By Lucy NotarantonioShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberCats are known for their quirks, but one Popeyes-obsessed feline has taken pickiness to a whole new level. In a viral TikTok video with over 1 million views, a fluffy brown cat is seen eagerly ripping into the fast-food chain’s signature orange box—prompting a wave of shock, concern, and jokes online as her owner insists she refuses to eat unless it’s Popeyes chicken.
According to a 2024 Statista survey, the American multinational fast-food chain specializing in Southern-style fried chicken is liked by 37 percent of customers. And around 22 percent of Popeyes customers are loyal and said they’d eat there again.
What the survey didn’t include is cats—because here TikTok user @turnerfallsofficial has a regular consumer, she wrote: “I have to order Popeyes for her every day or she just won’t eat.”
Despite seeing a vet several times, the fluffy brown cat refuses to eat anything but the fast food. Newsweek discussed the clip that has over 184,000 likes with U.K.-based head veterinary surgeon, Dr. Sarah Page-Jones.
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Page-Jones, who works for Pet Drugs Online, said: “Human fast food not only fails to meet pets’ nutritional needs, but it also contains harmful ingredients such as onions, garlic, and artificial sweeteners—all of which are toxic to animals and can cause serious illness or even death.
"It is high fat and salt content is also difficult for animals to digest, often leading to vomiting and diarrhea."
She warns that regular consumption of fast food can also trigger obesity and related complications such as heart disease or diabetes.
TikTok Reacts
...The owner seems to be distressed by her cat’s eating habits stating: “I'm at [a] loss for what to do."
Responses flooded in, with some users urging the owner to stand firm.
“She’s not [going to] starve herself to death. [Just don’t] get Popeyes and leave cat food out,” suggested one user.
Others shared similar experiences of pets developing strong preferences for human food.
Another shared their experience: “I started giving my cat so much human food, she would throw up her food just so I can buy her a rotisserie chicken or chicken strips.”
"My question is where are you getting the funds for Popeyes everyday[?]" asked a third user.
But it wouldn’t be a TikTok comments section without some lighthearted jokes.
A fourth commenter said: “Please stop doing this. She’ll want to come to New Orleans and develop a taste for bounce music and want to dip and swiggle. It’s very bad for their cat spines. Please it’s very addictive.”
The chain has even commented stating: “she's just like us,” earning 22,000 likes.
The owner has since shared an update stating her cat is now interested in eating cookies—something that should also be avoided as chocolate is toxic for cats.
Newsweek reached out to @turnerfallsofficial for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
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