A woman who adopted a stray kitten while on vacation has shared a touching video of their very first night together.
The viral TikTok video shared to @annieathenarushton features Tilly, from London in the U.K., and her new kitten Annie, whom she met while on holiday in Rhodes, Greece. The pair formed such a strong bond that Tilly arranged for Annie to travel over 2,280 miles by car and plane to start a new life in England.
Tilly set up a camera to document the moment she tried to coax Annie out of her carrier after nine hours in transit. The clip shows Tilly opening the crate as text over the video reads: “I [was trying] my hardest to bring her out. But she was adamant in staying in her safe place.”
But Annie wasn’t ready to come out just yet. When Tilly went to the kitchen to grab some food, the tiny kitten—who had survived on the streets of Rhodes—found another place to hide.
Tilly described Annie as “terrified” in those first moments, but it wasn’t long before she began to relax, accepting a gentle cuddle from her new owner.
The video also shows Annie enjoying a “well-deserved dinner,” with a close-up of the kitten—small enough to fit in a cereal bowl—lapping up her food. Text over the clip reads: “After her entire existence of being starved, she laps up.”
Newsweek is awaiting comment from @annieathenarushton via email.
Expert Advice on Helping a Kitten Adjust
Animal expert Axel Lagercrantz, CEO and co-founder of Pets4Homes, the U.K.’s largest pet rehoming site, told Newsweek tips on helping a new kitten settle into their home.
“Buying or adopting a new kitten can be one of the most exciting, rewarding things that you can do; and getting a kitten rather than an older cat means that you will get to know them from a young age. In turn, this gives you a chance to make sure their first formative years pass in the right way,” Lagercrantz said.
He added that making a kitten feel comfortable is about reassuring them they are safe and secure, which means giving them time and space to adjust to their new surroundings.
It is completely normal for kittens like Annie to hide at first. “This is what felines do when they feel overwhelmed, scared or outside of their comfort zones,” Lagercrantz said. “This is something that you should allow them to do when they need to, as they adjust to their new environment.”
Lagercrantz also warned that kittens can squeeze into surprisingly tiny spaces, which can worry new owners who fear they have gotten outside.
Owners are encouraged to provide a comfortable, covered bed or another cozy hiding spot where their kitten can feel safe—and to avoid disturbing them when they use it.
It is important to have a plan for your kitten’s first few nights, especially for bedtime or when you leave the house. While you should let the young animal guide you by observing how they settle and sleep, be prepared to adjust your plan based on their individual behavior.
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