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A hilarious video showing the moment a Canadian house cat named Tigger chased a black bear away from its owner's driveway has gone viral.
The video was posted to TikTok last week by Gavin Sturrock (@blasterbrawls), who wrote: "I opened the door and saw this." It has garnered over 188,000 views and dozens of comments from charmed viewers who were impressed by the "hero" cat's bravery.
"Tigger vs. Big Black Bear," read the video's text overlay. "Who will win?"
In the video, Tigger arches his back and slowly inches toward the black bear standing next to Sturrock's car.
"Tigger, come back," Sturrock pleaded. But Tigger doesn't listen. Instead, he dashes after the bear as it makes a beeline for the backyard.
"Oh s**t," Sturrock said as the two animals ran away.
Speaking to CTV News, Sturrock said he was headed outside to pack up his car for an upcoming trip when he spotted the bear.
"It took me more time to notice my cat. I looked to the right and I saw my cat just standing there facing off against the bear. The bear was walking toward my cat, my cat was walking toward the bear," he said, adding that he was "relieved" when the bear finally ran away.
"[Tigger] protected me. [Do] you think I could do that to a bear? I mean I'm bigger, I'm human, but I don't think I could. It's crazy," he continued.
Of course, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says humans should "never" approach or attempt to chase after a bear.
"If you see a bear from a distance, enjoy the experience, but do not move toward the bear. If you are close, do not make any sudden or abrupt movements. Back away slowly and be sure the bear has an obvious escape route," FWC advised.
Individuals should also avoid playing dead, running away from or making direct eye contact with bears, even if a bear looks like it may attack.
"If the bear paws the ground, huffs and puffs, clacks and snorts, or runs directly at you, they are trying to scare you off. If you stand your ground, the bear will likely stop and move away," FWC explained. "No matter what happens, do not run away...The bear may charge or vocalize several times until he is comfortable turning his back on you and leaving."
Commenters loved the video and many commended Tigger's bravery.
"GOOD JOB LITTLE HERO," exclaimed Maria Pongor.
"How brave the cat is...The bear is smart to leave," commented Pascal Boisvenue.
"Tigger said hold my drink I got some bouncing to do!" joked rideaurivergirl. "I hope he is safe."
Sturrock confirmed for CTV News that Tigger is safe and that the bear has not been seen since the viral showdown.
Newsweek has reached out to Gavin Sturrock for additional comment.
In a viral TikTok video posted last year, a brave dog was filmed scaring off a curious bear that had wandered onto its owner's patio. In CCTV footage also from last year, a teenager was filmed shoving a bear off a wall to rescue her dogs.
And last August, a woman's home security footage captured the moment a defensive black bear tried to fight her in her own front yard.
About the writer
Sara Santora is a Newsweek reporter based in Florida. Her focus is reporting on viral social media posts and trends. ... Read more