
My family got its first cat when I myself was barely a year old. She and I more or less grew up together, her dying (at which point I was heartbroken, naturally) when I was 23. We’ve also had a couple of other cats along the way, and whenever I see a cat in my neighbourhood here in Tokyo or visit my friends who have them, I always stop to say hello.
It turns out, however, that for all my years living with and around our domesticated feline friends, I clearly know nothing about them. I mean, can you explain what on earth this cat here is doing!?
Uploaded earlier this month by Japanese YouTuber ko tama, this video shows an adult cat standing on a table in front of a couple of kittens that can’t be more than a couple of days old.
At first, the cat taps at the kittens as one struggles to clamber over the other.
Suddenly, though, the white cat stands on its hind legs and starts doing what we can only describe as a belly dance fused with a wave, waving its paws back and forth with tremendous enthusiasm.
These shots don’t do the cat’s ‘dance’ justice, so here’s the video in full. It’s really quite bizarre.
Is this some form of cat sign language that we have simply never encountered before? Is the cat celebrating the arrival of the kittens through the medium of dance? Perhaps the three of them, the kittens lacking the coordination for more active games, are simply playing a round of charades? Let us know what you think is going on here in the comments section below.
▼ “What? Why are you laughing?”




Cat gets caught in tissue box, dances into our hearts
This precious kitten’s “squeak” is making us all squee! 【Video】
If I fits, I sits! Adorable kitten playing with tissue box finds even cuter surprise inside
Heart-meltingly adorable kitten twins share bed, and Internet’s love【Videos】
Adorable kitten adopts kanji pose, shows us how to truly relax【Video】
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Family Mart’s Shibuya Cat Street shop hosts first-ever rescue cat photo exhibition for Cat Day
Saitama is home to the best strawberries in Japan that you’ve probably never even heard of
New smartphone game turns car models into anime girls with model-worthy looks
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
Does this video about an abandoned dog leave you wiping your eyes or shaking your fist?
Charges dropped against alleged group that broke into vending machine after Noto earthquake
Secret staff cafeteria in Tokyo’s Kabukicho is a hidden gem you won’t find in travel guides
This Rilakkuma-themed sofa is soft on your bottom, hard on your wallet
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]
Japan has trams that say “sorry” while they ride around town…but why?
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Sakura Totoro is here to get spring started early with adorable pouches and plushies
Poop is in full bloom at the Unko Museums for cherry blossom season
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Japan’s new “Cunte” contact lenses aren’t pronounced like you’re probably thinking they are
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Drummer for visual kei band evokes smiles online with photos of adorable rescue kitten
Videos of Japanese kitten learning to climb stairs are amazingly heartwarming and inspiring
Blind kitten who regained her sight through loving care is thriving one year on
Adorable kitten charms us by falling alseep while fighting giant monster hand
Twitter user weighs growing kitten over a series of weeks, documents with insanely cute photos
Kittens sleeping in foot-warming hot carpets are too cute for words 【Pics & Videos】
Japanese office worker finds stray “kittens,” vet says they’re dogs, they turn out to be neither
Clever escape artist kitten is gonna get out of its cage no matter what, and you can’t stop it
Internet falls in love with cat’s first-ever encounter with carpet
The Great Obon Disaster: A fable of cicadas, dancing, and cats
Beckoning cat fortunes lure a kitten into their box at cat temple in Japan
[Video] From sick animal to beautiful healthy kitten – one cat’s amazing recovery will warm your hearts!
Japanese farmer discovers his chickens are helping raise a kindle of kittens
Adorable kitten becomes growling demon for delicious Japanese snack【Video】