Even though we pamper our cats with tasty meals, their natural hunting instincts are never too far from the surface. Cats are often drawn to hunting birds, so whenever a bird decides to challenge a cat, we can’t help but wonder if it’s brave or simply reckless.
Meet Oscar, a two-year-old Indian Ringneck parrot. Oscar isn’t your average bird; he’s full of sass and doesn’t play by the rules. His favorite pastime? Teasing the neighbor’s cat with a playful game of peek-a-boo.
In a video shared on YouTube, Oscar is inside his home, while the neighbor’s cat is outside, staring in through the window. Oscar, knowing he’s safe behind the glass, seizes the opportunity to stir up some fun. What better way to entertain yourself than by playing peek-a-boo with a predator who’d love to catch you?
The mischievous parrot dips his head out of sight, only to pop back up and shout, “peek-a-boo!” with obvious delight. The entire 22-second video captures Oscar’s playful antics, but it’s easy to imagine he could keep this game going for hours. The cat, though clearly irritated, refuses to budge, hoping there might still be a chance to pounce on the bird.
At one point, the cat glances toward the camera, and the frustration on its face is hard to miss. Though domestic cats no longer need to hunt for survival, their instincts remain sharp. According to International Cat Care, “The domestic cat is a predatory species, meaning they hunt for their food. Just like their wild ancestors, domestic cats are skilled hunters.” They add that cats were historically kept to control pests, and only the best hunters thrived and reproduced. Since humans haven’t selectively bred cats as much as dogs, their drive to hunt remains strong.
The funny video, shared by ViralHog, quickly gained almost a million views from people all over the globe. Viewers flooded the comments section with their reactions to the amusing interaction.
One person remarked, “Amazing how this parrot knows exactly what he’s saying, not just copying. This is hilarious.” Another viewer commented on the cat’s clear frustration, saying, “I love how at one point, the cat looks at the camera like, ‘Is this bird serious right now?'”
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One final comment summed up the scene perfectly: “This reminds me of Tweety and Sylvester from the Looney Tunes. Thankfully, the parrot is behind a window—unlike the cat, who might be thinking otherwise!”