A baby copying what his feline best friend does has melted hearts online, as internet users love seeing the duo’s unbreakable bond.
TikTok user @shannyn0225 shared a video online showing how her black-and-white cat shows affection by nuzzling people with his head. It wasn’t long before the TikTok user’s son started imitating it himself.
The sweet footage shows her son giving the cat a tender head bump whenever he wants to show just how much he loves him. Layered over the video, the caption on TikTok reads: “My baby has realized the cat shows affection with head bumps, so this is how he greets him.”
Since the clip was shared online a matter of days ago, it has delighted social media users and already gained over 2.1 million views and 402,900 likes. TikToker @shannyn0225 of Perth, Australia, even joked that the cat has “trained him well” as he’s started following his lead.
@shannyn0225 / TikTok
It’s quite common for cats to bump their heads against a person or rub their cheeks on them to show affection. According to the website PetMD, this is a social behavior that they form during kittenhood by head-butting other kittens.
The gentle head-butting may also be an attempt to mark their scent on a person and claim them as their own. PetMD suggests that this can help cats bond with the human and demonstrate their love.
After seeing the cat do this action so many times, it may come as no surprise that the baby chose to start copying it.
According to the California Department of Education, babies can start imitating simple actions and expressions they see from around 8 months. This could include clapping their hands or playing a game such as pat-a-cake.
While every child develops at a different pace, they will keep learning and picking up on small observations—whether from their caregiver or even the family pet.
What Did TikTokers Say?
TikTok user @shannyn0225 certainly loves seeing the bond her son and cat share. She said she “can’t wait to watch them become best friends.”
You’d be forgiven for thinking they already are, especially given how happy the tot looks each time the cat nudges him.
Since going viral, the TikTok post has already amassed over 430 comments, as social media users hail the adorable duo.
One comment reads: “Cats and babies being besties is actually my favorite thing.”
Another TikToker responded: “The cat: I’ve successfully taught the tiny human how to bow down to me.”
“The way he got so happy when the cat did it back,” reads another comment.
While one social media user wrote: “When pure souls understands each other.”
Newsweek reached out to @shannyn0225 for comment.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
