A woman from Sweden adopted a pair of feral cats from a local shelter—she was not ready for how their relationship developed.
In a viral Instagram video shared in November under the username @katakatica26, the two fluffy black cats can be seen hanging out in the living room together, rubbing their faces against each other and staying as close to each other as physically possible—not parting for a single moment.
“POV [point of view]: your feral rescue cats are absolutely inseparable (and also strongly identical),” the caption says.
The poster, 30-year-old Kata Ördög, told Newsweek that while her kitties Doom and Gloom went viral for their cute interactions, there is actually a lot more to their story.
“The boys come from a colony not too far from us. We adopted them from a local shelter, where they were fostered and socialized to a decent extent! Despite that, they remain quite shy (especially around strangers),” Ördög said.
She explained that Gloom is 6 this year and is their “leader. He will bite you for food, will wind around your legs and let you snuggle him for hours.”
Doom, on the other hand, is shyer, but that doesn’t stop him from being demanding (like a real house cat.) “He recently started meowing around food time, accepting chin scratches, and he is great at catching toys. (he is the fluffier kitty with the flat white lip.) The boys as a ‘duo’ are insanely sweet and they absolutely adore each other,” she said.
Describing what’s happening in the clip, Ördög said that is their “happy dance.”
When the poster first adopted the kitties, they would often hide during the day and come out only when they went to sleep—they even had them isolated in their own space for a while although they were eager to explore their new place.
“I noticed fairly early on that they would rub against each other (and timidly, our furniture and walls) when they’d emerge,” she said.
While the kitties now don’t hide much and spend the majority of the day on the couch or on their owners’ bed, they still rub against each other all the time, while also snuggling—and biting—Ördög.
“Their names might sound ‘dark,’ but they were actually named after Sailor Moon characters (like their whole colony! We kept their official names, but like any other cat parents, tend to call them 10 different things a day!” she said.
When bringing a cat into a new home, patience is key as they adjust at their own pace. Start by setting up a quiet, secure room with all their essentials: food, water, litter tray, beds, hiding spots and a scratching post.
Provide cozy hiding places and make the space safe by removing hazards and ensuring doors and windows are closed to prevent escapes. A pheromone diffuser can help reduce stress.
On arrival, place the carrier in the room and let the cat come out in its own time, without forcing contact. Spend quiet time nearby but allow them to choose interactions. Normal behavior may include hiding or not eating initially.
Keep other pets and children away until the cat feels confident, and gradually allow access to more of the house. Wait several weeks before letting the cat outside, observing their comfort levels before expanding their freedom.
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The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 1.4 million views and 164,000 likes on the platform.
One user, Judith4897, commented: “They are so cute together!”
Buchan_r said: “I’ve got a brother and sister bonded pair like this. It’s adorable.”
M0ariani added: “Omg I’m obsessed with how they’re sitting head to head with their judgey eyes.”
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