An adorable stray cat who ‘identifies as a turtle’ rose to fame on TikTok for shyly walking through a cat shelter while anxiously waiting to be adopted.
Theodore was first filmed at the Cat Care Society in Lakewood, Colorado, in late September in a clip that has since racked up a staggering 1.8 million views.
The introverted cat quickly became known for hiding under a fluffy pillow and slowly moving around the shelter when he first arrived, similar to a wriggling turtle.
At the end of the video, he poked his head out from under his ‘shell’ as a note attached to the top read: ‘Don’t sit or step on me!’ My name is Theodore + I identify as a turtle and I’m down here!’
An adorable stray cat named Theodore rose to internet fame after his shelter posted videos of him hiding a pillow “shell” like a turtle.
After a while, the gray and white feline soon became more comfortable at the Cat Care Society animal shelter in Colorado and began to free herself from her enclosure.
After his viral clip, staff posted more videos of the shy cat wandering around the floor with his personal bean bag and even shared updates on how he felt comfortable enough to leave his enclosure.
His debut video received massive support from viewers who came to love and stay updated with Theodore’s journey.
“Okay, but what a smart, resourceful, adaptable little guy,” said one commenter.
Another person called him a “purebred tortoiseshell,” while another coined Theodore his “spirit animal.”
Others felt they could relate to the cat, as one person wrote: “I wish I could start new jobs this way.”
‘Awww, Pixar needs to put it in a movie! “Many of us can relate,” wrote another.
As time passed, Theodore soon felt comfortable enough to free himself from his hiding place, as a clip showed his necklace lying on the ground, with him nowhere to be seen.
Soon enough, the staff found him hiding behind a door, not in his “shell.”
“You are so brave!!,” the caption read.
While he would fall back on his fluffy pillow, Theodore would occasionally walk around without it and show more of his personality.
In one clip, the gray and white cat is seen rolling on the ground as staff lay beside it, just before running back under its ‘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 adoption hold.
‘Important update from Theodore!!! Today is a brave day. Happy Monday from the Cat Care Society!!! “Theodore is one step away from coming home!” the shelter wrote, alongside a photo of him holding a sign that read, “I’m going home soon!”
Fans were quick to weigh in on the bittersweet news as one wrote: “Sad to see him go but happy he will have a loving home.”
Another commented: ‘Thank you sweet boy for making my week. Here I have a forever home and all the love!!!’
Although he once again turned to his fluffy pillow, Theodore began to occasionally walk without it and show more of his personality.
While some were delighted to see him soon adopted, others questioned whether his “shell” would keep up with him and insisted that his new owners share updates.
‘Are they taking his turtle shell too???’ one person asked, while another video revealed that his iconic hideout would accompany him once he left the shelter.
“I’ll need its new owners to keep us informed,” wrote another.
‘Tell Theodore’s new family to create an account! I need my daily dose of Theo!’ someone else said.
Although Theodore may be on his way out, the nonprofit cat shelter will continue to post about other feline friends looking for forever homes.
‘Our unique approach considers all cats worthy, regardless of age or abilities. Our shelter is free-range, meaning cages are only used when medically necessary; “Our cats enjoy plenty of space to roam, play and rest,” according to the shelter website.
On Monday Cat Care Society announced that Theodore is officially on adoption hold.
Theodore isn’t the only cat to go viral recently, as a “non-verbal” orange cat named Spaghetti recently rose 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 posting clips of Spaghetti touching one of his owners on the back with his paw.
The adorable feline stood on its hind legs and used the other to balance itself on its owner’s couch.
Making this a daily series,” Vince wrote in a description box for the video last week.
According to Vince, Spaghetti is mostly non-verbal and has only meowed a “handful of times.”
The spaghetti method of getting attention is called kneading, a common behavior among felines.
