For parents, capturing a child's "firsts" is a treasured memory.
And one mom's impromptu video of her daughter meeting a kitten for the first time has become a viral sensation. Leah Fry, 29, was not ready for the adorable and loving words her toddler, Selah, would say in a moment that beautifully captured the child's deep and innocent affection. Since her Instagram reel of the moment was posted, it has received over 108,000 likes.
The clip shows Fry's daughter Selah, a 1-year-old, holding a tiny black-and-white kitten with a look of pure wonder and delight. The young cat belongs to Selah's grandparents, Fry said, whom she calls "Papa and Ma Chickie." The family often visits to play with the kittens—and this particular day marked Selah's first time petting one.
A Nurturing Nature
Fry, who said she is always trying to "capture sweet moments of Selah," had a feeling this moment would be special.
"I just happened to pull my phone out to record because it would be her first time petting a kitten and I knew she would love it," Fry said. "I was right, because she was absolutely overwhelmed with delight and fell in love."
As Selah held the tiny kitten, she was overcome with affection and began to speak to it in her own special way.
"She kept saying, 'My baby … meow meow,' as if she was trying to communicate how much she loved it and how adorable she thought it was," Fry said. The video ended with a cute toddler request as Selah tried to get the kitten to meow—a detail that highlights the innocence of the moment.
Selah's love for the kitten is part of a larger passion for animals. "Selah has been obsessed with animals since Day One," she said. "Anything with fur is her friend."
In addition to the kittens, Selah loves the family's horses and her pony, which she "wants to sit on and brush everyday."
"She loves them all, and takes taking care of her animals very seriously," Fry added.
A Future Animal Lover
The viral clip is a beautiful testament to a child's natural and unconditional love for furry friends. After the sweet moment was captured on camera, Selah "just wanted to sit and hold the kitten, pet her and look at her like she was her own little baby," Fry said.
The video of Selah and her "baby meow meow" has resonated with thousands as a heartwarming glimpse into a child's world—and a testament to the fact that Selah is, without a doubt, a future animal lover.