A social media video that films a blind cat cuddling up to his owner, after calling out to her in panic while stuck at the edge of a table, has broken hearts across the internet.
The viral video, which has been viewed more than 21.6 million times since it was first shared to Instagram on January 29, captured Dmitri the blind cat meowing for his owner in distress. Viewers were then shown the pair cuddling up to each other, with Dmitri the cat looking particularly content and relaxed in contrast with his earlier disposition.
The post had been captioned: “Dmitri asks for mama cuddles.”
The animal welfare charity Cats Protection writes online that blind cats, while having to live with their condition, can still live full lives and still “make excellent pets and companions for their owners”.
“Blind cats can adapt well to their loss of sight and will tend to use their other senses, such as their whiskers to judge distance and the scent glands on their paws to help them navigate,” the U.K.-based charity says.
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty
According to the charity, the most common causes of blindness in cats can range anywhere from eye damage that had been caused by feline herpesvirus to untreated high blood pressure, which results in detachment of the retina and is often caused by an overactive thyroid gland or kidney disease.
What Do the Comments Say?
Since being shared to the social media platform on January 29 by @blind_cat_dmitri, the Instagram post has been liked by over 1 million users and commented on more than 14,000 times. Plenty of Instagram users have described how tear-jerking they found the viral moment.
“Dmitri I love you,” one user wrote.
Another user added: “Everything is not easy but everything is not impossible.”
“Love your cats and puppies dearly, they are our little angels,” a third user shared.
“I pray for him to live 20 years,” a different Instagrammer wrote.
Another user commented: “This cat is so cute and calling momma so accurately.”
Dmitri and his owner have amassed over 3 million followers on TikTok and 450,000 followers on Instagram, where the post had been shared.
Newsweek reached out to @blind_cat_dmitri for more information via email.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
