Cat Pining After Owner When She's Home Alone Breaks Hearts: 'Made Me Cry'

A cat named Elie has melted hearts online after a video of her waiting by the door for her owner to come back home went viral on social media.

The viral clip shared on TikTok on Sunday by the cat's owner (under the username Eliethehallwaycat) shows Elie following her owner to the door, waiting behind it as she leaves. It comes with a caption that says: "I'm not leaving my cat ever again," and: "This made me cry."

According to The Dog People, cats can actually suffer from separation anxiety. In fact, just like dogs, they're apprehensive when we leave the house, and they want reassurance that we'll return at the pre-arranged hour.

But do cats actually love their owners?

A 2019 Oregon State University study suggests that cats exhibit the same attachment to their owners that babies show to their parents.

Kittens in the study acted distressed when their caregivers left and happy and secure when they returned. They still acted this way one year later and the responses were similar to how human children react to their parents.

Behaviorists believe an adult cat's intelligence is comparable to that of a two-year-old human toddler. Cats have object permanence recognition, an awareness of objects that aren't directly visible, which means that being out of sight doesn't mean vanishing forever.

The post quickly attracted cat lovers from across the platform, receiving over 2.6 million views and 216,000 likes so far, and users are mad at the owner for giving her a "goodbye kiss."

One user, Tania, commented: "That's why I have 2 cats so they can keep each other company when I'm not home." And Salah.anis said: "the cat just wants to tell [you] that you forget your phone." KellieT added: "Unconditional love."

Another user, Fatima, wrote: "Tell her [goodbye,] do not just leave." And Queen_of_hobbits said: "I hope you gave her plenty of hugs and kisses when you got back."

Reeba Jessin Babu wrote: "She was like mom where [are] my bye-bye [and] kisses[?]" syha

Said: "definition of loyalty." And Ray-chull added: "I thought getting my Frank a sister (Lisa) would help, but they just sit by the door together until I get home."

Another user, April Wilson Christi, wrote: "I wish I never had to leave my babies but I'm a single fur baby mom & I have to support them." And Haqiem Suhaili said: "Finally the home is mine, wait I need to check does she really leaves."

Newsweek reached out to Eliethehallwaycat for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.