Cat's Preferred Way To Be Petted Leaves Internet in Stitches
A cat's unusual approach to affection has left millions of people laughing after a video of her distinctive petting routine went viral on Instagram earlier this year.
The clip, shared in March under the username @lillyandherthumbs, shows a tabby with white paws enjoying pets in a position that immediately stands out. Instead of sitting or standing upright, the cat lies flipped upside down, fully relaxed, while being petted in a way that viewers quickly realized was far from ordinary. The caption says, “How do I explain this do the pet sitter?” followed by, “Dreading this convo…”
The owner, Lindsay, from Ontario, Canada, told Newsweek that the feline, named Lilly, is shown upside down and entirely comfortable while receiving what they call “up side down butt smacks.” She explained that Lilly is a polydactyl cat, something that already makes her stand out, but added that nothing Lilly does is ever quite typical.
Lindsay described how Lilly does not knead blankets in the usual way cats do. Instead, she performs the motion while lying on her back with her paws in the air. Online, viewers have given this behavior a name, commonly referring to it as “air biscuits.” That same motion appears in the viral clip while Lilly is being petted, making the moment even more amusing to watch.
Lindsay added that the caption mentioning the pet sitter came from the fact that this behavior is completely normal for Lilly, even though she has never seen another cat act the same way. Lindsay said that Lilly loves butt smacks so much that she never seems to get enough of them, something clearly visible in the video.
Lilly's personality has been unique from the very beginning. Lindsay shared that they adopted her from a shelter when she was 2 years old, where they were told she had been found on the streets. Despite that, she described Lilly as incredibly sweet, social, and vocal, with a big personality and a strong love for attention.
Lindsay said: “Apparently, she was found on the streets, but we say to this day that there's no way she could be a street cat because of how sweet she is.”
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The video has received over 10.1 million views and more than 931,000 likes so far, turning Lilly's unusual petting preference into an internet sensation.
One user, Carnivorous.moto.muscle, commented: “I think the better question is, how did you figure out the cat likes this position.”
Hassanahchase said: “Don't explain, let them call you confused because they think they broke your car.”
Xian_d_j added: “Not a single thought between those ears in that moment.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 8:06 AM.