A sweet Instagram video from @cathydavismomlife captures tabby cat Oliver showing his affection for Colt, a little boy who also happens to be Oliver’s human sibling. The tabby refuses to let his mom wake up the toddler without him. But as soon as they meet, Oliver makes a beeline for his boy, just as Colt stands there, still groggy with a pacifier in his mouth.
Upon seeing the little boy, the cat comes close and presses his cheek against Colt’s face. They later share a moment on the floor that is just as sweet — the kind of affection that shows that they belong to each other.
Cat wants to be a part of little boy’s morning routine because they’re best friends
The video’s on-screen caption reads, “You have to start the morning with a moment with your best friend,” while the owner’s caption explains, “Oliver was not letting me go in Colt’s room to wake him up without him this morning.”
The cat rubbing his face against the little boy is cute, but it also has a deeper meaning. Cats have scent glands along different parts of their face, and when Oliver presses his face against Colt, he is doing something experts call bunting — a friendly way of marking their territory on a person or an object. It shows that the cat feels safe around you, with the pheromones deeply reassuring to the furry baby.
The fact that Colt braces for the rub with his eyes closed shows he knows the routine, so it is a sign of trust from both of them.
Viewers felt the warmth between the cat and the little boy. One person noted the instinct behind it all, writing, “Scent marking whats his,” while another observed, “The way he braces his face for the head bump/rub.” Meanwhile, another commenter added, “So cute! The kiddo is part of the cat’s colony!”
