Copyright Newsweek
After spending several days in a pet hotel for the first time, one cat's dramatic reaction made it clear how he felt when his owners finally returned, and TikTok can't get enough of it. Owner Aleyna told Newsweek via TikTok that she usually leaves her Bengal cat with sitters, but both were unavailable. She would bring him on trips, but because this one was for business, she couldn't, leaving her with only one option: a pet hotel. Cat hotels, also known as catteries, are designed to keep felines comfortable and stimulated while their owners are away. An article from Austin Urban Vet Center stated that cats in these facilities receive daily attention, litter box cleaning, medical monitoring and a reduction in the risk of a potential runaway feline, giving owners peace of mind. Cat hotels, also known as catteries, are designed to keep felines comfortable and stimulated while their owners are away. According to the Austin Urban Vet Center, cats in these facilities receive daily care, playtime, and even medical monitoring—giving owners peace of mind. "We did a trial for a day before dropping him off for a few more days to see how he does," she said. "He actually loved it." And while the couple's cat enjoyed his time there, nothing beats being with your humans. Aleyna shared an October 21 TikTok video on her account @aleynaariana showing the moment she picked him up. The cat paced back and forth, stunned at the sight of his owners. Then came the crying meows out of excitement at their return. In the clip, which reached over 1 million views, the couple's cat jumped out of the kennel and began running around. He couldn't believe his owners had finally returned for him. Leaving him at a pet hotel was one of the best options for them, she said, especially given his breed. Known for their high energy, Bengal cats love to play games, such as fetch, and require interaction frequently. "He constantly needs play and attention so he doesn't get overwhelmed or bored," Aleyna said. "This pet hotel was great because he had a whole room to roam around with a cat tree, scratcher, toys, a window perch, as well, to watch the birds. Staff played with him pretty much the whole day." Aleyna said he did not show signs of stress while staying there. He continued to eat as normal, went to the bathroom and played. At night, the kitty hotel guests are required to go into the cat condo, but he had two that allowed him more space. They ended up picking him up at night, which is why he was in the condo in the video, she explained. "We didn’t want him spending another night without us because that’s like our son," she said. He held no grudges about being at the pet hotel either. He was "perfectly happy" when they brought him home, cuddling with them the entire night. Viewer Reactions The TikTok video quickly went viral, bringing in over 141,300 likes and 402 comments as of Tuesday. However, many viewers debated whether or not cat hotels are worth it. "Aww, poor baby probably thought you guys abandoned him. I feel relieved for him!" said a viewer, while a second wrote: "The first time is always the hardest because they don't know yet that you will always come back for them. You guys are the best pawrents for making sure he was taken care of." Another added: "You can tell He lovesss youuuuuu two smmm." Someone against cat hotels chimed in: "I’d rather not go on vacation or whatever than ever do this to my baby girl."
