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Mom puts sari on cat she didn't want in ridiculously cute video, proving cats pick their people

"And now she's turning her into a little Indian burrito."

Photo credit: Canva

Mom's bond with 'cat she didn't want' is ridiculously cute

Everyone knows that cats are distributed by some unknown force in the universe aptly named the Cat Distribution System, CDS for short. Is this a real thing? Probably not but you can't tell most cat owners that. Even if your cat didn't arrive via CDS by showing up in your garage and refusing to leave, the stealth big cat impersonators still choose who they prefer whether that person likes them or not.

The felines tend to worm themselves into even the coldest of hearts and there's no other explanation than magic. You mostly see this inexplicable phenomenon with parents who either don't like cats or didn't want a cat but were committed to making their child happy. It's not the child who begged and pleaded for the pet that is bestowed the honor of cat parent, nope. In these instances the cat usually makes it their mission for the begrudging adult to be their cuddle buddy.

In a recently shared video by a young woman, you can see her gray short-haired cat has clearly traded her in for the woman's mother. The same mother who supposedly did not want the cat, but this cat is absolutely smitten with the elder woman as the younger one records the betrayal. It's obvious that the cat cares not about the woman holding the phone because the person she chose to be her mom is making her a sari.

a gray cat laying on the floor next to a wooden chair Photo by Folco Masi on Unsplash

A sari is a traditional Indian garment women wear that is made of a long beautifully detailed, colorful fabric that is draped around the woman's body. This sweet cat baby was enamored with the process of getting her very own traditional garb. Well, technically it wasn't hers but that didn't stop the woman from wrapping the cat like a colorful burrito. The cat just laid there perfectly still with her pupils so dilated that she looks like she should have cartoon hearts coming from them.

It didn't stop with the sari, the mom pre-ordered tiny bangle bracelets to fit on the cat's arms and completed the outfit with a bindi in the middle of her furry little forehead. Sure, mom didn't want the cat but it's absolutely her cat and their love for each other is adorable. People could not get enough of the ridiculously sweet interaction and shared love between the two.


@mostpyaari and now she’s turning her into a little indian burrito. the baby bangles suit her so well 💀 #catsoftiktok #cats #cat #kitten #catmom #catlovers #pets ♬ original sound - mostpyaari

One person cries, "someone please make a cat sari and send it to them."

The cat enjoys the bracelets, "At first she was skeptical but then you could see when the bangles came out she felt pretty!"

"You can't tell me that cat's face didn't light up when she saw the bracelets," someone else adds.

"Did I go searching for a cat being dressed up in a sari and bangles? No. am I glad the fyp knows me better than I know myself? Yes," one person writes.


@mostpyaari On this series of “mom who said she didn’t want a cat.” (Also someone translate for me pls urdu is hard 🥲) #cats #kitty #funnyanimals #cutekittens #catsviral #inverted ♬ original sound - mostpyaari

This isn't the first time the cat has worn traditional Indian clothing. In another video from April the cat is dressed in a red and gold outfit with a fake nose ring and a veil. In different video the cat is wearing a dress with cheetah print looking very bonita. The little kitty has a larger wardrobe than some grown women and the internet can't get enough. Each video racks up millions of views and the sari video is no different with 33.6 million views on TikTok alone.

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Joy

Why do cats 'make biscuits'? 6 reasons your cat likes to knead on you and your stuff.

Those kitty massages aren't just leftover breastfeeding instincts.

Photo credit: Canva

Kitty making biscuits, of course.

As soon as our cat steps onto one of the soft, fluffy blankets in our living room, her eyes go half-mast, her head hangs low, and she starts rhythmically kneading on it. Occasionally, she'll hover her nose just above the blanket while she kneads for minutes at a time, as if she's been sucked into a trance of some sort.

This kneading behavior, colloquially known as "making biscuits," is known to cat owners but always funny nonetheless. Like, what a bizarre instinct for an animal to have. It's not a survival instinct, nothing to do with keeping themselves safe or alive, just "Ooooh, I'm feeling the urge to massage something with my paws right now."

via GIPHY

What makes cats want to knead like this? What's this "making biscuits" business all about for them?

According to Cornerstone Veterinary Hospital in Clifton Park, New York, there are multiple reasons cats knead:

Your cat feels happy and safe like they did with Mom

The most obvious explanation for the kneading is that it's an extension of kitten behavior. If you've ever seen a kitten breastfeeding, you may have witnessed them kneading as they suckle to help express the milk. Those cozy, comforting moments of being nurtured and nourished by their mothers may cause cats to engage in similar behaviors as adults when they're happy and content.

Your cat loves you

We all want to believe that our cats adore us as much as we adore them, and kneading is one way they show us affection. Think of it as a way of them saying, "Hey, thanks for making me feel happy, safe and content like Mom used to." Even if we don't have definitive proof that that's what it means, we'll go with it. They make biscuits out of love.

via GIPHY

Your cat is preparing their 'nest'

Sometimes kneading may be an instinct that stems even further back than kittenhood. Our domestic feline friends' ancestors would soften the grass to prepare a comfy place to sleep. Kneading to prepare for a nice rest—all that wandering around the house gets exhausting—can be a throwback to that feral cat behavior.

Your cat is oh-so-relaxed

There are different modes of kneading that cat owners may notice. Sometimes it may almost seem frantic, like they're so happy they just can't stop themselves from doing it. Other times, they're super duper chill and the kneading is more like a slow meditation. The latter mode may be their way of expressing relaxation or of stretching their muscles before drifting off to sleep.

Your cat is leaving their scent to mark their territory

Cats are known for marking their territory with scent, which they do in several different ways. (Rubbing their cheeks on things and kneading are the cute ways. Spraying and peeing, not so cute.) Cat paws have scent secretors in them, so kneading is a way to signal to other cats that the spot they're kneading on is theirs. That includes you.

via GIPHY

Your cat is in heat or labor

Not a cause of kneading for spayed pets, but if a female cat is in heat she might knead as a signal that she's ready to mate. Additionally, if she's pregnant, it might be a sign she's in labor.

"If your cat was in heat about two months prior, became more prominent in the belly, and they are now making biscuits in their bedding, they may be in labor," shares Cornerstone. "One of the first signs of feline labor is a mother cat preparing comfortable bedding for her soon-to-be-born babies." Makes sense.

What should you do if a cat is kneading on you? “Some cats might want to be petted while they’re kneading on you; some cats might just want to be talked to; some cats might just want to knead and have no other interaction with you,” certified applied animal behaviorist Kristyn Vitale tells Scientific American. “There’s so much individual variability.”

Of course there is. It's cats we're talking about here. Individual fickleness is the name of the game.

via GIPHY

What if you don't want your cat to knead on you? Too bad. There's not really anything you can do to stop it. Just make sure their claws are trimmed if it hurts or put a thick blanket between you and your little biscuit-maker.

Most cat owners love this behavior, though, as it's such a curiously delightful tendency. So enjoy your kitty massage when you get one and know that unless your cat is in heat or pregnant, it's a positive sign that they feel happy in your care.

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Pets

Ultimate thrift shop find: Kitty accidentally gets 'donated' while hiding in a recliner

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Images from Denver Animal Shelter's Facebook page.

Imagine rummaging through secondhand finds in your local thrift store, only to find that some items include a bonus feline at no extra charge. Montequlla the orange tabby had somehow not gotten the memo that he and his family were moving.

As they dropped off furniture, including a big recliner chair, to the Denver Arc Thrift Store on New Year’s Eve, they had no idea that poor little Montequlla was tucked away inside. Luckily, the staff began to notice the chair meowing.

Though the family had already left, the store called Denver Animal Protection to make a report.

Jenna Humphreys, the DAP officer who responded to the call, told the Denver Channel:

"Sure enough, there's a recliner out front, and there's a little orange tabby stuck inside. Very friendly, couldn't get out. They said that they had noticed the meowing shortly after somebody had dropped it off."

Officer Humphreys scanned Montequlla’s microchip and tried to call his owners, to no avail. According to the Denver Animal Shelter, the microchip had not been updated.

A friendly reminder to keep your microchips updated, pet owners!

Meanwhile, Montequlla’s family were back home, frantically searching for their beloved pet. When they eventually realized he might have accidentally become a furniture stowaway, they immediately called the thrift store.

The stress of moving can often cause cats to hide. They are notoriously averse to change and try their best to escape the chaos in favor of something familiar. Fortunately there are ways to help soothe your anxious kitty into the unknown.

While we’re on the subject, recliners can pose a huge risk to cats. There are several horror stories out there, and I won’t punish our readers by going into detail. But suffice it to say, you should always check underneath a chair to avoid serious injury.

But this story does have a happy ending, as Montequlla is very much unharmed and back safely in the arms of his owners, who are “relieved” to be reunited with their furry adventurer, according to Humphreys.

Judging from the look on his face in this photo, this cat will not forget his trip anytime soon.


This article originally appeared two years ago.

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Joy

200 cats facing euthanasia get new lives helping rehabilitate South Carolina inmates

The program began with two cats but quickly grew after the warden realized the profound impact on both inmates and animals.

Photo by Norma Gabriela Galván

A cat, getting ready to do some not-quite-hard time.

When asked to comment about the turn of fate that led it to a life behind bars, one cat said, "None of you seem to understand. We are not locked in here with you. You're locked in here with us! Meow!"

Or that's how Redditor EmiliaFromLV imagined it. While impossible to know for sure, the cats that were facing euthanasia in South Carolina seem delighted in having found new homes with caring humans, even if those humans are hardened criminals and that home is a prison.

Through Allendale Correctional Institution’s unusual yet deeply heartwarming “MeowMates” program, dozens of shelter cats roam the halls and bunk rooms, giving inmates newfound purpose. This flood of felines is changing everything for a group of men who once lived with little to care for but themselves.

It started with just two cats

Originally, Allendale’s program began with a modest two cats, but that number quickly grew after the warden realized the profound impact on both inmates and animals. Today, more than 200 cats call Allendale home, with inmates responsible for their care, training, and the occasional bath—yes, these guys are giving cats baths, even if the cats do tend to start out a little wary.

via GIPHY

Jackson Galaxy, the Animal Planet star, recently visited the program and was blown away by what he saw:

"This is the most exciting thing I've ever seen in my life. I'm not kidding! You've got cats everywhere and they're just wandering around, no fear all… it was beyond my wildest dreams."

— Jackson Galaxy

Galaxy witnessed firsthand how these inmates, many of whom have spent their lives struggling with anger or isolation, are finding peace, empathy, and even joy through these furry friendships. One man admitted, “I’ve been incarcerated since I was 17, but focusing on this four-ounce kitten melted away a lot of my selfishness.”

Healing behind bars—and beyond

Life in rural Allendale County is hard for everyone, including stray animals, and without the prison program, most of these cats would face euthanasia. Not anymore. MeowMates has given the prison a unique role as a shelter, thanks to inmates who do everything from cleaning litter boxes to handling medical exams (yes, poop samples and all).

As u/Figjam_ZA pointed out, “100% reported reduced inmate stress levels, 85% saw improved work ethic, and 93% reported better self-control.”

"Looking back, to have had a cat back then, it would have been an incredible comfort."

— u/madscribbler

To be fair, not all the men came to the program as cat lovers. In fact, one inmate admitted to being outright terrified of them. But a few playful purrs later, he’s now their biggest fan, saying, “There’s nothing that has changed me like taking care of these animals.” The cats, unfazed by typical prison stressors, don’t ask for much—just food, water, the occasional scratch behind the ears, and maybe a little personal space, as u/RoseHil observed: “Just feed and water it, it’s a fur-plant. Then chill out and don’t bring energy to the room the cat hasn’t already.”

What happens when you put 200 stray cats in prison?
by u/SunAdvanced7940 incats

Second chances for two, and four, legged friends

It turns out these furry residents have also softened the hearts of their caretakers, even in such a structured and high-security place. Inmates form such strong bonds with their cats that the program actually rotates them periodically to avoid “adoptive” attachment. Some prisoners have told the warden they’d be content spending life in prison if it means taking care of these animals—a sentiment echoed by u/Figjam_ZA, who marveled that “cats are checked on regularly and apparently do really well in that environment.”

While the cats are saving lives in more ways than one, the inmates have, in turn, saved hundreds of dogs and cats through the program since its launch. When Hurricane Matthew hit, Allendale even took in extra animals from other counties, adding emergency sheltering to their impact.

Could this be the future of prison programs?

Despite evidence of lower recidivism and positive inmate transformation, programs like MeowMates aren’t in every prison due to funding challenges. But this “feline felony” is sparking interest and discussions on Reddit and beyond, with u/LimitlessMegan lamenting, “Studies show these programs work, but they’re rare because most prisons don’t actually focus on rehabilitation.”

For now, Allendale is a model for how both man and animal can find second chances, bringing life, purrs, and maybe even a little healing into places most wouldn’t expect.

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