Every pet owner knows the struggle of leaving their furry companion behind when going on vacation. You arrange for sitters, set up cameras, and try to reassure yourself that they’ll be fine. But no matter what you do, you can’t explain to them that you’re coming back.
One cat owner learned this the hard way after checking his pet cam and seeing something that shattered his heart.
Pawl the Cat, a social media sensation from the TikTok account @catnamedpawl, was left in the care of sitters while his owner, Jonah, went on vacation. Though Pawl wasn’t alone, his reaction to Jonah’s absence was nothing short of heartbreaking.
@catnamedpawl The fact he’s walking around with his fish makes it that much sadder. (We have babysitters come on check him so he’s not too lonely.) #pets #fyp #popular #cats ♬ original sound – Pawl The Cat
A now-viral TikTok video, which has racked up over 12.1 million views, shows Pawl wandering through the apartment, clutching his beloved fish toy, and meowing in pure sadness. The clip left viewers reaching for tissues, proving that even the most independent cats have a deep emotional connection with their humans.
Jonah, speaking to Newsweek, shared how he and Pawl first became inseparable:
“I found Pawl about four years ago. I had just moved into a ground-floor apartment when this tiny kitten appeared, scratching at my window. We’ve been best friends ever since.”
Jonah is no stranger to leaving Pawl in good hands, ensuring he has babysitters and setting up cameras to check in.
“Usually, he’s just lounging or watching birds,” Jonah explained. “But this time, when we checked the camera, we saw him wandering around with his fish toy, crying. It was the saddest thing we’ve ever seen.”
Determined to make things easier for Pawl in the future, Jonah plans to introduce him to road trips.
“We’re going to start practicing car rides to see if he enjoys traveling. He already loves stroller rides and walks. Every morning, I wake up to find the fish toy in front of my door—he brings it to me every night. I like to think it’s his way of showing he’s thinking about me.”
Viewers flooded the comments with sympathy and suggestions. One person joked, “You better be planning a staycation for Pawl with catnip and new toys!” Another admitted, “I haven’t gone on vacation in seven years because I don’t know what to do with my cat.”
One heartbroken commenter summed it up best: “I would’ve turned around and come right back.”
Pets may not understand why we leave, but they sure know how to make us miss them. Would you still go on vacation after seeing a video like this?
