28-05-2025
Owners Thought Their Cat Was Limping—Then Noticed the Pattern
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.
Some pets beg for treats, others give puppy-dog eyes. But one cat has taken method acting to a new level with her impressive performance when her owners have her favorite snack—any dairy product.
Calla Fuqua, 28, from Baltimore, Maryland, has left people in stitches with a video of 5-year-old cat Ashlyn Rose pulling off a remarkably convincing limp.
In a clip with over 600,000 views, Ashlyn Rose was dramatically hobbling around the kitchen as her owner retrieved a pizza from the refrigerator, hoping to get a slice of her own.
"A true con artist at work," the caption joked.
"She started doing it a couple months ago. We were completely panicked the first time she did it. She's a really good actress," Fuqua told Newsweek. "We realized she was totally fine after getting her treats and running away completely fine after. She does it mostly with milk, pizza, yogurt, ice cream—pretty much just dairy."
Pictures of Ashlyn Rose showing off her impressive performance.
Pictures of Ashlyn Rose showing off her impressive performance.
@calliefuqua/TikTok
The commitment to her role impressed viewers who shared their reactions in the comments.
"She kept up the act with the same paw. Impressive," said one commenter. While another wrote: "I had a cat that would fake an injured paw, but would FORGET which paw was injured and changed it within minutes LMAO."
"Okay but this is an Oscar worthy performance. Get that girl her cheese lol," said another TikToker.
Despite initially posting the video for fun, Fuqua was surprised by the viral response. "We just thought the video was hilarious. She is so committed to her bit. I posted it just for kicks, definitely didn't expect it to go viral. But mostly the reactions have been great. Ashlyn Rose is getting the fame she deserves," she said.
This isn't the first time a cat has faked a hurt paw for attention. In 2021, ginger cat Edward was caught faking a limp for attention before forgetting and switching paws.
In 2024, a woman from California caught her kitten in the middle of a dramatic act, and now internet users think he should be nominated for an Oscar because of it. In the video, the tabby kitten can be seen lying down near the closet door, pretending to have his paw stuck underneath to get his mom to open it for him.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
