A cat shows its owner in an unusual way that it is hungry by apparently chewing air – and caused fits of laughter on the Internet.
Luna (@chubbybunslover), a Khao Manee cat, has become a viral sensation, charming viewers with her quirky behavior, which has earned her 149,500 likes and 818,500 views on TikTok.
“She has developed the habit of ‘eating air’ since I started her on a raw meat diet about a month and a half ago,” Luna’s owner, who prefers to remain anonymous, said Newsweek. “Now she’s so hungry that she’s starting to pretend to chew to show me she wants food.”
In the footage, Luna repeatedly opens and closes her mouth as if she were nibbling on an invisible meal, trying to attract her owner’s attention.
chubbybunslover/chubbybunslover
“Luna, I will feed you, don’t worry baby,” her devoted owner reassured her in the video.
“She is a smart grain of rice,” he wrote as a caption.
The white cat princess even wears a pearl necklace, which further enhances her royal charm.
But Luna isn’t just famous for her air-eating act. According to her owner, she’s also learned to use the toilet like a human, proving that her talents go far beyond the usual cat tricks.
How cats tell us they are hungry
Cats can tell us in several ways that they are ready for their next meal.
Some meow loudly, while others nudge their food bowl or follow you around the house.
Luna’s air-eating represents a unique variation of this common behavior.
According to experts, when cats are hungry they also become louder, purr more often or even lick their lips to signal that they are ready to eat.
The secret behind “Fake Chewing”
Luna eating air may seem unusual, but it is nothing new in the cat world.
Some cats exhibit what is known as “pretended chewing” or “air chewing.” The exact reason for this behavior is not yet fully understood, but according to cat lovers on a forum about the phenomenon, it is often related to them smelling something good.
It may also be because they have an unusual feeling in their mouth or teeth or feel unwell.
This behavior can also occur when a cat tries to dislodge an object stuck between its teeth or responds to a sensation such as a hair or a small piece of food that is not easily detected.
TikTok reacts
As Luna’s video continues to make the rounds, commenters are quick to join in, drawing comparisons to the latest viral meme: “very demure, very cute.”
“Look at her…she clicks her lips in the air instead of screaming…very demure, very cute,” Connie wrote, summing up Luna’s behavior.
Others could easily identify with the clever cat. “It’s so cute that she communicates with you! I always have food in my cats’ bowls, they never eat too much,” said Zizi.
“Cats are dramatic,” joked one viewer, while Kika added, “My cat turns the bowls over, lol.”
One fan even commented: “It’s Toulouse from Aristocats.“
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