Dad's Way of Keeping Cat Off His Flower Bed Leaves Internet in Stitches

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A hilarious TikTok video of a cat obeying his owner's orders to stop destroying their flower beds has left the internet in hysterics.

The viral social media post shows the black and white cat stepping away from the flower beds and standing back in shock, after hearing an intercom that had been placed in the garden.

"Dad installed an intercom to the backyard to yell at my cat if he tries to go in the flower beds," the video's creator writes across the post.

The voice from the intercom can be heard firmly commanding the cat to "stop" and "come back."

Cat
Stock image of a cat among flowers. A TikTok video shows a cat obeying his owner's command to step away from the flower beds. Getty Images

The cat reacts as soon as he hears the disapproving message, and backs away from the flower beds while taking a moment to check his surroundings to decipher where the voice came from.

Since it was shared to the social media platform on March 11 by @VinusPrime, the TikTok video, which can be seen here, has been viewed more than 512,000 times and liked by more than 76,000 users. The post has received 149 comments to date, with most TikTok-ers choosing to poke fun at the amusing situation revolving the cat and the intercom.

Can Cats Be Trained?

Unlike dogs, cats aren't well known for learning commands or following orders, but according to the pet insurance firm Pumpkin, cats can learn behavior and be trained.

"Although cats don't instinctually work in partnership with humans, they can learn to follow commands and perform tricks just like dogs. Cat training can also provide positive mental and physical stimulation for cats, which can help reduce anxiety, aggression, or other destructive cat behaviors," the company says.

Similarly to how dogs are trained, cat owners who are keen to teach their fur babies a new trick or two are advised to employ positive reinforcement through treats and keep distractions at bay when training.

What Do the Comments Say?

"It's giving 'get off the grass' by The Princess Diaries," one user joked.

"My cat would be like what a polite suggestion but no," another user wrote.

A different TikTok-er commented: "My cat would not listen just as hard as he does to my voice."

Newsweek reached out to @VinusPrime via TikTok for comment.

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.

About the writer

Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and human-interest features on a variety of topics ranging from relationships, pets, and personal finances to health, work, travel, and family dynamics. She has covered current affairs, social issues, and lifestyle stories extensively.

Melissa joined Newsweek in 2023 from Global's LBC and had previously worked at financial news publication WatersTechnology, tmrw Magazine, The Times and The Sunday Times, Greater London-based radio broadcaster Insanity Radio, and alongside other journalists or producers for research purposes. Since joining Newsweek, Melissa has been especially focused on covering under-reported women's health and social issues, and has spent a large part of her time researching the physical and mental impact of both the contraceptive pill and abusive relationships.

Prior to that, Melissa had been specialized in reporting on financial technology and data news, political news, and current affairs. She has covered data management news from industry giants like Bloomberg and Symphony, alongside the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K economy's 2022-pound sterling crash, multiple National Health Service (NHS) strikes, and the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran.

A show that she produced and presented at the Greater London-based community radio station, Insanity Radio, was awarded 'Best Topical News Show' and the runner up award for 'Best New Radio Show' on the network.

She is a graduate in MA History from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Languages: English, Persian.

You can get in touch with Melissa by emailing m.afshar@newsweek.com.

You can follow her on X or Instagram at @melissafleura.


Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and ... Read more