Watch These Foster Kittens Figure Out Exactly How to Escape the Pet Gate

Kittens are obviously brand new to the world, but they come with a lot of energy - and plenty of determination. I've never met a cat who couldn't cross any pet gate they set their mind to, and despite how tiny the foster kittens in this TikTok video are, they still make it happen.

One second, they're struggling to use their tiny paws to climb over it, and the next, they're hopping over like they've been doing it their whole lives.

@michelleski19

It only took a couple days until the gate was rendered completely useless. #fosterkittens#kittenrescue#kittensoftiktok#kittentok#kittenlove

Porchlight Dawn - Lawn Gnome Blast

We have foster mom Michelle to thank for this adorable footage that, in her words, shows "the progression of their jail break attempts."

First, the four kittens can be seen scampering over to the gate, and while the gray kitty easily makes the jump, their three siblings aren't quite as good on their feet just yet. (Give them a break - they're babies!)

Soon enough, one of the orange kittens figures it out, climbing over the gate with sheer brute force, and the next time the door opens, the other orange kitten is able to join them.

It takes the tiny tabby kitten the longest to master the new skill, but their gray and white sibling is ready to cheer them on when they finally succeed. They were a little nervous at first, but this kitten never gave up!

Related: Nobody Will Adopt These Sweet Kitten Sisters, and the Internet Is Devastated

The Kittens Already Have Their Own Virtual Cheering Section

Now that the video has gone viral, people are getting really into rooting for their favorite kittens in the video, including some defending the tabby kitten who was the last to make it over the gate.

One commenter even shared their theory that it's not that the tabby couldn't make it over the gate, it's just that they didn't want to - yet. "He thought about it, and then realized that the oranges were on the other side and decided 'nope' was the best option!" the commenter wrote.

Another person quickly got emotionally attached (and with how cute these babies are, how could anyone not? "I'm too emotional for this! I started tearing up when that baby finally got it!!!" another tabby fan added.

Others were reminded of their own kittens, with one writing, "The sound of them running on carpet is the best sound ever. I remember when my girls were 12 weeks old and zooming around."

If you've ever raised a kitten, you probably remember the quick switch between being able to keep them all in one place and then, suddenly, chaos. Pet gates don't work forever when cats are involved (they're too good at jumping and climbing for that), but it is really sweet to see them growing and learning new tricks... even the ones that make our lives a little harder!

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 8:30 AM.