So, imagine this: a handyman named Joe installs a cat flap in a customer’s front door, thinking he’s done a solid job. He rolls up in his car and starts feeling pretty good about the whole thing. The intention behind cat flaps? To give our furry friends the freedom to roam outside whenever they want. According to the folks at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in the UK, it’s a great way to keep cats active and stimulated.
After finishing the job, Joe can’t help but film his creation in action. He posts a video on TikTok on August 3, showing a curious kitty approaching the door.
As he watches from his car, he’s eager to see if the cat would figure out how to use the flap. After all, lots of cats are used to humans just opening the door for them. To everyone’s surprise, the cat pokes its head through, assesses the indoor vibe, and tentatively steps inside!
Excited, Joe sends a video to the customer, proud of his handiwork. But then, he gets a response that hits him like a ton of bricks—the customer tells him that’s not their cat! Turns out, a random feline had taken it upon itself to find some respite from the summer heat and cool off inside the house.
This innocent installation became a quirky lesson for Joe: with a cat flap, there’s also a chance of uninvited guests.
Newsweek reached out to Joe on TikTok for more details about this amusing blend of pet ownership and home improvement.
Reactions from Viewers
Within just three days, Joe’s TikTok video racked up over 368,000 views, delighted around 32,000 likes, and generated 653 comments. Many users had quite the laugh over it, with some teasing the owners that they have a new pet checking in.
“That has to be their cat! They just don’t realize it yet because they’ve never seen him before…” one commenter joked.
Another viewer shared their enthusiasm: “I love this! Maybe I should start getting strays as my pets!”
And yet another added lightheartedly: “Well, at least now you know the flap is working!”
Got some adorable pet videos or photos? Share them with us at life@newsweek.com, and let’s feature them in our Pet of the Week collection!
