A cat's reaction after getting a "wanted" letter from the Louisville, Kentucky's health department after biting his owner's boyfriend went viral.
An owner's two cats, Larkin and Gin, aren't best friends. They're civil. But the two had a huge fight during a recent move to a new home. The owner, known on TikTok as @mawwose, said her boyfriend jumped in to separate the two cats. However, looking back, it wasn't the smartest idea.
"He picked Larkin up to carry him away from Gin and during that process got bit a lot," she told Newsweek via TikTok.
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She forced him to go to urgent care knowing that cat bites can be dangerous and get infected easily. Cat bites and scratches can leave small but deep wounds in a human's skin, VCA Animal Hospitals reported. The punctures can seal quickly and trap bacteria from the cat's mouth under the skin. It is advised to seek medical help as soon as possible because, if left untreated, a serious infection can develop within 24 to 48 hours.
They explained to the doctor that Larkin is an indoor cat and received his rabies vaccination two months prior. However, they were told the doctor was mandated to report the incident anyway, which led them to receive a letter in the mail.
"We got the letter in the mail telling us to quarantine Larkin," she said. "We sent the health department his vaccination records and a picture to show he was ok, and they said he was safe to be released."
And to clear Larkin's name, the caption on her August 19 TikTok video confirms: "He does not have rabies he just be like that."
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In the TikTok video, the owner comforts her orange cat and tells him she's not mad. Then it cuts to the letter she received in the mail. Larkin stood next to the "wanted" letter without a care in the world. He did what he did with no regrets.
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"My boyfriend has a couple of scars and probably always will but he loves Larkin and doesn't blame him at all," she said. "He knows it wasn't the best idea to pick him up with his bare hands in a fight."
As far as Larkin and Gin go, they're doing better. There haven't been any big fights for a bit. However, the owner explained they keep them separated when they aren't home just in case.
Newsweek reached out to the City of Louisville Health and Wellness Department for more information.
Viewer Reactions
As of Thursday, the TikTok clip surpassed 7.3 million views, 1.1 million likes and 2,282 comments.
"The picture with the warrant sound be framed," commented a viewer.
Another added: "He doesn't look guilty at all. His face clearly says, 'And I'd do it again.'"
People came to the cat's defense, noting it was not his fault. It's his orange fur to blame. One person said: "He is not RABID, he is just ORANGE. I rest my case."
The official TikTok account for Jimmy John's chimed in: "Your honor he is simply orange."
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