What Rescue Cat 'Too Shy To Meow' Does To Get Attention Melts Hearts

Newsweek

25-05-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Internet users are obsessed with a shy adopted cat who has a unique way of letting his owner know when it's mealtime.
Vicente Marin, 33, a DJ for Club 90s in Los Angeles, is the proud owner of the adorably named orange cat Spaghetti Pete, whom he adopted three years ago as a kitten.
"The first part of his name is in honor of my neighbor's cat, Muffins, that I befriended during the pandemic," Marin, who adopted Spaghetti Pete as part of a bonded pair after Muffins passed away, told Newsweek. "Muffins had a viral video on TikTok where he was eating some of my spaghetti."
As the shelter had already named him Pete, which suited him, Marin simply added Spaghetti to the start of it.
Spaghetti Pete is much more shy than his brother, Captain Morgan, who is "very vocal and chatty," Marin said. "Spaghetti Pete is the opposite; he can be very shy and gets spooked easily. I think he relies on his brother to do most of the meowing to get my attention."
Spaghetti Pete stands on his hind legs and taps someone on the shoulder to demand food.
Spaghetti Pete stands on his hind legs and taps someone on the shoulder to demand food.
TikTok @sanvicenteblvd
Now a video of just how the orange cat gets his owner's attention for meal times has gone mega-viral online. It has received more than 10.4 million views since being posted to Marin's TikTok, @sanvicenteblvd, on May 19.
"Spaghetti Pete is too shy to meow so this is how he lets us know it's time for his dinner," Marin wrote across the video. The clip showed the cat approaching an armchair and standing against it with his two hind legs on the ground.
Spaghetti Pete then stretches his body out and taps tentatively on the shoulder of a person sitting on the chair. And when they look back at him, the feline licks his lips—making absolutely clear what exactly it is he wants.
Marin said: "Spaghetti does meow, but it is very rare. He mostly does the cat chirp—some call it the cat activation noise—and taps for his meals."
Chirping or trilling can sound like a purr with a higher pitch, and can be used by adult cats to greet their human owners, or thank them for food or giving them attention, according to PetMD.
"He started tapping for his meals a year ago," Marin said. "I think switching from daylight saving time is what made him start tapping. He noticed that his meals were an hour off schedule!"
TikTok users found it adorable, awarding the video close to 3 million likes and thousands of comments. One user wrote: "I would be embarrassed to speak too if my name was Spaghetti Pete."
Another posted: "Please get up quicker when he asks you, thanks." A third user described him as "so polite," and one comment read: "I would love to have a polite cat."
And as one moved commenter summed it up: "So I definitely mean to be dramatic, but I would die for Spaghetti Pete."
Spaghetti Pete taps the person on the shoulder and then licks his lips.
Spaghetti Pete taps the person on the shoulder and then licks his lips.
TikTok @sanvicenteblvd
Marin told Newsweek his "phone is full of pictures and videos" of his two cats, and he loves "sharing moments that bring me joy" with followers online.
"I'm so happy people all over the world enjoy watching these moments with me. I myself am a shy person, so I feel part of Spaghetti Pete's online personality is a reflection of me," Marin said.
"Ultimately, I hope to encourage people to go adopt a pet from their local animal shelter. There are thousands of Spaghetti Petes waiting for their forever home."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [e-mail] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.