Curious cat kept jumping on counters to see his mom cook—so she came up with a clever hack to make him feel included

People who say cats are antisocial have probably misunderstood their feline pals. If anything, cats are inherently curious about their surroundings and will more often than not interact with life around them. In a heartwarming snippet shared by pet parent @riahs_vibes on TikTok, her cat Arthur quietly enjoys the company while she cooks a meal in the kitchen. This was to validate the characteristic behaviors of cats jumping onto counters while their human is preoccupied with a task. It is no surprise when you hear a colleague say their cat ruined their laptop or tore up a student’s homework. Their curiosity leads them to these problematic scenarios. But the TikTok user shared a clever hack that helped her cat feel included in whatever she was doing. 

The cat parent filmed a sweet moment with Arthur as she cooked a meal. The cat sat with poise while his mom seemed busy adding ingredients to her meal. To keep him involved yet safe, Riah tucked Arthur in a carrier so he could witness the meal as it came together. “Someone said that one reason why cats jump on counters is just to see what you’re doing. So I got him this little carrier so he can feel included,” read the overlay text. Riah moved around the kitchen, picked out ingredients, and added them to her meal while her cat watched without causing a scene. She even offered Arthur a few sniffs of the fresh ingredients, like an aroma check, which he seemed to relish wholeheartedly. 

The post captioned, “Breakfast with Arthur,” garnered a whopping 6.3 million views. People were smitten by the adorable moment between the duo as the clip received 1.1 million hearts. “He is intentionally watching, that is adorable,” said @londonlovie, while @louis.jason.lugo pointed out, “You two have the same concentrated expression.” “He seems very engaged and content watching and learning. There’s a reason the saying is ‘curiosity killed the cat’ because they really are so nosy and just want to see/explore everything,” penned @ernhud. A fellow cat parent, @shannonhjulie, shared, “When we cook, we put a high chair stool next to the counter for my cat to watch us.” 

Encouraged by the response, the TikTok user shared follow-up posts featuring Arthur as her “sous chef” while making tacos and other meals. According to the Spruce Pets, cats like to jump on counters for a myriad of reasons, from enjoying elevated views to following enticing food smells. Their curiosity often leads them to places where they might not be welcome. Spaces like countertops become an opportunity for exploration. Cats are unique this way, with a message hidden behind their actions. 

However, it can be hazardous, causing potential injuries from hot stoves or ingesting toxic items. Cat owners can use a few simple techniques to deter them from counters. Applying sticky tape on the edges of counters will discourage that behavior as they dislike the feeling of tape sticking on their paws. Similarly, aluminum foil or cooking sheets will make noises that are off-putting to cats. 

You can follow @riahs_vibes on TikTok for more videos.