This Cat's Reaction to Being Stroked Has Everyone Thinking the Same Thing

Cats and their unusual behaviors are one of the internet's gifts that always keep on giving. Siamese Dobby is no different, after her "zoned out" reaction to being stroked had viewers all thinking the same thing.

Dobby's unusual facial expressions after being petted went viral on TikTok after her U.K.-based owner, who goes by @thatcatdobby on the platform, shared a video montage of the feline on November 22.

The video, captioned "they're definitely working," cut to several snippets of Dobby being "zoned out." Her distinct gaze led some people to speculate whether Dobby had a rough time or ate something to induce such an effect. The accompanying music track "Big Sis" is by Yay Yomes, whose lyrics "the drugs are working" did not help dissuade viewers' assumptions.

However, the cat's owner told Newsweek that was not the case and Dobby simply made the comedic faces after being stroked. "Dobby actually hadn't taken anything before any of these clips," the TikTok poster said. "When I stroke her nose, she often opens her mouth and stays like that for a while and then eventually yawns, so I always get my phone out to record her because she looks so silly.

"These faces are usually just made when she is in a relaxed state and 'zoned out,' but in actual fact, she doesn't really react to catnip. But it's always fun to use these kind of captions and sounds because most people would assume catnip is the cause when seeing her zoned out with her teeth showing," the cat's owner added.

Dobby's antics and hilarious facial expressions can also be seen in several other videos uploaded to the TikTok channel, which has gone on to accumulate more than 22.4 million likes.

"Dobby has always had a crazy personality and quickly became popular, due to her permanent 'airplane ears' and silly faces," Dobby's owner added.

A September 2023 post by the London-based Battersea Dogs & Cats Home U.K. charity said there are certain things people should consider when petting a feline. These include:

• Considering whether you gave the cat a choice to indicate whether it wanted to be touched or not.
• Paying attention to any subtle signs that tell you whether the cat is enjoying being petted or if it is a bit uncomfortable.
• Think about where you are touching the cat, as many prefer to be petted around their face, cheeks, chin, and ears, and not around their tail or stomach.

The clip has attracted almost 290,000 views and nearly 40,000 likes since being uploaded to TikTok.

An overwhelming number of comments seen by Newsweek found the 16-second clip to be hilarious.

TikTok user Tigger1967 wrote: "She does look like she's had a bit of a rough time. She's still so cute even when [she's] busted a little bit."

Minnie added: "Oh this cute little face made my day."

Jayo Zombie commented: "This cat is on uppers, downers, and whatever."

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.