A woman in Minnesota felt “picky” when searching for her first-ever pet, but one look at her cat’s photo online changed everything.
Jessica, who is known on TikTok as @juicy_hart, told Newsweek that the minute she scrolled upon a picture of Carrot—now named Suki—she knew she had to get her. When she emailed the animal shelter, Jessica learned that the cat had come in when she was only two months old and had not had an adopter in five months, an unusual amount of time for young felines.
Research indicates that kittens generally have shorter shelter stays than adult cats, with one study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science in 2014 estimating that the oldest cats remain in the shelter for an average of 163 days, more than six times as long as a kitten.
A cat’s behavior can also determine adoption rates. In this case, Suki was a “very shy cat,” which kept adopters away.
“Her being shy did not deter me because I was sure she was only scared and would open up after she knew I was no threat,” Jessica said. “I drove the one hour to go meet her, and when I walked in, she was the first cat that came up to me and let me pet her.”
Within a week of welcoming her home, Jessica has already discovered a new, more confident personality. She shared in a February 2 TikTok video how the kitty has warmed up to her. Once the “shyest” in the shelter, Suki is now the sweetest kitty, soaking up her life in her forever home.
While the kitty’s shyness didn’t show during the first meeting, Jessica said Suki hid in the bathroom when she brought her home. But if she carries her to the bed, Suki will stay with her and even make biscuits on her heated blanket, a sign of a cat’s trust. Suki also happily accepts belly rubs and does not scratch or bite.
“She is finally starting to show signs of confidence in her new home,” she said. “Last night I saw her play with a toy for the first time. She scares me in the mornings sometimes because she hides, but I always find her.”
Jessica is still figuring out what it means to be a first-time pet owner. She said she feels protective of Suki, and the process has been a bit nerve-wracking. However, Jessica is thrilled with her new little friend.
TikTok users quickly became obsessed with Suki, and as of Friday, the clip had reached over 1.4 million views, with 396,500 likes and 459 comments.
“Why is she like the cutest thing ever,” asked a viewer, while a second commented: “Oh, she’s PRECIOUS, congratulations!”
“The shy ones are the sweetest,” a third commenter said.
Some users even suggested putting a bell on Suki to help find her around the house.
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