An adorable stray cat that ‘identifies as a turtle’ has shot to TikTok fame for shyly walking around a cat shelter as he eagerly waits to be adopted.
Theodore was first filmed at Cat Care Society in Lakewood, Colorado, in late September in a clip that has since amassed an astounding 1.8 million views.
The introverted cat quickly became known for hiding under a fluffy pillow and moving slowly throughout the shelter when he first arrived, similar to a turtle waddling around.
At the end of the video, he poked his head out from under his ‘shell’ as a note attached to the top read: ‘Do not sit or step on me! My name is Theodore + I identify as a turtle and am under here!’
An adorable stray cat named Theodore shot to fame on the internet after his shelter posted videos of him hiding out a pillow ‘shell’ like a turtle
After some time, the gray and white feline soon became more comfortable at Cat Care Society animal shelter in Colorado and started to break free of his enclosure
Following his viral clip, staff posted more videos of the bashful cat moseying around the floor with his personal bean bag and even shared updates of him getting comfortable enough to come out of his enclosure.
His debut video received a massive support from viewers who grew to love and stay up to date with Theodore’s journey.
‘Okay, but what a smart, resourceful, and adaptable little guy,’ a commenter said.
Another person called him a ‘purebred tortoiseshell,’ while another coined Theodore their ‘spirit animal.’
Others felt like they could relate to the cat, as one person wrote: ‘I wish I could start new jobs this way.’
‘Awww Pixar needs to put him in a movie! So many of us can relate,’ wrote another.
As time passed, Theodore soon became comfortable enough to break free from his hideout, as one clip showed his collar laying on the floor, without him in sight.
Soon enough, staff found him hiding behind a door, not in his ‘shell.’
‘You’re sooooo brave!!,’ the caption read.
While he would resort back to his fluffy pillow, Theodore occasionally walked around without it and showed more of his personality.
In one clip, the gray and white cat was seen rolling around on the floor while staff lay next to him, just before running back under his ‘shell.’
Despite taking over the internet and becoming a staple member of the animal shelter, on Monday, the Cat Care Society announced that Theodore was officially on an adoption hold.
‘Important Theodore update!!! Today is a brave day indeed Happy Monday from the Cat Care Society!!! Theodore is one step away from going home!,’ the shelter wrote, alongside a picture of him with a sign reading ‘I’m going home soon!’
Fans quickly weighed in on the bittersweet news as one wrote: ‘Sad to see him go but happy that he will have a loving home.’
Another commented: ‘Thank you sweet boy for making my week-here’s to a furever home and all the love!!!’
While he would resort back to his fluffy pillow, Theodore started to occasionally walk around without it and show more of his personality
While some were thrilled to see him being adopted soon, others questioned if his ‘shell’ would come along with him and insisted that his new owners share updates.
‘Are they taking his turtle shell too???,’ one person asked, as another video revealed that his iconic hideaway would accompany him once he leaves the shelter.
‘Gonna need his new owners to keep us updated,’ wrote another.
‘Tell Theodore’s new family to make an account! I need my daily Theo-dose!,’ someone else said.
Although Theodore might be on his way out, the non-profit cat shelter will continue to post about other feline friends looking for a forever home.
‘Our unique approach views all cats as worthy, regardless of their age or abilities. Our shelter is free-roaming, meaning cages are only used when medically necessary; our cats enjoy plenty of space to roam, play and lounge,’ according to the shelter’s website.
On Monday Cat Care Society announced that Theodore is officially on an adoption hold
Theodore is not the only cat that has gone viral recently, as a ‘nonverbal’ orange cat named Spaghetti recently shot to fame for his unique way of getting his owners’ attention because he can’t meow.
The cat’s owner, Vince, known as @sanvicenteblvd on TikTok, went viral after he posted clips of Spaghetti tapping one of his owners on the back with his paw.
The adorable feline stood on his hind legs and used their other paw to stay balanced on his owner’s armchair.
Turning this into a daily series,’ Vince wrote in a video description box last week.
According to Vince, Spaghetti is mostly nonverbal, and has only meowed a ‘handful of times.’
Spaghetti’s attention-seeking method is called kneading – a common behavior for felines.
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