Upsetting footage of a rescue cat who was left so traumatized that the sight of a pet carrier now sparks wild panic has been shared online.
In a September video posted to TikTok under the handle @rescuecatmittens, a black-and-white cat by the name of Biscuit can be seen scrambling up the wall and onto a window sill to get away from a nearby pet carrier. The footage was posted by the owner, who is looking after Biscuit and five other rescue cats, along with another black-and-white called Mittens.
The ASPCA says that 3.2 million cats are surrendered to animal shelters in the U.S. every year. However, Biscuit's previous owners didn't even have the decency to do that.
An onscreen caption with the video reads: "This is Biscuit's reaction to a cat carrier after being abandoned on the road by his owner."
Veterinarians.org estimates that as many as 10 million animals die as a result of abuse each year in the U.S. Biscuit could have easily been among that number. His previous owner left him by the roadside with no concern for his welfare. A passerby saw the discarded pet carrier and decided to help.
"Biscuit is so loved," another caption posted alongside the video reads. That may well be the case, but it's clear that Biscuit has also been left damaged by his ordeal and may be suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When it comes to animal cruelty in the U.S. a significant proportion of the general public believe that the system does not go far enough. A 2022 YouGov poll of 1,000 U.S. adults found that 46 percent believed that the animal cruelty laws were not strict enough.
Elsewhere, 32 percent said they were just right, while 5 percent argued they were too strict. There was a clear divide when it came to animal rights, though. Around one in three Americans said animals don't have enough legal rights in society, while a similar share said they were fine as they are. Eight percent said that animals have too many legal rights.
Yet, if there is one positive to come out of the harrowing footage of Biscuit in such a state of extreme discomfort, it's that the response was largely the same among those watching on social media.
"Breaks my heart. I loathe the people who did this to Biscuit," one wrote. "I don't understand how people could ever do this to animals," another posted.
Some users shared similar stories of issues with their rescue animals. "One of my cats is so terrified of carriers because of how she was abandoned I had to buy the backpack carrier for her to see what's going on," one TikTok user posted.
Another commented: "My dog has been through 3 moves with us and he still panics when we start packing boxes. He was abandoned, now I wonder if he was dumped because they moved."
The clip had viewers sobbing, with one viewer appreciative of the fact that their cat has "never had to go through this kind of trauma."
Biscuit may not be over the impact of his ordeal but, with more than 450,000 views racked up and counting, it is hoped that the video posted to TikTok by his owner will at least raise awareness of the lasting damage animal cruelty does.
Newsweek has contacted @rescuecatmittens for comment via TikTok.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
