A cat’s reaction to meeting a new kitten for the first time has melted hearts across social media, with viewers touched by how upset the cat seemed.
Zandra Lhoraine Austriaco, 26, who lives in Dubai, UAE, shared the viral video on TikTok (@heyzandy), showing her cat Pixie sitting on the couch with her ears folded tightly back as she watched a new kitten eating on the floor. The short clip has since racked up more than 3 million views and 745,600 likes.
“When I came home with Ash, my cat Pixie immediately saw him,” Austriaco told Newsweek. “Her ears aren’t usually that folded, and it was my first time seeing her look so sad—maybe she was shocked.”
Austriaco explained that she is a first-time “fur mom” who adopted two Scottish Fold-Tabby mix kittens, Pixie and her sister Trixie, both now four months old. Recently, a friend’s Scottish Fold gave birth, and Austriaco decided to adopt one of the kittens—a playful two-month-old black cat named Ash.
“At first, both Pixie and Trixie were sulking,” she said. “They didn’t hurt Ash, but they kept their distance and hid from me. I tried to comfort them, and after giving them treats, they started to feel better.”
Pixie, who Austriaco described as affectionate and quiet, is particularly attached to her. “She can’t sleep unless she’s right next to me,” she said. “But now, after five days, there’s been so much progress. They’re already sleeping side by side.”
In a heartwarming follow-up video captioned, “Watching them slowly accept each other is like seeing love bloom in the quietest way,” Austriaco shared that Pixie and Ash are now cuddling peacefully—proof that patience pays off.
### Expert Tips on Introducing a New Cat
According to the UK charity Cats Protection, introducing a new kitten to an existing cat should be done gradually. Owners are advised to:
– Keep the new kitten in a separate room at first to allow both cats to adjust to each other’s scent.
– Swap bedding or toys between the cats to help them get used to one another’s smell.
– Introduce them through a barrier, such as a baby gate or cracked door, before allowing face-to-face contact.
– Never force interaction—allow both cats to approach at their own pace, using treats and praise to create positive associations.
The charity notes that it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks for cats to become comfortable with a new addition.
### TikTok Reacts
Viewers flooded the comments with empathy for Pixie’s seemingly sad reaction.
“Those droopy ears, the worried and sad eyes—please include her every time you’re doing something for the new kitten,” one commenter pleaded.
Another user joked: “And why are you both sat round the baby? Comfort the baby you already have—because if anything goes wrong, I’d hope the kitten goes first!”
Thankfully, Austriaco’s updates show that love and harmony have since returned to her feline household. One user summed up the sentiment best under her latest post, writing: “AWWW BABBBYYY.”
https://www.newsweek.com/cats-first-reaction-to-new-kitten-breaks-hearts-online-those-ears-11032957
