These Cats Never Saw Sunlight—Then Everything Changed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
At first glance, these photos of a cat basking in a sun patch at home don't seem unusual—but what makes Henry go viral is the fact that he spent the first four years of his life without sunlight.
The orange cat and his sibling Ruby were adopted by Angela Kasper in 2020, when she was living in a small one-bedroom apartment on the lowest floor.
"Just across the way from me was another building, plus lots of trees and landscaping that blocked nearly all direct sunlight," she said.
She shared on Reddit how happy she was to see her pets "get loads of direct sun" in their new house. The post quickly went viral, receiving 36,000 upvotes in just 24 hours.
Henry lying in a sun patch indoors and a close up of his face.
Henry lying in a sun patch indoors and a close up of his face.
Reddit/Aggressive_labeling
The May 20 post shows Henry lying on a rug in a sunny spot, along with a close-up of his face—he looks extremely relaxed, with his paws curled up.
Kasper, who goes by u/Aggressive_labeling online, added: "We only got diffuse light throughout the day—enough to keep things cool in the summer, which I didn't mind—but I often thought how nice it would be for the cats to feel the sun.
"So, when we moved into a freestanding house with big, south-facing windows, it was no surprise that he immediately claimed the sunniest spots as his own. You can see it on his face—pure bliss.
"Both cats love soaking up the rare sunny days we get here in the Pacific Northwest, especially from their favorite spots in the 'catio.'"
(L-R) Henry cuddled up next to Ruby on their bed. Henry enjoying the direct sunshine.
(L-R) Henry cuddled up next to Ruby on their bed. Henry enjoying the direct sunshine.
Angela Kasper
While humans tend to feel just right at around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius), cats prefer it much warmer—anywhere from 86 degrees Fahrenheit to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius to 38 degrees Celsius). This makes sense, considering a cat's normal body temperature is higher than a human's—usually between 99 degrees Fahrenheit and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.2 degrees Celsius to 39.2 degrees Celsius). So if your cat is always seeking warm spots, like sunbeams or cozy blankets, it's just trying to stay comfortable in a cooler-than-ideal world.
Studies show that how well a cat is cared for at home mostly depends on how much attention the owner pays to its needs. Since the owner controls everything about the cat's environment, their choices really matter. Sometimes what owners see as "bad behavior" is just normal feline behavior. But in other cases, these behaviors could be signs that the cat is stressed or unhappy due to a poor living environment.
A researcher cited by The Scientific World Journal noted that many behavioral issues stem from poor or changing living conditions, owners not fully understanding what their cats need, having unrealistic expectations, or not interacting enough with their pets. Regardless of the cause, a stressful home environment or rough handling makes life harder for the cat.
Reddit Reacts
Cat lovers have joined in to share photos of their own pets doing the same—or to compliment Henry's visible contentment.
"He looks really happy," praised one user, while another joked: "Careful, if they get too much sun they may just become the happiest kitty who has ever lived."
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.
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