. She was about to be euthanized because no one could get near her after months of trying when I got a call asking if we would consider her. She would launch herself across the room and attack you. I had to be fully covered at any interaction. 6 months later she decided we’re were not going to eat her and from then on, she became more loving daily. She’s become the sweetest little cuddle bug and demands to be cuddled and follows us around like a puppy. She just needed time to trust."

pets, cat, cuddly cat, animal rescue, foster animals Some aggressive cats just need time to feel comfortable and safe.Photo credit: Canva

"We took on a kitten that had been returned to the breeder by three different groups because she didn’t like to be touched. At all, she was not socialized (story behind this of course) The breeder told everybody this,but they didn’t listen. We lost one of our cats and the breeder decided to try one last time with us. The agreement was it didn’t matter if she never let us touch her. Same story, and same ending. Now she’s the most affectionate of cats. It took about four months before she let me touch her and now she will not let me go anywhere without her."

However, one commenter pointed out that not all aggressive animals become affectionate like Barbara or the other cats people described, but that doesn't mean they don't also deserve a loving home.

"Thirteen years ago, I adopted an aggressive cat who was scheduled to be euthanized. Not all cats will come around like Barbara. My cat is still aggressive. I cannot hold her or pet her, but I love her and she has a happy, safe home that she loves, despite her behaviour. She is permitted to be herself. Please don't adopt an aggressive pet unless you are committed to whatever may be. Some just don't ever heal from their past but they still need safety, understanding and compassion."

cat, aggressive cat, rescue animals, foster animals, pet adoption Not all aggressive cats will become affectionate, but they still need a home. Photo credit: Canva

The reality is there are too many animals for shelters to care for and without people to step up and foster or adopt them, a percentage of them are going to be put down. Stern is an example of someone willing to give a problematic animal a chance for a caring home, which the world desperately needs more of.

You can follow Grumpy Barbara on Instagram.

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