Cat Owner Checks Pet Cam While at Work—What She Sees Changes Everything

Heartbreaking pet cam photos of a lonely kitten at home prompted its owner to share a reflection on the selfless act of rehoming.

A video posted on June 1 to TikTok by user @cee.zxc shows a solitary kitten looking visibly sad on a pet camera while her owner, Zey, is at work. The sad sight prompted Zey, 26, to rehome her for a better quality of life. She spoke to Newsweek about the decision, and how she felt upon first seeing the footage.

“Please always get two kittens, never one alone,” she captioned the video. “I learned the hard way. Shes not alone anymore.”

Zey provided further context to the emotional decision.

“I am away from home Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and decided to get a pet camera to check in on my kitten during the day to make sure she’s safe,” Zey explained. “When I saw my kitten looking sad, it really broke my heart and made me question whether I could do this to her long term, as I can’t work from home…It really made me think that I need to take action.”

Despite efforts to compensate with playtime, Zey felt it wasn’t enough for a kitten with so much energy.

“I made sure to play with her for an hour in the morning and all evening when I was back, but I felt like it wasn’t enough since she’s still a kitten and has a lot of energy,” she added.

The difficult decision to rehome the kitten arose when she realized her home was too small for another kitten. The timing also played a crucial role.

“Although I had already bonded with her, I knew that as a kitten, she wasn’t bonded to me yet—so it was the best time to rehome her, unfortunately,” Zey said.

Another Chance at a Family

The good news is that the kitten has found a new, loving home.

“She is now in a home with another cat who had lost her brother, and a dog,” Zey shared. “They are getting on really well so far, and I receive regular updates from the new family.”

Reflecting on her experience, Zey now advocates for adopting kittens in pairs.

“I would say that if you are considering getting a cat, definitely get two—even better if they are from the same litter. I was always someone who thought I could give her enough attention by myself, because I had thought about getting a cat for two years,” she said. “But I underestimated the importance of another animal companion.”

Zey admitted that rehoming was incredibly difficult, but ultimately a selfless act of love.

“I still think about her every single day. But I knew I had to do it for her, not for me,” she concluded. “Even though my days feel duller now and I miss her terribly, knowing she’s happier, with two loving animal companions, a beautiful garden and a big home, helps me carry the weight. I’m still learning to forgive myself, but in my heart, I know I made the right choice.

“Sometimes, loving something means letting it go so it can be happier.”