Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

The newest TikTok trend is cute, but not great for cats

Seeing a cat cry because you're chopping onions might look funny on TikTok, but it can be harmful to your pet

Rebekkah Adams
By

If you haven’t spotted the #onioncryingchallenge yet on TikTok, you’ll be surprised to see all the little square faces pop up as its stars. That’s right, cats will tear up when an onion is cut just like us. It can be cute and funny to see small tears squeezed out of their scrunched up eyes, but don’t reach for the knife just yet. There are risks to your kitty that might make you stop and reconsider this particular trend.

@lovimals

Who’s cutting onions? ? (@Jakeyy_boy) #cat #catsoftiktok #cattok #onions

♬ original sound – Lovimals

We can’t lie, we’ve watched a few of these TikTok viral videos and given an “Aw” for the adorbs cats who can’t help but shed a tear. They start out with a pet parent chopping up an onion with the feline nearby watching. At first, she blinks, then squints, and finally her eyes get leaky. If you’ve ever had this root bring on the waterworks, you know exactly where she’s coming from. Commenters were quick to jump in to share a laugh or offer tips on keeping the tears at bay, while many cat moms were distraught having just learned that onion tears work on furry friends too.

@kaylo.art.designs

I’m the worst mother ever I am so sad #cryingcat #crying #cryingcatmeme #catcries? #sadcat #onioncryingchallenge #imtheworstpersonever #imtheworstmotherever #isuck #imsorrymybaby

♬ original sound – ✿Kaylo.Art.Designs✿

Why do onions make us (and cats) cry?

Of course, this is a complicated chemical process, but basically, volatile sulfur compounds (called syn-propanethial-S-oxide) get released into the air and irritate your eyeballs. As soon as they hit the retinas, you’ll start to tear up. This is a natural reflex that attempts to block your eye from the harmful gas and therefore protect it. Your cat is doing the same thing! They don’t like the onion vapors either and cry tears to protect their beautiful orbs.

Cat walks on the counter in a kitchen
Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

Are onions harmful to cats?

While the odd tear or two won’t kill anyone, you should move kitty to a different room any time you have onions around. The gas or liquid will bother her eyes temporarily though it should go away. If she gets any of the juice actually on her face it could be more serious. In addition, onions are actually poisonous to cats. Do not let her ingest them in any form — cooked, raw, or dried. They contain chemicals that break down her blood cells which causes anemia and eventually death. It takes only a few grams to get this process started, so we recommend keeping onions and cats separated whenever possible. If she does swallow a piece, call your vet or animal poison control to figure out the next steps.

Recommended Videos

Naturally, we love funny cat videos as much as the next person, possibly even more. But it might be best to leave this particular one off your list. You don’t want to find your cat gets too much in their eyes and it takes a while for them to stop rubbing or worse, they eat some onions, which causes a trip to the vet. All in all, cats and onions shouldn’t mix.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah Adams
Contributor
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
Why you should feel honored if your cat sleeps at your feet
If you've ever wondered about this cat behavior, this article is for you
Calico cat lying on a white comforter

Have you noticed that when you go to sleep, your cat automatically heads to the foot of the bed and curls up by your feet? It's no mistake, and it's not your cat giving you the cold shoulder, either. This is a deliberate decision on your kitty's part, and there are many reasons why they might choose to sleep there instead of curling up on your stomach or by your shoulder. In fact, if your cat sleeps by your feet, you should take it as a compliment and feel flattered.

So, why do cats sleep at your feet? It's a mix of your cat's affection for you, a feeling of safety, and even the body heat you generate that play into your cat's decision to sleep at the foot of the bed.

Read more
Can cats eat raw chicken? Yes, but there are huge health risks you need to know about
Facts about feeding you cat raw chicken
A bowl of raw chicken plus supplements to feed to a pet

You've probably heard all about raw diets for pets. After all, more pet owners than ever want to give their animals a healthier diet! Given that wild cats eat raw meat all the time, it seems to make sense that your domestic cat would also benefit from these kinds of meals. But feeding uncooked meats, including raw chicken, is complicated, and it carries some risks.

There are definitely benefits of feeding raw chicken to cats, but it's also important to understand the concerns and to talk to your vet about your cat food plans so you can make the dietary choice that's right for your animal. Can cats eat raw chicken? Yes. But whether it's a good idea to feed cats raw chicken is a better question to consider.

Read more
4 reasons why cats wag their tails while lying down
This behavior is almost always never something to worry about
Cat yawns while sitting in a window

We know all about dog tail wagging, and most pet owners can spot the difference between a happy twitch and a cautious one. But did you realize that cats use their tails to express themselves, too? Like with dogs, the cat tail swish could mean a few different things, and it's important to have some sense of feline behavior — and your specific kitty — to decipher their movements. So why do cats wag their tails while lying down? We'll walk you through the most common causes and when you might need to step in.

Why do cats wag their tails while lying down?
If you stumble upon your kitty lying down and only moving their tail, it's probably because of one of these four reasons.
They feel happy or playful
You might see your cat lying lazily in the sun, but suddenly they give a little tail twitch as you approach. It's not your imagination. They're excited to see you and ready to play. Assuming you don't note any signs of aggression (we'll get to those later), you should head on over to pet your cat or grab their favorite toy and start a game.
It's hunting time
We can all picture the lion stalking their prey while slowly moving their tail back and forth — your cat does this, too. Oftentimes, this one will happen when they're lying on a perch or near a window and can spy on birds or small mammals in the yard. It could even be that they've spotted a fly and will pounce at any minute. All you need to do here is reach for your camera and enjoy your silly kitty at their best.
They're stressed
A cat that feels stressed will often floof their tail and start to wag it. Kitties generally puff up their fur to appear larger and more menacing. This action may also combine with an arched back or a hiss. Alternatively, sometimes tail thumping comes from overstimulation. You'll recognize pretty quickly which movements indicate fear and which mean fun.
They're dreaming
Sometimes, you'll observe your mouser twitch their tail while sleeping. It could come from a simple muscle spasm just like you get when you sleep (it also might mean they're hunting down prey in their dreams). Additionally, your sleepy kitty may be, well, faking it. They might look asleep but are actually just resting and waiting for you to come over.

Read more