The internet has been in hysterics over a cat who simply can’t hide his frustration toward his owner’s new baby, and the mom told Newsweek her pet couldn’t stand the child’s crying.
Mom Gabrielle Schneider Ventura shared a hilarious video on TikTok (@gabrielluuuuh) showing her cat’s undeniable disdain toward the newest member of the family. As her son cries and wriggles around, the cat, named Nimby, looks completely unimpressed and ready to pack his bags.
It didn’t take long for Ventura to realize that Nimby wasn’t the biggest fan of her baby, telling Newsweek that he “hated all the crying” and would position himself as far away as possible.
The video of Nimby’s reaction has gone viral online, generating more than 742,700 views and more than 148,000 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. Alongside the clip, the caption jokes: “he’s gonna pack his bags and treats soon.”
Nimby the cat laying in the baby bed. Nimby isn’t keen on the child’s crying, and he often runs away to distance himself from it.
@gabrielluuuuh / TikTok
Ventura told Newsweek via Instagram: “I posted the video when our baby was 1 month old, and back then, Nimby would actually run far away whenever he cried. Fast forward to now, my baby is 3 months old, and our cat is somewhat used to the crying, but he still doesn’t particularly like him.”
There’s no doubt that it’s going to take a while for Nimby to grow accustomed to having a new baby in the home. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) highlights that some cats don’t tolerate change very well, and they can be dramatically affected by welcoming a new baby. However, owners can ease them into the idea by slowly preparing them for the new addition.
If any cat routines are going to change, such as feeding times, grooming, sleep locations, the ASPCA recommends adjusting them one or two months before the baby is born.
Upon returning home following the birth, owners should calmly greet their cat in a quiet room by themselves—without any other guests present. They will need this time to reconnect before the chaos ensues. The ASPCA also suggests placing a blanket or infant clothing in an area for the cat to investigate and take in the new smells.
Any time when the cat and baby are together, they should be supervised, and of course, the baby’s nursery and crib should be off-limits to the cat. But once the baby is asleep and resting, owners can then spend some one-on-one time with their cat, as they shouldn’t be made to feel left out.
How Did Social Media React?
After the clip of Nimby was shared online, TikTok users lauded his unimpressed reaction to becoming a big brother, leading to more than 400 comments on the viral video.
One TikTok user responded: “He going through everything y’all going through.”
Another person joked: “Cat: do you have the receipt?”
“He’s like remember when it was just me and you,” added one TikToker.
While another comment reads: “he is like, don’t just stand there, do something.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
