The war between cats and rodents began long before the arrival of modern humans. In the TikTok video below a rat tries to hoodwink a tabby cat by playing dead. Some users are calling the pair the real-life Tom and Jerry. *With language warning*
For The Rat, This Was No Cartoon.
TikTok user Dylan Aguillard, who goes by @notdolan, shared the footage and it shows the cat toying with the live rat on the bathroom floor. The cat looms over the rat for several seconds as if deciding what to do next. Then it gives the rat a couple of tentative smacks and the little rodent falls spinning on its side, apparently playing dead. What is more likely is that the poor rodent was stunned after the left hook.
We don’t know what happens to the rodent next but there’s a good chance that even though this tactic was innovative, it likely wasn’t enough to save the little creature.
The text overlaying the video incorrectly identifies the animal as a mouse. It reads “Mouse tried to play dead. What the f*** did I walk in on.”
But that hasn’t stopped the video from becoming a hit with TikTokers; easily going viral. It has gained more than 413,000 “likes,” and according to Newsweek more than 3.5 million views.
The Rat-Cat Conflict Really Did Remind Some Of Tom And Jerry
“That’s Tom And Jerry,” noted Jadeandrade3.
Another user, _Dre317, seemed to feel the same way, writing “Deleted Tom And Jerry Scene.”
Others voiced concern over the rat’s welfare, and that of the cat as well.
“Help the mouse I love cats but help the mouse,” wrote PrettyGirlLondon.
Omar added: The rats mind. Please don’t hurt.
Another user, Luv3rain7, pointed out a key fact that is pretty important:
“Not trying to be a Karen but I probably wouldn’t let the cat play with it they can carry diseases I just want your cat to be safe is all.”
Don’t Let Your Cat Eat Rodents — Here’s Why:
Most people probably don’t realize this, but rats and mice can actually transmit roundworms which feed on the contents inside the intestines. Therefore they deplete nutrients that are crucial for a cat’s health. They can actually prove deadly for kittens. Cats that eat rodents also risk being poisoned secondarily if a rodent has ingested rat bait. In general, the risk of secondary poisoning is usually small, but it really depends on the timing, the amount of bait the rat has consumed, and the number of rodents your cat has eaten. And of course, the bait is made palatable for rodents, which means other animals (including your cat) may eat it as well. That, according to the RSPCA Australia could prove deadly for your cat.
Trap, neuter, and return (TNR) programs, are, of course, the exception to this, and organizations like the Tree House Humane Society offer programs that help neighborhoods and local businesses establish cat colonies as natural pest control to reduce the rodent population. These colonies have been established in New York bodegas, Disneyland, and even on ships during WWII, CNN reports.
These Cats Are Simply Following In Their Ancestors’ Paw Prints
Cats have been catching rodents and other pests for at least 10,000 years, ever since wild cats discovered Natufian settlements were the perfect places to call home. The Natufians are the first known farmers and they stored grains. Which of course became irresistible to rats and mice.
Indeed, we humans and our feline buddies have come a long way. We hope no rodents were harmed in the TikTok video above. We also hope you enjoy the Tom And Jerry Video below.