Pickles the cat, from Portland, Maine, has been dubbed “Wreck-It Pickles” by his owner after being caught in the act ruining the family’s shower curtain.
The short clip showed off the already shredded white shower curtain, shortly before the black cat leapt into the frame, showing off exactly how it’s done.
The video, posted on Instagram under the handle @pepper.n.pickles, has now racked up more than 33 million views, with the Miley Cyrus hit “Wrecking Ball” playing in the background.
Why Do Cats Destroy Things?
Cats aren’t being “bad” when they shred curtains or furniture—they’re simply following natural instincts, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center.
Scratching serves several important purposes: it helps cats shed the outer sheath of their claws, keeps their muscles limber through stretching, and allows them to mark territory both visually and with scent from glands in their paws.
Problems arise when these normal behaviors collide with the human home environment, especially if cats don’t have access to appropriate outlets like scratching posts.
Cornell experts stress that providing cats with the right textures and locations to scratch—and rewarding them for using them—can redirect the destruction away from shower curtains and sofas.
As the video gained more attention, cat lovers couldn’t help but react in the comments.
“Looks like you are going to go through lots of shower curtains!” joked one viewer. Another teased: “You sure that’s a black cat? Seems like very orange behavior.”
While one of the most-liked comments dubbed the feline “Meowley Cyrus.”
“This made my day,” wrote another commenter.
Cats wreaking havoc in the home have long been a staple of viral content, from breaking vases to destroying silk pillows, pickles joins a proud tradition of furry agents of chaos.
In 2023, another cat gained viral attention when his cat broke a one-of-a-kind art deco basin. “Barbara is very inquisitive and is known as the princess of darkness as she’s a little black cat who likes to lurk in the shadows,” the owner told Newsweek, adding that they did eventually forgive the cat for her destructive actions.
It turns out, Pickles’ at home antics don’t end at the shower curtain, in other videos on Instagram he has been caught in the act shredding printer paper and even scratching at a set of speakers.
Newsweek reached out to @pepper.n.pickles via Instagram for comment.