A cat resembling a “giant rat” has left social media users in stitches after he was caught rummaging through his owner’s popcorn snack.
Angel Cao (@angelcao_), 27, shared the footage of her cat, Smokey, who has a shaved tail and looked like a large rodent while attempting to steal her popcorn. The video has gone viral, racking up more than 362,300 likes and 1.7 million views.
Cao, an architect from Dallas, told Newsweek: “A week ago, he ran out while I was holding a couple of boxes, so I didn’t see him, and he got his tail stuck in my door. I had to rush him into the emergency vet. Smokey has an oily tail, which causes him kitty blackheads and acne, especially at the end of his tail.
“Smokey’s primary vet wanted me to bathe him every 10 days, but obviously Smokey hates being bathed, so when the emergency vet saw the opportunity to just shave his entire tail off to not only close the wound but also treat the oily tail, they were like, ‘Might as well.’ So that’s why they shave it all but left a bit at the end of it.”
Screenshots from a TikTok video of Smokey the cat. With his shaved tail, the cat resembled a giant rodent.
angelcao_/angelcao_
In the video, the 13-year-old cat can be seen sticking his head into an open bag of popcorn while his shaved tail sways back and forth, as if he is a giant rodent.
The senior feline is an incredibly fast mover for his age, his owner said, and loves to walk around the apartment floor and run out the front door. He also has a habit of stealing popcorn.
In the video’s caption, Cao wrote, “Everything is bigger in Texas (he is ok—I rushed him to the emergency vet).” She also said in the comments section that the vet had put two stitches in the wound.
Tail injuries can be surprisingly common for cats. According to experts, tails are delicate and can be easily injured through accidents, such as getting caught in doors, which can lead to a range of issues—from minor cuts to more severe damage that may require stitches.
It’s crucial to seek veterinary care promptly, as tail injuries can be quite painful for cats and may lead to complications if left untreated.
Recovery typically involves keeping the area clean and monitoring for signs of infection, with most cats healing well following proper treatment.
As for the fur regrowth, once a cat’s tail has been shaved, it can take some time for the hair to grow back fully.
Generally, a healthy cat’s fur begins to grow back within a few weeks. According to Catster, it can take three to six months for long-haired cats and two to three months for short-haired cats to completely regrow their coats.
The exact timeline can vary depending on the cat’s overall health, age and the specific area of the body where the fur was shaved. During this period, the cat’s tail might appear quite different, leading to amusing comparisons—such as those made in Cao’s video.
“THOUGHT IT WAS A BIG RAT OR A OPOSSUM,” one viewer wrote.
“Imagine seeing that at night when you get up to go to the bathroom,” another added.
“RAT WITH SOCKS OMG,” a user commented, while another said, “This freaks me out.”
A commenter wrote, “I genuinely flinched at the sight of a huge rat before I read the text.”
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