A woman in the countryside appears to be living the internet’s dream, having shared a clip of her peaceful evening walk with no fewer than nine cats.
Torri Anne regularly shares videos to her TikTok account @torriannegundrum of her everyday life in rural Wisconsin, from her cats to her children and the wildlife living around them.
Now, one of her clips has gone viral—showing a typical evening stroll around her property accompanied by nine of her 14 cats.
Torri Anne told Newsweek that she has “loved cats all my life,” even bringing one back from South America when she was a teenager. And when she met her husband, who is not a fan of cats, he gave her a choice: “One inside cat, or as many outside cats as I want. I chose outdoor cats,” she said.
Stills from the video of nine cats joining Torri Anne on her peaceful evening walk. She owns 14 felines in total, and the clip of some of them joining her stroll has gone viral.
TikTok @torriannegundrum
“We own 20 acres of land, and go on nightly walks. Sometimes just a few come along, but most of the time there are six or more cats on the walks,” she added.
The viral video shows mom-of-four Torri Anne walking in the vast backyard. The sun has set but the fields are still bright thanks to a full moon.
And while the grass was long in places, parts had been cut short for ease of walking— which means viewers can see the cats, in all colors and sizes, following behind Torri Anne.
She captioned the video: “My evening walk in our back yard tonight. Only 9 of my cats joined me.”
Using the word for a group of cats, she added: “My clowder makes my heart so happy.”
TikTok users fell in love with the scene, and Torri Anne’s video has had 4.2 million views and 1 million likes since being shared on August 17.
One commenter wrote it’s “what dreams are made of,” with another agreeing the scene “looks like heaven.”
“Now how the hell do I get this life,” another viewer wrote, with one posting: “So heaven DOES exist.”
Torri Anne said she was surprised by the huge reaction to her video, adding, “our walks are a daily thing, and I didn’t think people would care so much.
“Anytime I’m overwhelmed or upset, I go outside and my cats just surround me and I feel better right away.”
The cats run along behind Torri Anne. TikTok users fell in love with the scene, with one comparing it to “heaven” and others calling it a dream come true.
TikTok @torriannegundrum
While known for their aloof nature, cats can often be sociable when it comes to others of their species, particularly if they were raised among larger numbers.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) notes that a cat who has been the only one in the household for most of its life may react aggressively to a new feline addition to the family.
Similarly, a cat who has previously had bad experiences with other cats may not react well to more being introduced to their home.
In Torri Anne’s case, her cats get along well and only fight over treats, she said. They are all rescue animals and are have a large, warm outdoor enclosure for shelter. Her four dogs also keep predators away from their property, she added.
As well as their 14 cats and four dogs, Torri Anne’s family also has two bearded dragons, two gecko lizards, three banana pythons, a reticulated python, two tarantulas, a jumping spider and a rat, for good measure.
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.
