A cat owner’s home purchase didn’t go quite as planned after her two pets decided it was far more entertaining than intended.
In a viral Instagram video shared in January under the username @buster.n.binky, the Los Angeles-based owner showed what happened after installing a bed canopy—and it quickly turned into a playground.
The short clip captures the moment the canopy becomes the center of attention for her two felines, an orange cat and a Siamese. Instead of quietly draping over the bed, the fabric is shown suspended above it while both cats dangle from the material, clinging on with their paws before launching themselves down onto the mattress.
The scene plays out like a game rather than a décor upgrade, with the canopy treated less like household décor and more like a cat toy.
The owner summed up the situation perfectly in the caption accompanying the video: “Pro tip: Do NOT get a bed canopy right before adopting two cats.” It was followed by, “Where did that ball even come from.”
The light-hearted warning resonated with viewers, particularly fellow cat owners who recognized the chaos that can follow introducing new pets to a carefully arranged home.
Felines climb curtains because it is a natural instinct driven by curiosity, hunting behavior, and a desire for height and safety. Climbing gives them a better view of their surroundings and mimics behaviors they would use in the wild.
According to Pet MD, the behavior becomes problematic only when it damages household items. Cats may also climb due to boredom, excess energy, stress, or a need to escape from people or other pets.
Punishment is discouraged, as the behavior is normal and suppressing it can lead to stress or aggression. Instead, owners should redirect the behavior by providing acceptable alternatives such as cat trees, shelves, or toys. Rewarding good behavior and enriching the feline’s environment with play and stimulation can reduce curtain climbing.
Limiting access to curtains, tying them back, or creating designated climbing spaces can also help. Overall, the key is to meet a cat’s natural climbing needs in appropriate ways rather than trying to stop the instinct entirely.
Since being shared, the clip has performed strongly on social media. At the time of reporting, it has received more than 322,000 views and over 16,800 likes on Instagram.
One user, Laxiel_oni, commented: “Yes, as soon as you have adopted cats, the tidy apartment is over. Cats have the IQ of a 2-year-old child, i.e. you have 2 toddlers at once and they naturally want to have adventures, play and get up to mischief. Then you don’t have a quiet minute left. But it’s worth it for all the sincere love they give back.”
Eu_. sunt._alee said: “He was doing some pull ups what is wrong?”
Theyoshitales said: “Oh, my cat would get that down within the hour. Is the canopy bed still with us??”
Newsweek reached out to @buster.n.binky for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
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