7 days ago
Woman Hears Noise From Under Car, Shock at What She Finds
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.
A video of a tiny kitten crying under a car has gone viral on TikTok, racking up over 1 million views.
The footage, captioned: "The cat distribution system did not disappoint!" shows a 1.7-pound white and tabby kitten meowing near the car and running under it when the woman gets closer.
According to the text overlaid, user @shouldvebeenkiki had been waiting for this moment. She wrote: "it finally happened," referring to the "cat distribution system"—an online concept that describes how people often come to find or acquire cats, typically feeling that the cats "show up" at just the right time.
At the end of the video, the kitten starts to get closer, and a voice from behind the camera can be heard asking the rescuer, "has she got a home?" to which she responds, "she's about too."
Now, almost one week on, the cat—named Baby, who happens to be a boy—has settled into his new home. His proud owner has documented and shared their journey online, showing Baby tucking into his meals, playing, and snoozing.
With more than 82,400 posts on TikTok using the hashtag #catdistributionsystem, one might assume that the stray cat problem in America is improving. But People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) points to ongoing concerns:
1. Lack of Spaying and Neutering
Unsterilized cats reproduce rapidly—one female and her offspring can produce up to 370,000 kittens in just seven years. Spaying and neutering is essential to control the population.
2. Breeding and Purebred Demand
The desire for purebred cats like Siamese or sphynx contributes to the crisis. Every kitten bred for profit means one less home for a shelter cat.
3. Abandonment and Free-Roaming Cats
Most feral cats descend from those abandoned outdoors. Few survive long, often facing hunger, disease, and harsh conditions. While indoor cats can live 12–20 years, those on the streets rarely make it past five.
TikTok Reacts
A stock image of a kitten under a car.
A stock image of a kitten under a car.
Mourad Saadi / 500px/500Px Unreleased Plus
So far, the May 28 clip has 364,600 likes and almost 2,000 comments.
One user joked: "All sweet and innocent until you get them home and they take over your house and think they're the boss."
"Guys I've never seen a person adopting or buying a cat. Is this really how people become cat owners?" asked another.
A third commenter shared: "I went years without the Cat distribution system giving me any kittens, to several at one time."
A fourth said: "The cat distribution system has been finding me for years and it breaks my heart when I find them homes and they have to leave me, but also fills my heart with happiness that they won't have to live outside."
Newsweek reached out to @shouldvebeenkiki for comment via email. We could not verify the details of the case.
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