This is the viral moment Sherlock the cowardly cat hides in a cupboard whenever someone comes to the door.
The cute clip was shared on the TikTok page ‘Sherlock – Cat on the Case’ where it has gone viral with 2.5 million views.
Sherlock’s owner, who lives in Colorado, accompanied the video with the message: “He’s gonna be bummed when our pots and pans arrive and ruin his hiding spot.”
The video features the caption: “When you’re closely related to apex predators, but do this whenever someone comes to the door.”
In the footage, Sherlock is seen heading for the kitchen cupboards and opening one door with his nose before heading inside to apparently hide from the visitor at the front door.
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London says: “Every cat has a unique personality, just like humans. While some cats are bold and confident, some cats are nervous by nature. This is because a cat’s character and their behavior are shaped by their experiences as a kitten, as well as what they’ve learned and experienced, and their individual genetic make-up.
“Some nervous cats will always be more timid, but there are ways that we as owners can help them to feel more relaxed and try to help them feel more comfortable.
“One strategy cats often choose when scared is to find a secure hiding spot. It is important for owners to provide their cat with opportunities to hide, go up high and feel secure. It’s a good idea to give your cat lots of possible options for this, such as open cupboard doors, areas under beds, shelves, large cat trees, cardboard boxes and space behind furniture so they always have somewhere to go whenever they feel nervous or scared.
“For a cat settled in a home, any change to routine or a new addition to the family (such as a new cat or dog or baby) can be particularly stressful. Any change in the owner’s behavior, work patterns and other routines, or the cat’s access around the home can also be a cause of stress.”
According to Cats Protection, house cats come from the Felidae family and are closely related to tigers, lions and other big cats.
They began to evolve about 25 million years ago and the “oldest cat lineage is the Panthera, which split from its common ancestor 10.8 million years ago. This is the line our modern-day big cats, such as tigers (Panthera tigris), panthers (Panthera pardus) and lions (Panthera leo)”:
Cats Protection added: “The Felidae family continued to evolve and branch off into different common ancestors until 3.4 million years ago when the Felis genus appeared. This group includes the wildcat (Felis silvestis), the jungle cat (Felis chaus) and our own domestic cats (Felis catus).”
