This Retired Barn Cat Is Weirdly in Love With a Taxidermy Bobcat
Cats are known for having quirky personalities, but one Cat has taken things to a whole new level. Brenna Bates's former barn cat retired from outdoor life last summer and has been happily living inside ever since - alongside a Sphynx cat sibling he apparently wants absolutely nothing to do with.
The funny thing is that the cat has formed a deep attachment to something else inside the house: a taxidermy bobcat. The hilarious feline seems completely fascinated by it, treating the decoration less like decor and more like the love of his life, leaving viewers both totally confused and entertained.
@brenbates4 Tchaikovsky "Dance of the Reed Flutes"(1257471) - kzy
Viewers left hundreds of comments in response to Brenna's video, and some of them cracked us up. @Charlie Dompler wondered, "Is this the animal equivalent of someone with a dakimakura?"
@Abbi got 10,000 likes when she joked, "He never says anything stupid to him, Brenna." @Devi added, "He's showing the other cat like, 'See how quiet and calm this one is?' LOL!"
Commenter @Infinite Teeth got 24,000 likes when they pointed out, "This is the same thing as people falling in love with AI chatbots."
Related: Retired' Barn Cat ‘Forced to Live in Suburbia' Truly Doesn't Know What to Think
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Why Cats Like People Who Don't Like Cats
Commenter @Phelix WA might be on to something: "You know how cats always know when a person doesn't want to interact with them and how the cat then goes out of their way to touch that person? This bobcat won't even blink to acknowledge your barn cat! He must need the most rubbing!"
There's actually some truth to cats wanting to be around people who don't like them. Dr. Marci Koski, a certified feline behavior and training consultant, explains that people who like cats go out of their way to become their friends. They approach them and try to pet them, they look directly into their eyes, and it's overwhelming for cats who don't know them.
She notes that direct staring can mimic predatory behavior in the feline world, while people who ignore cats tend to seem calmer and less intimidating. So cats will often approach those people first, and entirely on their own terms.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 7:00 PM.