'Spider Cat' Climbs The Walls Like A True Superhero
Our pets can have some pretty impressive skills. Some dogs' ability to memorize certain tricks would make them great in a canine talent show, for example. But it's not every day that our fur babies act like total superheroes. Then comes "spider cat." You can now watch one epically agile cat climb like a literal spider thanks to a viral TikTok viewed over six million times — and it is nothing if not extraordinary!
@theclustercluckfarm Every time I turn the shower on, she goes psycho and climbs the walls 😂 #crazycat #cat #kitten #psycho #catsoftiktok
On the ground, this grey and white cat may seem like a normal, everyday feline. However, she turns into the ultimate "spider cat" every time her mom turns on the shower. The cat's shown hanging from the door frame at the top of the 20-second clip. She then continues to hang on by her claws in various hanging positions, definitely showing off some serious core strength, like one admiring commenter observed.
"The floor is lava level extreme" for this cat, joked one viewer, comparing her love of climbing to the popular game. Other viewers compared her to animals known for hanging out in high places like bats and squirrels. One viewer even accused the cat of exhibiting some pretty typical orange tabby cat behavior, despite not being orange, in that her pastime might be a little odd.
Why do cats love climbing?
Sure, this cat may be taking climbing to the extreme, but it's not uncommon to see cats climbing. In fact, another video from the TikToker shows the cat's siblings dabbling in "spider cat" antics just like her. There must be a reason cat trees exist, right? So why do cats like to climb so much? Well, it turns out that cats' love of climbing is directly linked to their love of high places — climbing is just the best way to get there.
As both predators and prey, their ancestors, African wildcats, climbed trees for safety from likely predators including hyenas and jackals. Climbing also helped cats better spot their prey, like mice and other rodents, on the ground. This natural instinct is why cats are so agile, as these often solitary animals had to be able to move quickly in the wild.
Today, an indoor cat may not need to hunt to be happy and healthy, but they most definitely need exercise. That's why cat behaviorists and experts recommend getting your feline friend a cat tree. Climbing a cat tree allows cats to stay active and have safe, vertical spaces to hang out. Cat trees, as well as climbing walls, are also useful to help stop your cat from climbing things it shouldn't (see: Ms. Spider cat). Just look how happy this Bengal cat sprinting along her climbing walls seems to be!