So, there’s this couple who stumbled upon an adorable kitten in a gutter. Without a clue about what to do next, their other cat intervenes and everything changes.
Lauren Moldenhauer, 21, shared the whole kitten-saving mission on her TikTok account @laurenmoldy on June 25. Within merely two days, the video attracted a whopping 15 million views.
Quick to act, the Utah duo rescued the kitten, didn’t care about getting dirty, and rushed him to safety.
As the kitten was in a precarious state, overheated and breathing rapidly, Moldenhauer and her husband Drew, 23, took him home and nursed him back to health with some milk and wet food.
The viral video captured the couple, covered in dirt, cuddling the lost kitten after the challenging rescue, with the caption: “You find a cat in the gutter on the side of the road but you already have a cat.”
TikTok @laurenmoldy
Introducing a new kitten to an older cat can sometimes be tricky, and pet parents are advised to handle the process cautiously to ensure a smooth transition.
Moldenhauer pointed out, “While the kitten may be eager to make pals, the adult cat’s territorial instincts may kick in.”
In an unexpected twist, their ginger tomcat, Oscar, immediately bonded with the kitten. The video captured their instant connection: playing, grooming each other, and just snuggling up together.
“We didn’t have a second cat on our plans, but when we saw how well he clicked with our 10-month-old tabby, Oscar, we knew he was meant to be with us, whether we were ready or not,” Moldenhauer shared.
She confessed, “Honestly, both my husband and I couldn’t resist keeping him, considering he’s the cutest kitten we’ve ever laid eyes on.”
TikTok @laurenmoldy
TikTok users were also smitten, showering the video with 3.3 million likes and thousands of comments. One jokingly said, “Now your cat has his own kitten. It’s a win-win.”
Another chimed in, “Seems like your cat really needed that kitten too,” while someone else quipped, “When you get a pet for your pet.”
“The fact that you’re completely covered in dirt shows how determined you were to save the kitten,” a viewer pointed out.
And then, as one person summed it up, “I can’t help but tear up seeing these two cats instantly bonding.”
The couple took the newfound kitten to the vet for a once-over. The vet, who had seen their viral rescue on TikTok, confirmed that the kitten was in good health.
“We named him Maverick,” Moldenhauer revealed, “and we are ecstatic to welcome him as the newest addition to our family.”