The internet is flooded with videos of cats begging for food from their owners but Knuckles, a black cat, normally wants something else.
In a viral TikTok video shared on @knucklestreadmillcat, the fluffy three-year-old feline can be seen meowing and leading the way downstairs.
“Show everyone what you want. Show everybody what you cry at me all day for,” his owner can be heard saying behind the camera.
Knuckles “wants to work out,” and that is exactly what he does when his owner from Minnesota turns on a treadmill. His love for the machine has racked up an astounding 6.3 million views.
Knuckles’ owner told Newsweek that the frequency of use depends on her “willingness to turn it on for him.” But if he had it his way, he would go on it at least six times per day.
TikTok/@knucklestreadmillcat
She said: “We let him on it at least once a day, and then again if I’m walking—he joins me for a bit,” she said, adding that he will continuously stay on the treadmill for three to five minutes before hopping on and off until it is switched off.
“The longest he’s stayed on is about 15 minutes, but that was with me walking next to him,” she added. “His preferred speed is 1.4 mph, though he’s gotten up to 2 mph and trotted along.”
A Lifelong Interest in the Treadmill
This isn’t a new hobby for Knuckles. His owner explained that he started showing an interest in the machine when he was around 10 weeks old.
“He had a frightening desire to crawl under it,” she said. Then he started to chase the letters as they moved across the belt.
At five months old, his doting owner taught him how to walk next to her—and now he’s hooked.
Expert Advice on Cats Using Treadmills
Dr. Nita Vasudevan, a veterinarian, told Newsweek that it is safe for a cat to use a treadmill, but precautions are essential. While some cats may take to it naturally, others might find it stressful. She states that supervision is key and owners should never leave a cat alone on a treadmill.
5 Tips for Training a Cat to Use a Treadmill
Vasudevan has provided the following tips on how to train a cat to use a treadmill:
- Begin with the treadmill turned off, letting the cat explore and get comfortable before introducing movement at the lowest speed.
- Treats, praise, or toys can help encourage voluntary participation rather than forcing the cat onto the treadmill.
- Unlike dogs, most cats don’t have the endurance for extended treadmill sessions. A slow, natural walking pace is best.
- Limit sessions to a few minutes to prevent stress or exhaustion.
- Stop if the cat shows any discomfort.
Vasudevan, who works for Embrace Pet Insurance based in Ohio, added: “If a cat is reluctant, don’t force them to use the treadmill. Some cats prefer alternative exercise, such as cat wheels or interactive play. The cat should always have a way to safely step off the treadmill without risk of getting caught in the belt.
“High-energy indoor cats who need extra exercise would benefit from this activity. Overweight cats as part of a vet-approved weight loss plan and cats recovering from certain injuries under veterinary guidance would also benefit in some circumstances.
“Senior cats or those with arthritis or mobility issues should avoid this activity, along with cats with heart and/or respiratory conditions or if they are visibly stressed or fearful.”
TikTok Reactions
The video of Knuckles has been a huge hit online—racking up 1.2 million likes and over 7,000 comments.
“He was a gym bro in his past life,” said one commenter, receiving 180,800 likes.
“Imagine if she had people over and they asked what that noise was—’Oh, sorry, it’s just my cat working out,'” said another.
“I showed this to my lazy cat, and she said it’s AI-generated,” joked one user, while a different commenter said: “He’s working on his summer body.”
“Imagine explaining this to the cat sitter,” added a fourth user.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
