Kitten Curling Into Owner’s Hair Melts Hearts: ‘Making a Nest’

A heartwarming TikTok video has captured the internet’s attention, featuring an orange kitten’s endearing habit of burrowing into her owner’s hair.

The clip, shared by Daniela (@b8rntod1e), has garnered an impressive number of views, with the footage amassing 6.7 million views and 1.5 million likes on the platform.

In the video, the kitten enthusiastically burrows into Daniela’s long brunette locks, curling up as though it were the most comfortable place in the world. With a text overlay asking: “Does anyone know what she’s doing?” and the playful caption “Silly girl,” it quickly became a viral sensation.

The reasons behind this adorable behavior aren’t just playful, they’re rooted in feline psychology.

According to veterinarian Claire Turner, cats often engage in this kind of behavior due to stress, affection, or an attempt to mark their territory.

The most common reason is affection. Much like grooming one another in the wild, cats chew or lick their owner’s hair to show love and bond with them. This sign of affection is an adorable way for your cat to say they care.

Sometimes, hair-chewing can also be a form of play, especially for younger cats who see a dangling ponytail as a perfect opportunity to practice their hunting skills. Other times, it can be a case of attention-seeking. Cats know that nibbling on your hair will instantly make you notice them, which reinforces the behavior.

However, if a cat is stressed, hair-chewing can be a way of self-soothing. Stress in cats can lead to various behaviors, including chewing on human hair as a form of distraction. In rare cases, health or nutritional deficiencies may cause cats to chew hair, though this would usually come with other symptoms.

Additionally, burrowing is often a signal of love, showing how bonded a cat feels to its human. It can be a way for cats to keep warm, particularly during colder months, while enjoying their owner’s scent.

The viral video has touched viewers, many of whom were moved by the kitten’s instinctive connection to her owner.

“Kittens do this to their mothers normally—they are either looking for milk or she’s making sure she remembers your scent,” shared one viewer. “She could also be trying to get your scent on her so you know she’s yours.”

“Heatless curls,” joked one user. “Making a nest duh that’s what birds do,” said another viewer.

Another viewer, Lamar, chimed in with a personal story: “My cat does that because he loves how my hair smells. I found out because every time I laid down, he would sniff it and play with it until I figured it out.”

Adding a humorous twist, another user commented, “She’s making a cocoon, she’s turning into a butterfly soon.”

“She’s obviously braiding your hair—how sweet of her,” said another amused user.

One cat lover offered a thoughtful explanation, saying: “Cats believe that our hair is like fur, so kittens like to curl up in it for warmth and for our scent, since it’s stronger around our neck and head area.”

Newsweek reached out to u/b8rntod1e for comment via TikTok. We couldn’t verify the details of the case.

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