Kids’ Reactions to Dad’s Hairless Cat Has the Internet in Hysterics

Footage of two children shocked and confused by their father’s new hairless kitten has caused hysteria on the internet.

In a clip shared on TikTok by user Leah Hoover (@mew_thenakedkitty), her stepsons Amelia and Baron meet the couple’s new Sphynx cat, Mew, for the first time.

said Hoover, who is from Oregon Newsweek said she wanted a Sphynx cat since high school.

“My boyfriend’s sister came across a listing for a Mew and sent it to us because my boyfriend has always wanted one too,” she said.

“It was very unplanned, but we’re so glad we did because he has such a cool, good nature.”

In the video, 9-year-old Amelia screams: “Ew, ew, oh my God, what is that?” As Mew ran out the back of the door to meet them. “Get that thing away from me.”

“Is he going to get a haircut?” asks a confused-looking 7-year-old Baron.

Since it was shared on December 1, the clip has been viewed more than 9 million times and has garnered more than 1.2 million likes.

What is a sphynx cat and why are they hairless?

According to ASPCA Pet Insurance, Sphynx cats were originally known as “Canadian Hairless.” PetMD reports that the first Sphynx cat, the only cat breed to originate in Canada, was born in 1966. He was a “hairless mutant male” named Prune.

The genus name comes from the Great Sphinx of Giza, a 240-foot-tall ancient sculpture on the banks of the Nile in Egypt, Africa.

With an average weight of six to 12 kilograms, Sphynx cats live between 8 and 14 years. While some are completely hairless, others are covered in what Purina calls “fine peach hairs.” Another feature is loose skin that is prone to wrinkles in some areas.

As a breed, Sphynxes are curious and need lots of interactive play and entertainment. They are also talkative and social creatures, so owners should expect to groom their hairless pets very carefully.

Many people assume that Sphynxes are a hypoallergenic breed, but most cat allergies are caused by the Fel d1 protein in the cat’s skin and saliva, so the breed will still aggravate those with allergies.

‘They were waiting for a fluffy cat’

In the video, Amelia and Baron open the bathroom door to reveal 7-week-old Mew. Initially shocked by his lack of fur, the children run away from the little kitten.

Hoover’s boyfriend, Ben, sweeps the animal into his arms, and Amelia asks, “Whose cat is that?” he shouts.

“It’s ours,” Hoover replies, before Amelia asks if it’s a birthday present.

Ben then offers Amelia to hold May, but she backs off as she tries to pass the kitten to him.

Hoover said the couple had never discussed getting a cat with Amelia and Baron, so the kids’ surprise was more than Mew’s lack of fur.

“They didn’t ask for anything, and we knew a hairless cat would surprise them even more,” Hoover said.

“My girlfriend and I set it up by putting it in the bathroom and telling the kids there was a surprise inside.

“He’s quite vocal, so they could hear him meowing in the bathroom and they ran to open the door, as you can see in the video. Of course, they were expecting a hairy cat and they saw this hairless kitten run out.”

Their meeting with Mew was the first time either Amelia or Baron had seen a hairless cat, and it led to “a lot of surprises and emotions in a very short amount of time.”

Amelia’s immediate reaction was “Ew”, but seconds after Hoover stopped recording, she had already caught Mew.

“They absolutely love it now,” she said. “He has a great personality and is always on your lap or wanting to play so they can have a good time.”

TikTokers found the footage hysterical, with user KK describing Amelia’s reaction as “on point”.

“I love hairless cats, but this might be the funniest video ever,” wrote TikToker mya.

“Apologise to him now,” said Rnoximo to the children.

Mew isn’t the only Sphinx gaining thousands of new fans online. In early December, a hairless cat named Finnick took TikTok by storm after being caught on camera getting into the tub with his owner, while a clip of a sphynx named Tofu and their pink shower cap garnered more than 1 million views in April.

In May, a 12-year-old rescue Sphynx named Smurfy also delighted Reddit users with his perpetually grumpy face.