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Joy

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.

From Your Site Articles

art

Science

We need more trains. Video shows why it's so expensive to build them in America.

We're the sixth most expensive place to build rail transit in the world.

via Nic Y-C/Unsplash

The A Train in New York City

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, heavy rail transit such as subways and metros produce 76% fewer greenhouse gas emissions per passenger mile than an average single-occupancy vehicle. That makes them one of the most essential tools for fighting climate change.

However, according to a new report from CNBC, the United States is the sixth most expensive country worldwide for building rail transit.

In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure law that included the country's most significant investment in public transportation. According to CNBC, the U.S. is expected to spend between $91 billion and $108 billion on local public transit through 2026. With all that money at stake, using it effectively will be key.

“I believe that with the money coming in from infrastructure, it’s going to help us rebuild American transit,” Carmen Bianco, former President of MTA New York City Transit, told CNBC.

However, building infrastructure in the U.S., especially subways, is very expensive. This CNBC report shows that building subways in the U.S. is more expensive than in most countries because of high labor costs, overbuilt tracks and stations, and onerous regulations.

Fortunately, the video doesn’t just point out the problems with building infrastructure; it also provides solutions. Prices can be cut if Americans move away from building infrastructure with flashy designs, work with quieter equipment that allows them to build during a greater range of hours and cut down the red tape by using more state workers rather than contractors.

At a time when building trains is more important than ever, the smarter we work, the greener our future will be.

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public transit

New Yorkers came together for a Thanksgiving dinner on the subway

Twitter / Wake

The New York City subways can be miserable, but one Brooklyn-bound L train became a lot more festive when a pop-up Thanksgiving feast appeared onboard. It was like Friendsgiving, but the friends were strangers that you'd fight for a seat if it ever came down to it. It's nice to be reminded that New Yorkers can display a strong sense of community when the occasion presents itself.

A table with a full Thanksgiving feast was set up in the middle of the car. Collard greens, mashed potatoes, homemade mac and cheese, cider, stuffing, and of course, turkey, were available to everyone riding the car. The table was even draped with a table cloth, making this subway Thanksgiving dinner a classy affair. After a prayer, everyone on the train was allowed to eat. All in all, about 40 people were fed on the train.

The Thanksgiving dinner went viral.

— (@)

RELATED: This grandma accidentally invited a teenager to Thanksgiving in 2016, now it's a tradition

Of course, there were some people who wondered how sanitary the meal was. The New York City subways don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to cleanliness.

— (@)

The dinner was staged by comedian Jodell "Joe Show" Lewis. Lewis and his friend Christopher Dupree, a Brooklyn rapper and model, came up with the idea over the summer. They chose to set up the meal on the L train because he could see "how dreary and upset riders were at the inconvenience the new construction provided." The black-Caribbean inspired meal was created by Brandi Baxter.

See on Instagram

Even though the dinner was a stunt, it doesn't make it any less cool. "It was definitely a bit of a stunt but these guys were really respectful of space - It was a 7 PM Sunday L from Union Square and was not crowded at all. They said it was an inclusive gesture to emphasize no one should go without food on Thanksgiving. They were loud but not rowdy or a nuisance. They even handed out plates to everyone in the car - I got one and the turkey was a solid 7/10 and collard 8.5/10. I'm glad I got to experience something like this. Makes a great story! There were even MTA employees amongst us but no one objected," one Thanksgiving feast "guest" posted on Reddit.

RELATED: Talking about politics with your family during Thanksgiving doesn't have to turn into a fight

MTA employees were present on the train, however no one shut down the meal. That was thanks in part to clever planning. The duo decided to put on the event with enough "communal flair" to not get busted. "It was about embracing New York City," Dupree told the Washington Post.

If the subway was this friendly the rest of the year, maybe the daily commute wouldn't be so bad!

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A surprise sweet 16 took place on the subway. It showed humanity at its best.

'Can strangers in a subway car come together and have a party?'

Addie Weyrich wanted to do something spectacular for her friend Jenny Gorelick's sweet 16.

So she decided to throw Gorelick a surprise party — on a New York City subway train.

Photo by Ari Scott for improveverywhere.com.

Sporting a bright red dress and a whole lot of anxious enthusiasm, Weyrich informed passengers of New York City's Q train about what was about to happen.

"Jenny loves the subway," she announces to curious and confused riders in the video below. "She loves it so much that we thought we would throw her a surprise birthday party — right here, on this subway car."

She then asked riders if they'd help her pull it off.

Photo by Ari Scott for improveverywhere.com.

"She does not know this is happening," Weyrich explained to the passengers. "She thinks she's going to a completely different birthday party. She's going to come on at 57th Street — our friend, Sam, is there; she's going to make sure she's getting on this car exactly."

Fortunately — and maybe surprisingly if you think the cold New Yorker stereotype is true — most of the subway riders were more than happy to help pull it off.

Photo by Ari Scott for improveverywhere.com.

When it was time for Gorelick to step on board, the surprise went perfectly.

Photo by Ari Scott for improveverywhere.com.

The subway strangers seemed just as elated as Gorelick to celebrate her big 1-6.

Photo by Ari Scott for improveverywhere.com.

Here's the real surprise, though: Gorelick's birthday party ... wasn't a real birthday party.

Addie Weyrich is an actor. So is Gorelick.

Photo by Ari Scott for improveverywhere.com.

Weyrich and Gorelick are part of the team at Improv Everywhere — a comedy group that produces spur-of-the-moment performances to get public reactions.

You can watch the video of the whole event here:

If you think that knowing it was staged might take away some of the magic of the sweet 16 party, you'd be wrong.

Though the birthday component of the performance was fake, the excitement, enthusiasm, and camaraderie of the subway riders — who were not in on the joke — certainly wasn't. And that was the point.

"The real intent behind this stunt was to see if we could get an assortment of random commuters to play along," Charlie Todd, who created and directed the event, wrote about the experiment. "Can strangers in a subway car come together and have a party?"

Photo by Ari Scott for improveverywhere.com.

The answer, clearly, is yes.

Improv Everywhere orchestrated a number of the parties throughout the day. According to Todd, while not everyone on board was up for the surprise, about 80% of the riders helped out in some way when given the opportunity.

"The best part of the experience was the smiles, laughs, and hugs from complete strangers," Todd wrote. "I’ll never get tired of seeing people from all different walks of life come together to do something fun on a subway car."

Photo by Ari Scott for improveverywhere.com.

The performance by Improv Everywhere feels like a breath of fresh air in today's tumultuous times. Lately it can feel like everyone is helplessly divided; like the ties to our communities and neighbors are nonexistent, and we're all growing more detached.

That's simply not the case, and the helpful, smiley strangers that pulled off Jenny's 16th birthday are proof of it.

"Even if the set up was staged, the party was real," Todd wrote. "And it was a blast!"

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It's easy to feel let down by the world, but don't give up all hope.

Onboard a subway car, New York-based lawyer Gregory Locke and his fellow passengers stood in uncomfortable silence as they took in their surroundings.

Swastikas and hateful messages were scrawled on the car's windows and advertisements in every direction. Messages like "Jews belong in the oven," "Destroy Islam," and "Heil Hitler" covered the walls. As Locke and his fellow passengers contemplated what to do next, a local chef named Jared Nied offered a suggestion.

"Hand sanitizer gets rid of Sharpie," Nied announced. "We need alcohol."

Immediately, the car's passengers rifled through their bags in search of hand sanitizer and tissues. Recounting the incident on Facebook post, Locke estimated that within just two minutes, the hateful symbols and words had been erased from existence.

The post has since gone viral, accruing over 500,000 Likes and over 400,000 shares.

In the wake of a contentious election season that saw the rise of white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and other members of the so-called "alt-right," it's easy to lose faith in the overall goodness of people.

In another incident reported in November, a New York subway car was defaced with racist and homophobic slurs. "White power," read one of the messages on the 1 train. According to the NYPD, instances of vandalism that included swastikas jumped by more than 500% in 2016 over the previous year. Additionally, hate crimes have seen a recent boost since Election Day.

Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz speaks at a anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park after it was defaced with swastikas in November 2016. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

To make matters worse, just last week Reuters reported that sources said the White House was considering a proposal that would refocus the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Violent Extremism task force solely on "Islamic extremism," and no longer put resources into fighting violent white supremacists. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman called the proposed changes "profoundly misguided."

But incidents like the one Locke posted to his Facebook page show that while the world has its share of bad people with hateful ideologies — there are always good people who are willing to set things right.

It's a sentiment echoed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who Tweeted, "This is what New Yorkers do — we turn hate into love. And we won't back down — not now, not ever," along with a photo of a swastika that had been turned into a message of love.

— (@)

"'I guess this is Trump's America,' said one passenger," wrote Locke in his Facebook post. "No sir, it's not. Not tonight and not ever. Not as long as stubborn New Yorkers have anything to say about it."

All over the world, there are people making a positive impact by snuffing out hate. Democrat, Republican, Independent, or other, it's crucial that we stand together against hate, no matter where it comes from or in whose name it's being done.

Donald Trump won the presidential election. And in the 48 hours since, many of us have grappled with a wide range of overwhelming questions.

How could this happen? How will my family be affected? Will my rights be taken away?

For some, our knee-jerk response is to act. We run to protest. We reach for the megaphone. We tweet until we're blue in the face. And that's great — we need people on the front lines.

But for many of us, we need to be OK ourselves before we can act. We need inner peace. We need focus. We need time. And that's where Subway Therapy comes in.

Artist Matthew “Levee” Chavez runs Subway Therapy below the streets of New York City.

Photo by Jess Blank/Upworthy.

He usually sets up shop underground with a table and two chairs — one for him, and another for any stranger to sit down and chat about whatever's on their mind.

“I think there’s so much fear, despair, depression, anxiety, stress, that it’s really crippling people’s ability to move forward," he said.

Chavez thought his services would be especially helpful in the aftermath of a divisive election that left many feeling anxious, scared, and confounded.

He pulled out his table and chairs, like usual, but decided to go a step further this time, bringing Post-it notes and some pens for folks to express themselves in writing and stick their notes to the tiled wall.

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

The idea took off.

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

About 1,500 notes were left posted to the walls of New York's underground.

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

"Your hijab is beautiful," wrote one person in a clear sign of unity with our Muslim friends and neighbors.

Photo by Jess Blank/Upworthy.

"I will always stand by your side," read another.

Photo by Jess Blank/Upworthy.

"Stand tall. We will overcome and grow together."

Photo by Jess Blank/Upworthy.

“Dear NY, I know not all is well. But it’s time to step up the game like after the towers fell. Walk into this storm with strong hearts and firm feet."

Photo by Jess Blank/Upworthy.

"It's been really beautiful," Chavez told ABC News of the reactions.

"What an amazing day. 1,500 Post-its, thousands of people."

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

To anyone struggling to process this election, it's OK — so many people are right there with you. Take a moment. Breathe.

Write out your emotions on a sticky note, if you want. Clearly, it helps.

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

We've got a lot of work ahead of us, after all. And it's work that's best done when our heads are clear and our hearts are full.

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

These 'book ninjas' give commuters free books to read while they ride.

Reading is an empowering way to spread joy and wonder. Combine that with the reach and traffic of public transit, and you’ve got a mobile library that can bring the printed word to thousands of people.

That’s exactly what Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus thought when they started Books on the Rail, a mobile lending library that has been sweeping through the Melbourne Metro in Australia.

Berg and Kalus are best friends and self-proclaimed bookaholics. They have styled themselves as "book ninjas" with this project in which they secretly stash books on public trains with stickers on them instructing passersby: "Take this book, read it, then return it for someone else to enjoy!"

Berg (left) and Kalus. Photo by Books on the Rail.

"When we launched in April of this year," Berg and Kalus said in an email, "we never could have anticipated how much support we’d receive from authors, publishers and commuters and we are so humbled."

They promote their book-sharing efforts and connect with their transitory community through social media.

People have taken to posting photos of books they’ve found, and there has even been a burgeoning online community of people who've found the books who now participate in a book club.

The initiative was inspired by Hollie Fraser, the founder of New York's Books on the Subway as well as London's Books on the Underground.

Picked this up on the train today. At first I though the person must have accidentally left it on the seat, but then I saw the sticker on the cover. I was blown away by this amazing idea. They want to encourage us to put down the iPhone and pick up a novel while traveling on public transport. Here's how it works: take the book home, read it, return to a train, bus or tram for someone else to enjoy. Big thanks to Mich and Ali for this wonderful establishment. @booksontherail #booksontherail #happyreading #reading #melbourne

A photo posted by Ang SUN (@angstagrams) on Aug 28, 2016 at 2:25am PDT

So far, they have received over 160 emails from people eager to become book ninjas too.

Sending stickers to Book Ninjas all over Melbourne! Want to join the revolution? PM or email melbournerailwaybooks@gmail.com 🚂 #booksontherail

A photo posted by Books on the Rail (@booksontherail) on Aug 9, 2016 at 1:25am PDT

They've also heard from people interested in getting their schools or book clubs involved as well as from authors and publishers looking to get their books in circulation.

Books on the Rail recently introduced a library-slip type of program in which readers leave behind reviews on cards in the books for future readers to see.

— (@)

Books on the Rail has already received books and support from many publishers and authors ranging from Pan Macmillan to Harper Collins and from Alain De Botton to Liane Moriarty. Now, they are looking to work with Melbourne Metro and other organizations to help grow their program, which is currently self-funded and operated.

The Melbourne Rail has about 415,000 daily riders every day. That's a lot of books for people to read and share.

With interest in Books on the Rail spreading far beyond Melbourne, the duo hopes to spread the program far and wide in Australia.

— (@)

"We hope to create a movement where the community drives the initiative, rather than just us," wrote Berg and Kalus. "We’re already starting to see this happen on social media, which is very exciting! Hopefully in the future, every time you travel on public transport you’ll spot a Books on the Rail book!"

Cheers to these amazing women who are helping to spread amazing books and create an amazing community of avid readers in a city of millions. Amazing.