A cat from Odessa has mastered the way to the shelter and accompanies its owners there

Due to constant shelling from Russia, a ginger cat from Odessa learned to find its way to a bomb shelter quickly. Viktoriya Ilkiv, the pet’s owner, posted a video on TikTok showing her pet running to the shelter during an alarm, occasionally looking back to make sure her owner was nearby. The video soon became popular.

Journalists from Ukrainska Pravda. Zhittya spoke with Viktoriya to learn more about the cat who adapted to complex conditions.

The cat is five years old, and she and her husband adopted her from a shelter a few years ago. Viktoriya said that her husband had long wanted a ginger cat and accidentally came across an ad looking for a new family for the animal after its previous owner died. They visited a shelter where 25 cats were being found, and it was the ginger cat that approached Viktoriya, which became their turning point.

At first, the cat was scared, but over time it began to trust its new owners. They have been living under the same roof for three years. Together, they always go to the shelter during an alarm. When Victoria and her husband are not at home, the cat hides under the bed.

Victoria noted that the animal is sensitive to its environment. They did not impose a habit on it, but several times they took it with them during alarms, and now, having heard the siren, the cat waits for their reaction and follows them. It is not afraid of explosions.

To reduce the cat’s anxiety level, the owners try to behave calmly, hugging and stroking it. The animal gets along well with people, but does not like other animals. When other cats appear nearby, it either ignores them or runs away. It reacts aggressively to dogs, but remains calm with people.

The cat not only accompanies its owners to the shelter, but also knows when it is safe to return home: it goes to the elevator on its own. Victoria noted that after the curfew was announced, the cat immediately ran to the elevator. If someone else enters there, it understands that this is not their floor and continues on its way.

Returning home, the cat always runs to its bowl, knowing that it will find food there. The owners do not feed it in the shelter, since during anxiety, it does not eat. But at home, it happily feasts on nuggets, shrimp, and Pringles chips.

Victoria believes that the cat remembered the way to the shelter not only due to the circumstances in which they live, but also thanks to their care and upbringing. They never criticized or scared it; instead, they constantly communicated with it. The cat understands well where its bowl is, where to sharpen its claws, and where to sleep, and never spoils anything. This is a result of their attitude towards her and her character. Victoria concludes by talking about her love for this animal.