Mom Cat Disciplining Kittens Is Proof Motherhood Is the Same No Matter What

Animal lovers have been left in stitches by a video of a cat disciplining her kittens, in a way many parents will find relatable.

One cat owner has a TikTok account dedicated entirely to her animals, aptly named @thecatfamily03. Featuring the adventures of her pets, Twinkie, Allura, Elvis and Sunny, their owner urges users to follow them for “your daily dose of cuteness.”

While the page is full of adorable clips of their cats and kittens playing, napping, or generally causing havoc, one recent clip has gone hugely viral, with over 2.4 million views. Shared on September 29, it shows two tiny kittens—one tabby and white, the other ginger—on a bed as a play-fight looks close to turning into a real one.

Squaring up, the tabby repeatedly meows in a high pitch at its orange sibling, tail flicking in annoyance, appears to be getting ready to get its claws out. But, after a final, tiny meow, the mother cat suddenly makes a furious appearance at the side of the bed.

Eyes glowing thanks to the reflection from the camera, she lets off several angry hisses in quick succession, as the tabby kitten leaps back in shock.

And while they don’t speak cat language, TikTok users were quick to understand what the mother cat was communicating.

“She literally said GO. TO. SLEEP,” one commenter laughed, as another declared: “She has work in the morning, and it’s a school night.”

“It brings me peace to know that motherhood is generally the same across mammals,” another user wrote, with yet another agreeing: “Mom life is truly the same everywhere.”

One laughed at the “rapid-fire hisses,” and another said: “Oh she wasn’t playing at all. ‘I SAID LAY DOWN!'”

Cats use lots of different types of sounds and body language to communicate with humans, other felines, and their kittens. According to the Humane Society of the United States, mother cats will use chirps and trills to tell their kittens to follow them and remain close.

Hissing or spitting, however, usually means the cat is annoyed, frightened or angry—in this case, a frustrated mom.

As for the tabby kitten, reacting in shock to its mother’s sudden appearance, this is also textbook startled cat.

The Humane Society says to look out for a classic “Halloween cat” stance to tell if your cat has been frightened by something. Ears flat against their head, arched back, and fur standing on end.

Newsweek has contacted @thecatfamily03 on TikTok for comment on this story.

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